The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-02-26


lending. In other words, IL Is the rea
reason am bachelor tonight"
He replaced his cigar between his lips
and began pulling at IL, while he gazed
into the fire with a thoughtful, dreamy
look. After waiting considerable time
on his silence began 10 fear he had gone
back 10 his younger days and did not in
tend TO return. was growing impatient
and gently reminded him of the story. He
knocked the ashes from his cigar, laid il
upon the handicapped table beside him,
filled goblet from the long-necked bottle,
and began:
:" | was youth to fortune and TO fame
unknown when chance landed me in this
city, as under-clerk IN a dry-goods store
and third-rate clearinghouse for a
home. had not been in the latter very
long before | became acquainted with a
young lady boarding there with her mo-
Their while waiting the issue of a lawsuit
which, if they gained il, would place them
in possession of considerable property
Della Mason was a slender. aristocratic-
looking girl, with large, velvety. black
eyes and masses of jetty hair. which she
wore braided and wound about her head
| In queenly fashion. She was not what
would or could be called beauty. but she
had marvellous. winning way with her,
and soon observed was quite a belle in
the house, despite the fact that she had a
temper like wildcat, and seemed To take
no pains To conceal IL.
There was the usual complement of
boarders 10 be found in such a house a
widowcr, a couple of elderly bachelors,
four or five clerks. and a sprinkling of fe-
males TO correspond. Among the latter
was a maiden lady of the name of Della
Hunt. She was a little wiZen-faced, crook
ed-nosed parsonage, with complexion
like parchment. little twinkling black
eyes. and scanty black hair, which she
nearly covered with false braids and curls.
| cannot recall the memory of that spin
ster without u feeling of aversion for the
whole class. Ii seemed as though she
heard and saw every thing that was said
and done. She did not refrain from COM
menting on it. either, generally with the
remark. overheard so-and-so.' | soon
discovered she had interested herself in
my affairs.
II must be allowed the vanity of saving
that, from the first of our acquaintance,
Miss Mason showed a marked preference
for me. was young, bashful. and unused
to society consequently il did not take
her long To have me madly i'm love with
her. This Miss Hunt seemed 10 take as a
personal insult TO herself. Whether she
her own personal attractions
superior to Miss Mason's cannot say. |
can only assign her desire TO NEEDLE with
my love affair TO that morbid curiosity
which seems TO be a characteristic of that
unhappy class OF females. | now believe
that Miss Mason was really attached 10 me
once. never recollect her showing me the /
least Indifference until an unfortunate affair |
occurred which, with Miss Hunts assist |
20, i.rhl
tons. | heard Miss Mason say one day she |
was very partial to tube-roses, and. al !
though could i'll afford to make presents,
| purchased small bouquet of them for
her. and carried them triumphantly home.
In the hall | met Milly Wilson. the invalid
niece Of the landlady. piiied her for the
dreary life she led. and when l saw her
look wistfully at my flowers | stopped to
show them TO her.
allow lovely They are my favorites.
too. Their odor revives me like draught
of rich wine'
"She bent her pale, sorrowfnl face over
them. when yielding to a sudden impulse /
of pity 1 told her they were hers.
Really, Mr.. Wentworth but'-hesi- /
they not purchased for
some one elsc:'
~ purchased them for fair and lovely
LADY, said gallantly-'and | am sure
fair lady has them
"She thanked me with such look of
pleasure on her face. felt repaid for rhe
sacrifice. did not then know what ter
rible sacrifice | had really made. As |
turned 10 go upstairs ! cast my eye up
ward and perceived the fragile form of
Miss Hunt accidentally leaning over the
baluster. remarked to myself. You old
eat y and went on up to my room. did
not sec Miss Mason until evening, when. |
entering the parlor, found her patiently
listening to old Griggs, the widower. She
deigned me freezing nod. After sumter I
ing round the room for some time with
out attracting her further motto re-
treated Ia the sitting-room whore Milly
Wilson was winding zephvrs. | began To /
assist her. and we were thus socially en- |
ployed when Miss Hunt happened to look |
in. Soon after Miss Mason did the same.
AFTER that | could scarcely get civil
word out of the latter. | manpuvred /
many times 10 get a chance TO ask the rea
son for her GOODNESS. and explain IL away !
Ii Ii was jealousy of poor Milly. but Miss /
Hunt was always in the way. She seemed /
o be on the lookout tor me as soon as l /
entered the house. ard never relaxed her /
surveillance until the street door banged \
after me. Often then il would glance I
back could see her head protruding from \
some window. SO hired buggy one \
day. determined TO force an opportunity. I
But Miss Mason was not At home. | was \
going TO drive of alone when Milly viii 4
son pale. wistful face looked out from \
the sitting-room. could not resist the /
to bestow pleasure where
knew ii would be appreciated, so invited
her 10 ride. The next dav | had the un-
Sppakahla uuouieh tn 600 Miss Mn. IN drive
away with old Griggs.
THAT was but the beginning of series
OF events that drove me into fever of
jealousy. She firted with this one and
that one. Where she had been all affabil-
itX and sMnntnnss nnca shn Mas freezin q