The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-06-07

2 The waiter entered with some additional
delicacy, and, setting it down, paused.
Miss Maydew, mumi" he said.
s. aYes;n / replied, looking fierce, what
right Had he to know h6f 6an1ef
IA gentleman desires 10 know If he can
come ins" he said and laid card on the
table. ~
+" Cousin Charlie, I Ideclarer' cried Miss
Mavdew. "Oh, Of course ~ Il, 81
A relative Of hers. / prepared my
blaudest smile, and In an instant . gen.
tleman bounced into the apartment. He
was older than perhaps twenty three
He wore slight ,mnstache and smelled
Gof musk. Such gloves, such boots, such
6iSr's fashion plate Vi . flt 70 his coat.
II hated him at dice. All the niofe that
ne took both Selina's hands In his and
squeezed them; aid retdfned my courteous
bow with . nod, short and supercilious.
To think of seeing yoaF' said Selma
Yas," dfswled the cousin. "Vewy
sing'lar. Fact is, cat1e on last night,
went to old Beagle's this morning, heard
you'd come here. and took sleigh and
came after you."
$ You good, good child!'' said Miss
Selma. "Oh, forgotl Mr., Pitcairn, Mr..
Charles Donnybrook. y
We shook hands with hate in our eyes.
s"Sit up aud take bite," said Selma.
tsWaiter, clean plate and glass-and
another plate and bottle OF champagne. !"
She gave the order with an air, but was
content. She was acting the hostess at
my board br0 TEN.
Cousin Charles did "situp." Also, good
appetites must have run in the family.
He cid not condescend to talk to me,
,butshe cotyersed with her, after the fash.
ion many people have, on topics In which
1 / could n5t take part, because l knew
neither the scenes nor actors in them.
I glumly stared at the cloth, drank
more wine than was goods for me, and
thought Of pistols and bowie knives. But
/ the worst had not come. When he had
l6nched Selma started up. "We'll have
just time to get home before dark, +" she
said. "Charlie, help me with this cloak n
and, as he did SO, there ehsued whis-
pered CONTEMPLATION. l stippose she had
some shafie left in her, for she spoke
these words with blush as she turned to-
ward me:
"Mr. Pitcairn, don't be angry with me
If go home in Charles sleigh. haven't
seen him for q year, you know; and l
came with you" sgd.
Astounding stab but I received it with
out showing my bleeding wounds to that
puppy. -.
cid and she did. !.
Ten minutes after paid my bill, and
saw from the open door Cousin Charles
splendid turn out skimming over the snow,
with Selma under the crimson-ii lined robe
at his side.
drove home, or rather to the stables,
whence walked to my boarding house.
There Biddy met me.
6 The letther We was so anxious about
come this AFTERNOON" she said, and pro-
duced it, smelling Of smoke, from her
apron pocket. l took it joyfully, for Mr..
Winder's watch began to lie heavily on
my conscience, and went with it to my
room. 1t was grandfather's handwriting
---his red seal also; but why was it light
er than usual! Alas! / soon knew. Tear
ing it open, Tread as follows: r
AppLEHuL, December.
DEAR GRANDsoN@This comes hoping you are
In the enjoyment of good health. Go to church
regularly, and avoid late hour. We are both
well, but laboring under some heavy DISPENSE
ton. Our best COW il dead; and last week the
kitchen chimney fell, breaking the roof, and
filling the well with rubbish 1t N q mercy no
cne was injured. As it will cost great deal to
have repairs done, and you can scarcely need
clothes-you have spent so much on your ward
robe-I, with regret, omit your monthly allow
ance. However, next quarter / will send you
thirty dollars at once to make amends. Write
soon. Your grandmother sends her love. 'l
Yours, affectiOnately,
SIMON PITCAIRN.
I x a great black gulf of despair and shame
opened at my feet. had not q cent in
tthe world consequently-miserable vic
tim of circumstances that l was-I had
stolen and pawned Mr.. Winder's watch.
What should do-whither should fly 7
Sholld commit suicide, or 60 into cave
and live in solitary misery, beating my
breast, scattering ashes on my head, and
CRYING scuba meal" Alas, even were a
cave at hand, Metropolitan police would
Ferret me out and consign ME to the
Tombs.
Aud good old grandma's heart would
break, and grandfather would disovn me.
and my little world would look upon me
with scorn.
I was only nineteen, and l am moi
ashamed to own that l cried as girl
might when l thought of these things. Al
| this juncture the bell rang. and washed
my face and went to dinner. tor l had 9
fancy that any unusual conduct woulo
bring premature detection upon my head
Selma was not there, and Mrs. Beagle in
formed us why.
/ !" She's gone off somewhere with hel
sveetheart,'i she said; and pretty
couple they arel 80. glad to meet aftel
such q long separation, Why, it's yea
4 since they saw each other, and it's lonl
( engsgement-ever since she was fifteen
Amt it romantic, Mr. Pitcairn ~ ssegs.
=" Romantic !" Ahl L had another
I.name for i'll, whom thatgirl had ruined
i / moped in the parlor awhile. Thea
as In any great trouble, great gust o
\ agony swept over me. If ycu have evel
rkn0ted the fact, or will note it, you will
know that mental or physical anguisl
/ always como in regular pangs, with y
/ much time, more or less, between them
| / wanted 10 stamp and rave. l could No
rave. could not endure my misery AM
Ewhst would surely come to me. Istarte'
ffron my seat and went up to Thomp
sons 70 om. ~
Thompson. I said, lend me you
pistols" rso rs
g What fors'' said Thompson.
ITO shoot cats. 1can't sleep for them,
II I said. a.t' .s.,''; N s.f,'s
And Thompson, with joke about com
hitting suicide, handed me his weapons
Then went up into my room am
lvrote q leng letter explaining what ha'
happened, and inclosing the pawn-ticket
Ipftiyed Ilgood and merciful Christian
to believe me; directed the note to "Thos
/ who shall find my body :, and, taking NJ
pistols, went down on the back porch
where no one ever cn1ie. There ] Intend
ed 20 END my miserable life. =. q.
No need of great haste, the night Wa
all before me. I uttered = prayer.
thought Of the kind, pious old people
home. l wondered II dear little Bessi
would be sorry for me; il, MIR. Winde
and the others at the Office would believ
me. / wondered what Heaven was like
and whether / should get there, and
ASnned to the church clock striking ter
II ,wSull give myself one hour Of life;
bslssen I would blow my. brains out. :,
was awfully in earnest. Halt the peopl
who commit suicide do H. fancy, with
hope of being stopped and restored 20 III
in the very act. I did not. would r.
I vdthat hour over again for all the worl
could give. Eleven came At last. A. q
strokes died into eileae6n lifted the ptse'
TO nv ear and aaid.s sOlemAly, = HeAve
have mercy on my, 1iuful eOulp' Then
shoAld have fred, hut nshand came on n
shot 6der and another grnsped ny wris
III - 81 = = zz..-. - ~ =, ~, <Sa1kz