The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-09-03
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I'm nothing else but sympathy; l haven't t
seen anything else for the last ten years"
"What new thing do you suppose he said
last night? It's perfectly dreadful. He said
must marry him tonight, and gave me to
understand fI don't he will turn my brother
out of office, and that you know, turns my
mother out of house and home.'
"The execrable wretchr'
began to wonder if the speaker was beau
tiful or no. She soon enlightened me.
"Yes Inez, more than exec-able; dastardly,
hendish! What is it to have what people call
a "sweet face" if one must have bitter
heart with it? I've good mind to shear Off
these heavy brown curls and"
Don't, beg you. The idea of your sac
riiicng yourself because of one poor mascu-
line fool. Why girl, you've but to 90 out into
the world and take your choice among men
ofculture and wealth, Don't throw yourself
| away upon villain"
"Tell me what TO do, Inez, dear. Oh if 1
had known you were there. I'd have come
down and stayed with you"
"The deuce you would Good. I'll let you
know next time Pm here"
"What's that? Please write slower.n
Nothing 'partic,' my dear; when shall 1
see you?'
"Ah never again, 1 fear! Tonight 1 wed
aman l despise, and tomorrow the sun will
shine upon my corpse.'
Why the sun should be an amused party to
this tragedy wasn't to clear; but it was evil
dent that some terrible sequel was about 10
come to light among the snow capped cot
tases of B.
81 tell you, you shall not wed this mani
swear it and the oath shall be kept"
"Why Inez, you never spoke SO bravely be-
fore, but despair of help"
"When does this human fiend make his ap-
pearance?''
HE will come out from P, over the
Simpleton road, this afternoon a. three;
shall go down to the cross roads to meet
him."
"Wil you coniide this matter me? If you
will promise to rid you OF him."
without awful bloodshed and all that? 20
'Trust me and you shall be free, promise
you.'
"Oh, you are so good! but how will you
do it?'
Leave that TO me, like the little angel
that you are, and when all is peace again,
and the skies are smooth, am to be your
your" Ia thought of Mrs. Gagen came in
here, like snail on the rich rose of love
and l dropped the key.)
'Go ahead, your?"
"Your nearest and dearest friend.'
''Indeed you shall. You are that now.
you. Wish 1 were there now, so l could talk
faster."
'Thunder! so do I. Can't you run over,
how far is it ?"
"Your writing doesn't come, are you ner-
vous9 Please repeat"
II wish you were here, too. am dying
to see you.'
l do not exactly recall the remainder of
our conversation; am not aware that /
called her the most pettable of pets, and the
most lovable of loves, still do not deny it.
My interest in her was simply gigantic, when
the breakfast bell intruded upon our talk.
Everything was arranged. The stopping
over one train, and the consequent delay of
my own personal business was but trihe
in comparison.
Even the question as to how should
make myself known to my fair companion.
whether or not she would accept the apology
for my deception, or whether or not she
would regard me with unutterable contempt
all these questions were but secondary to the
one absorbing thought she shall be free! We
were to meet at the cross roads at two for a
quiet chat. 1 should see her face to face.
Happy thonght. She had mentioned Incl
IDENTIFY that she would wear her pretty blue
bow, and had hidden me ''good bye till two."
Never did mortal hours wear more slowly
away than did those intervening hours. My
toilet was made with the utmost precision.
A vestal might have told all her beads while
was tying my cravat. Kennebunk might
have sent message aud begun another be-
fore the final twist was given tc the last
struggling lock. Nothing but the actual ap-
proach Of the nexorable hour-hand toward
the time of appointment cut short these
nerve-trying preparations. Then came the
appropriate courtesies and farewells to mine
host and hostess, and started forth with an
elastic step toward the "Cross roade,"
humming
"We two so united,
So happily allied,
That blissful are the moments.
When we are side by side.
A brisk walk Of about half an hour brought
me to the spot-the "Cross roads," who,-
was-there!! The brown curled fairy of
the wire?
Not much! But that daredevil office
chum of mine, that confounded gullion-
Sam E.
There he sat with folded arms and cooked
hat, an enormous bow of army cloth blue
adorning his shirt bosom, and his eyes halt
closed in dreamy languor.
Sold felt that word from hat crown to
boot sole. If look could have annihilated
him then not even his shadow will ever ap-
pear again upon the occular or mental hori-
zen. The long-leggsG rascal had heard at
the depot in the early morning, by way OF
mlue uoSt, Iuat was d SoyoihihoI aI MS
house and laid himself out for Clark at my
expense. Never shall forget his tone as
turned ON my heel at the "Cross roads,"
with ten thousand Etlas of revenge surging
beneath my-vest.l
"Want to konw where the Smpleton road
is? Pts any road that you take, old boy.'
But 1 have got even with Sam. Tell you
some time.