Juliet signal., 1863-07-07

which then vexed the public mind.
"ForreStl old fellow! can it be possible
that this is your"
Myself, and no other, Thornbv, for
conclude it is either you or your ghost -
But l thought you were safely settled in
Chicago practising law, instead Of"
''Instead Of running wild about the coun-
try, you were going to say. But I have
granted myself temporary holiday to-
Pshaw, / can't tell you about it here; come
up to my room, and we'll have n cosy
chat"
The delightful little impromptu supper
of we'll seasoned dainties, washed down bv
champagne, was over, and the two gentIe-
men were smoking sunday spicy in
front of bright Ere, wher Thornby alb
rubtly plunged into the subject which was
uppermost in his mind.
"Charley, Pm in love! !"
"You are? My dear fellow, so am l."
Il AN glad of that. because you can syn.
pathize with me. have come here ex.
pressly to see her, and to have the day fix
ed for our wedding"
81 havn't got SO far as that" Forrest
said smiling.
"But. Charley. she is the loveliest crea-
ture that the sun ever shane on-an angel
"a divinity"
"Hold on Ralph-not quite the loveliest,
/ trust for the lady whom worship is
alone entitled to that superlative degree of
praise"
You're in love. too, my dear boy, so I'll
excuse any little symptoms Of insanity" re
Joined Thornby. laugbingly; :but really, if
you could see Ells-hOld on, believe
I've got her picture somewhere abou t
me-"
He searched eagerly in his pocket while
his friend repeated the soft name over.
"Ells? Why, that is the name of the
young lady whom fadmire so much and
By Jove," he added, as ThOrnby unclasped
a velvet miniature case and held it towards
him, that is she very face! You don't
mean to say you are engaged to that girl ?''
ITO be sure l am-what do you mean ?
Surely there is some mistake. / can show
you her last letter."
lie drew out the self-same "verv seuti
mental letter" to which Miss WardIaw had
referred IN her unuttered soliloQuy. For.
rest glanced over it with bewildered ewes
and then biting his lip until the blood star.
ted, took from his pocket prettily worded
| note from Ella, which he had received tha,
morning.
The hRndwriting is precisely similar,
Ralph. We are both the dupes of an art.
tnl, unprincipled woman. This same Ellen
Wardlaw, while she is corresponding with
you IN this impassiOned strain, is doing her
best tn lure me on to q proposal I"
Ut carnot be. " gasped Ralph, feeling as
if he were in q dream.
but know it to be so! Heavens
what narrow escape l have had? And
ycu also, Thornby. should rejoice at your
escape from the wiles of false hearted co
! dSn'to"
Sill Raj lph Thornby repeated, between
his clenched teeth:
81 will not believe it-Ella is truth it
self"
''ShslI we put it to the test ?' asked For
rest. rather Indignantly.
do what you please. will stake nv
life on her single mindednesE W
Forrest took ont a pencil and dashed Of
hurried proposal in form.
There. will send this Tomorrow NOR
ming, with request for an immediate an.
swer. When that answer comes, will YOU
believe it's testimony2"
Thurnby nodded; but the hand which Ia,
upon Charles Forests was cold and damI
"a marble.
Good night, then, my poor fellow. "saiC
Forrest, as he rose to take leave. Il an
sorry for you from the very bottom of my
heart. for You feel this more DEEPLY than
dol"
But Thornby did not answer-he wa
gazing abEently into the fire. Could it bt
possible that his worshipped IDOL was slio
ping, slowly but surely from her higt
| nj Bhak
to trust.
Head and heart both ached sadly tha
night, but the wearinets of travel wa
nothing to the sick sensation of distrus
and apprehension that had taken posses
sion of his mind. Therefore, it happene
that he was still lOunging over his aImos
un:asted breakfast when Charles Forres
was aunouncud 10y waiter.
"Well, was bis greeting. Forrest re
replied
Il have dispatched my missive and her
is the answer. See, the seal is vet unbrC
ken-we will peruse it together"
1t was skiifully written note of gla
acceptance. Ella wrote that "she had Ion
loved Mr.. FOrrest-that her greatest haI
pineSs through life would be to secure hi
contensInent" with variety of chsrmin
T little addenda, such as yesterday, wOul
have filled Charles Forests heart wit
rapture. No~, they were false, idle rhaE
sodies!
Are you convinced ?" was Forrest
simple question, as the letter dropped frol
his companions trembling hand.
81 am 1t has been pleasant dream
but am efec:ually reused at last. Cha
ley, have been fooI-a dupe!
And so have Ralph; just give me thu
enthusiastic love letter you showed me La
night"
"What for ?"
/ Charles made no reply; but be took ii
letter from Thornby's unresisting hand, an
folding it with the note of acceptance /
bad just received. wrote one pencil line O
! the margin, The compliments of Messr
, ThOrnby and Forrest" and enclosed bot
! in one envelope, directed to Miss Ward
law.
. These" be said quietly. "When 81
{ received this, she will see that her careful
I ~ arranged plans are Disconnected"
I And thenceforward the name of Ell
Wardlaw was never mentioned between t.
two friends. ThOrnby returned q saddt
and wiser man to Chicago, and Fore
Q sailed for Europe by the next steamer, ha
: ing very sensibly resolved not even to ris
q chance meeting with Ella, whose subt
art be dreaded exceedingly.
Elh Wardlaw was practicing Gificu
italian SONATA on her harp as the eventf
note was handed her. She tore it hurrie
ly open, and gazed with wide-Opsn. bewil
cred eyes upon the enclosures. The ne
q moment they fell from her nerveless fings
I she had tainted, for the FIRST and the la
time 10 her lifel
I Years have passed since then. RalE
: Thornby is married to lovely young CT
cago Eeiress ; Charles Forrest has blooG
ing wife. and two rosy little girls; but E.
\ Wardlaw is a hopeless old maid, with n
the faintest chance of a husband. Sh
says she never intended to marry.
A lazy fellow, who had long been an il