The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-02-07

age0 w answer In 8 calm voice.
"If possible, 1 would like You to
commence tomorrow"
"All right, sir; l will be ready"
! And so Bailey Stone sealed his
fatel A fate so terrible, that if be
had fallen dead then and there, If
would have been an act Of mercy ex-
tended him by Providence. But
God is merciful in not permitting us
to see the future, and Bailey Stone
rushed blindly to his doom.
When he retired to his bed that
night he carried happier heart than
he had for weeks before, for was he
not soon to see and speak to Alma
Freeman But he resolved to be
cautious, and worship her in silence.
Never should she, nor any one else,
know how much lie idolized her,
without, by some miracle he should
become rich enough to warrant ask
ing Mr.. Freeman for the hand Of his
daughter. How many men before
and since, placed in the same situa-
ton have made the same resolveI
Hundreds, ay, thousands.
The next morning Bailey sat in
| his studio, impatiently awaiting the
looming of Alma Freeman. 1t seem,
ed to him that the hour named by
Mr.. Freeman would never arrive.
At last he heard the rattle of car
riage wheels, and the stylish turnout
of Mr.. James Freeman stopped at
his door. The fair Alma descended
from the carriage, and-Bailey noted
with a thrill of jealousy-she was
accompanied by George Knight!
How beautiful she looked, and how
cordially she returned Bailey's salu-
tations! Our only wonder is, how
Bailey controlled his feelings as well
as he did. Merely a formal saluta-
ton passed between the young men,
for each distinctly disliked the
other.
At the end of the first day, Bal
ley's love for Alma, and his dislike
for Mr.. Knight, had increased. And
so it continued for days-both rush
ing to their fate. We say both, be-
cause Alma began to count the
hours that interVed between each
sitting; and the handsome face and
frank, open manner Of the young ar
tist, haunted her even in her sleep.
Cupid had his eye on her, and soon
began to make a target of her heart,
although as yet Bailey had no init
nation Of this change.
There was one drawback to the al
most unalloyed happiness he felt in
Alma,s visits, and that was because
she was always accompanied by
George Knight Gradually, almost
imperceptibly, the thought began to
come, might they not be engagedP'
But he was soon to have his fears
and doubts set at rest.
One day he was in a picture store
when George Knight entered.
Elbow do you do, Mr.. Knight"
said Mr.. Dan Wells, the proprietor
of the establishment. "You don't
look much like man who is soon
to lose his liberty" Mr.. Wells added
in a joking manner.
'FWhat do you mean, Mr.. Wells"
said Knight with smile.
81 allude, if you will excuse me,
to your approaching marriage with
Miss Alma Freeman.
"Oh, yes; I understand you now" "
Knight answered.
Bailey waited to hear no more, but
left the store like one in a dream.
Here was a confirmation of his worst
fears. AS he never intended reveal
ing his love, Alma's engagement to
any one would not affect him, he had
argued; but when he was brought
face to face with the stern reality, it
completely unnamed him. Many
of his acquaintances thought him
intoxicated that day, as he passed
them without returning their saluta-
tions. Yes, he was intoxicated-in-
toxicated by his great despair!
Bailey was glad of one thing-the
the portrait was nearly finished.
One more sitting was all that was re
quired; and after he had finished it,
he would leave New York forever,
and try and forget he had ever loved.
He passed a very restless night, and
aWoke next morning unrefreshed.
At the appointed hour next day,
Alma came, accompanied as usual,
by George Knight. After the ac-
customed formal sulutations had
passed between him and Bailey
Stone, he excused himself, and said
he would call for Miss.Freeman in
the course Of an hour.
After the departure of Knight, AL
ma said:
"You are looking pale and fever
ish this morning, Mr.. Stone. l hope
you are not going to he ill.,
81 passed a very restless night, but
hope to feel better after awhile"
He continued to work in silence
for few minutes, and then sudden
ly said:
"Allow me to congratulate you on
your approaching marriage"
This was said without his looking
at her.
"My approaching marriage! I
don't understand you" she answer
ed in a surprised tone.
All his assumed calmness desert
ed him, and dropping his brush, he
said, in a tone he in vain attempted
to make calm:
care you not going to marry
George KnightP'
"Now she answered in a still
more surprised tone. "What right
have you to think sop
81 heard him say so myself. Did
he tell an untruth?" Bailey said, for
getting for the time being that he
had no right to ask the question.
''It is false" she said in cold
tone, l don't love Mr.. Knight, and /
don't intend to marry him"
"Forgiye my rudeness in asking
these questions" Bailey said, pick
ing his brush up and recommending
his work.
He continued to work in silence a
while longer, then stopping sudden
ly, said:
81 am going to leave New York in
few days, and l never intend to re-
furn ,,