Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-10-17
NOT A HERO AFTER ALL.

From The Aldlne for october.
"Aro you star.gazlng 2" asked Helen
Demo, stepping out upon the yerandah,
where Tom Ford stood, staring alb
stractedly at the cloudless evening SLY.
''Only trying to devise some new
method of shuflling of the mortal COLL"
Tom answered, lying his unlighled segar
on the railing beside him.
tHave matters reached such a desIer-
ate condition with you :" laughed his
companion. 81 should never have sus-
pected It,"
''It is my hero, not myself, who is to
be sent out of the world" was the reply.
Can't you give me hinti Poison con-
sumption, precipices, shipwreek, run
away horses. Bah l have made use of
them till they have grown wearisomely
common. | am tempted to advertise for
a novel way of ridding myself or other
people of life-even at the risk OF bring
inga a whole host Of detectives down upon
me-"
"Why not let the poor myth live 2"
questioned Helen, smiling at the comieal
expression sof despair or the perpleAed
authors face.
'Tmposs.ble 20 replied Tom. "The
lost heir has turned up, and is ready 10
marry Lady GwendOliue, and so this hero
assistant hero, rather, Is in the way,
and must be removed, even if ! have to
do 1t in a commonplace fashion. You do
not know what benevolent person am,
Miss Helen, nor how much ! have done
for the happiness Of my kind since hist
[ commenced scritbling. At The lowest
estimate have hunted out and returned
to their soTrowlng parents fully three
dozen heirs aud heiresses with and with
out straw berry marks ard lattooed an
chors on their arms. Ii II were not Tor
the base iugratitudc OF humaEiiyi my
statue, arrayed in nondescript costume,
and executed in the worst sty le of Amer
lean art, would now acorn Central Park
or Union Square. l would like to be q
lost heir myself," he went or, musingly,
'soply to be one II is necessary 10 have
LIQUID blue eyes and golden hair and
snowy brow; or raven locks and fathom-
less dark orbs and classic features, and
not one of these attractions did unkind
nature see fit to beetow upon me. l am
homely-not even plcturcsquely homely,
al that DO you know it, Miss Helen 70
sssince you have made the assertion,
can not be impolite enough TO contradict
it," she replied, gathering some Of the
crimson leaves IRON the Virginia creepei
and putting them into her belt as sh'
spoke.
"Give them to me, plesse,' said Tom
stretching out his hand
She shook her head, and p1iated 70 thi
vine.
"For memento Of this evening"" h,
pleaded, In to2e whici WAS 'ar iron
sentimental.
nIIow many such mcmeGlos have yol
already 2" questioned she, still kcepinl
the leaves.
"a dead rose-some other plants
which low locks and smells decided.
hayey-a glove, spotted with lcmonad
and of no possible use TO its lightfu
owner-a slipper rosalte, big aud ugly a
a mushroom, and q p.ece OF pink nb5o
much creased, which may, perhaps, hav
belonged to Miss Hastead Instead {
you," enumerated Tom. THAT is all,
assure you"
"What are you going to do wit
them 70 Helen demanded, mgch incline
TO laugh.
"Keep them to sigh over winter ever
ipRs when the flro gets low and my segi
is smoked out" Tom answered. "OI
must have help to misery as well
happiness"
''ff that is SO, here are the leaves,
laying them in bis hand. MAY the
COntrlOult lutll sunni snhAI hbNpNi
making you wTetched, since II is for thi
you desire them"
ssA thousand thanks!" he exclaime
putting the coveted possession into h
pocket book, where the dead rose alreat
reposed.
"Where are your other collections
asked Helen. 81 presume you have max
quite number within the past ten years
"To tell the TRUTH" replied he,
burned them after pilfeIing your GLOW
did not wish to get the tribes mix
and SO misplace my regrets, you see. -
Helen bit her lip al the stralghtfo
ward avowal. "Are you always
frank, Mr.. Ford ;"
"Neyer, he answered, "except VIII
craftinefs can not avail me anything.
diplomacy could make you adore me as
as adore you, should be fulihedg
Nachiavelli Instantly but 1t could not
with quick, furtive glance at her fat
"No," she said, slowly, ana eoloring
little.
a knew IT," said Tom, checking
sigh. "Well, l must content mys
with the dead flowers and crump.ed r
bons which you have WON. A m
more deserving than / might rece
less" phnosoph.c remark by
means in keeping with The epeake
gloomy and perturbed coun.enance
shat moment. A long silence, broken
last by Tom. at is almost three mon
since we met, Miss Helm. Do )
remember my coming up the walk Q
finding you hulling Strawberries with ,
of Rachel's check aprons ont II
sweet those Strawberries were !"
"Almost three MONTHS" echoed Hell
''snd-I am gong home next week"
Tom started and then serogled,
said nothing.
SHOW glad am that we are to b.
the same city next winter" she went
presently. "We can meet often,
Clara, who is a literary person,
llonize you"
ave shall neyer meet" he repli '
most ungracious curtness.
"Why7" she asked, in a slightly
tone.