The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-10-15

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reasonable change. We soon agreed upon
terms which seemed to me more than liberal
and together concocted some plan TO bring
the young lady to submission.
| had some compunction of conscience, for
two against one and that one Of the weaker
SEX seemed hardly fair; but the novelty and
the romance ard the solid cash connected
with it, reconciled me to the situation.
CHAPTER II
Just as the sun from the west was gliding
the Capitol dome with the last CLEANS Of de-
parting day, the train from Baltimore came
putting in 1t was Christmas eve, and the
busy crowds were hurrying to their homes.
Two days before, David Moss, attorney
and solicitor, ,eedy and threadbarc, had left
| for Baltimore. This evening the train
brought b. k David Moss an elegantly attired
gentleman 1t is astonishing how ones dress
increases their self respect. No doubt
Polonius thought of this when he said to
his son, Costly thy habit as thy purse can
buy, for the apparel oft proecaims t he
man.
What a change it had made in my feel
ings! A few days ago so dcspondent, now
buoyed up by hope and my good looks. |
felt as happy as king. My mirror had
told me the same hattering tale which it
tells many belle My ambrosal looks
were curled in style, my blonde moustache
was waXed to perfection, my blue eyes
sparklcd, and my manncrly form was i'm
mersed in an elegant suit of broadcloth Be-
sides all this, | had cultivated Il becoming
pallor, for | was to enact the role Of invalid.
A carriage was waiting, | was ASST sted into
it by the obsequious footmen, and sank
| languidly on the cushions. | was driven to
an elegant mansion, met by the host and al
most carried to q luxurious chamber. | was
too fhtigued to go down stairs that evening,
but the amount Of supper which cOntriyed
to swallow, and the wine it took to wash it
down, would have a3tonished restaurateur.
In the morning my head was so bad that
| took my coffee in bed. At dinner time
managed with my assista nee, to get to the
dining-room and for the first time met Kate
Marston, the young lady whose dearest
hopes | had come to overthrow. After the
| first glance | began to think that perhaps
old Mr.. Marston had made grave mistake
in bringing me there. l never had an ideal;
my busy life in college and my money to
live at all afterwards had allowed no margin
for dreams. But am sure Kate Marston
embodied all the elements which have COM
posed my ideal if | had possessed one.
She was small, a perfect brunette with
blue eyes, which might sparkle with love or
hate, red lips and checks, lustrous black
hair, white, shapely teeth, and in fact,
everything which is charming in woman
She treated me very kindly, very gently, be-
cause |, her fathers friend was an invalid.
If | had hccn apparently strong and hearty
she would have suspected her fathers mo-
tives, and met every advance with rebuff
He had brought several eligible young men
to his house but Kate had sent them about
their business in anything but Il compli-
mentary style. All the ladies who had been
hired as companions she won over to her
disobcdiencc, and we're discharged i'll dis
!, grace. 1t was plannel that while drawing
on her sympathy, and seeking kindly offices
from her, | should watch over ncr, keep with
, her as much as ! could, and excite if posi-
bic, the jealousy of her lover, and tempt
him to some desperate action.
r | felt i'm mediateIy that it would be a
pleasant task, although had l been as ap-
pcared, Il young man Of landed estate, |
! would have entered into it with greater zeal
For few days everything progressed
y smoothly. Kate was assiduous in her at
=, tentions to my comfort. | would lie on the
! sofa and she would read to me in her dulcet
= tones. enjoyed this heartily, for she was
/, really good reader, and Tennyson or By
9 ron from her lips was the sweetest music to
me.
t When my head ached, and | often haC
e severe spells with my head, how tenderly
/ she bathed it with those dett fingers Of hers.
| | would have been content to live and bask
e in the sunshine Of her presence forever, but
!. observation showed me that there was {
4 necessity for action. Sometimes Kate woulc
shut herself up in her room for an hour OF
a two. Meanwhile, |, on whom time always
hung heavily when she was absent, PLACED
, my chair by the window to view passers by
+ Invariably saw man pacing up and down
in front of the house. lie was of medium
c size, light complexion, blue grey eyes, Ions
| side whiskers mixture between haXen anC
brown. Most people would have called hin
d rather good looking, but a close observer o
G character would have noted the strangely
shaped forehead and the gradual sinking il
d of the features at the bridge of the nose.
h was not long in finding out this was Kate
d lover, and took strange delight in watch
G ing him. | caught him looking at me will
Il malignant scowl. With Kate's re-appear
Y ance he always disappeared. | was certain
d that they were keeping up correspondence
n but never saw her receive any letters.
10 began to c)ncoct plans to prevent this.
begged her as great favor to help me j
writing some letters which was u uecessl
,o for me to write but which, on account of m
lie weakness, ! was unable to do. kept he
for long hours writing letters about all sor
as of things, to imaginary people, which, q
| course, were never mailed, | have some {
is them yet carefully put away in my writin
=. desk. Then we took long rides, and sh,
believing me TO be a stranger in the city
pointed out objects Of interests and answere
F., the numerous questions which | chose
ask. | think at those times she must hay
thought me very stupid, and possessed {
,. very little information, but she alwa,
ho answered me with the same unwearyil
kindness.
ed With all the frmness and, as her faith
eff termed it, obstnacy, there was always in h
that gentleness and sweetness whic
Is characterizes the true lady. | only ,ighC
mt that she had not bestowed her love ON son
of worthy object-mysey, for instance, Lucki