The Republican journal., 1877-10-18
w by He Didn't.

ult llol llldilN MISS an Horn w all
thought that matter was settled. but sud-
denly we We're surprised by the news
that You had married a stranger in the
city, and Helen Van Horn was left desc
late. | wonder what has become OF her
She must have married we'll, however
she had 4 tine chance to choose, for there
was scarcely IA good match in the city
that was not at her command ut one
time
''les, yes" answered the gentleman
addressed--Judge Hume, distinguished,
handsome, intelligent looking man OF
about ID Years of age Il successful law
raised to the judicial bench almost by
acclamatlon ~ no woman could have
married better than Helen Van Horn.
Why did not marry her is a short, sim
pie story, not without a moral and
will tell it if You care to hear it. have
never told it before, even to my Wife. lu-
dicrous as some Of its phrases are SO
take cigal-you will find it good one
and hear how, possibly, Helen Van
Horn is not Mrs. Hume to-day.
"lOu knew her father" began The
Judge, ''and will remember that he was
reputed to be Very rich. However, it
turned out, upon his death, and after his
debts We're paid. that there was left Il
mere rittance for Helen. obliging her.
the petttd child of fortune, to live with
extreme economy ever since"
"Do You mean to say that she has neV
cr married :" asked his guest.
Married repeated Hume: no in
deed and in that may he seen the moral
OF my story to which referred. But DO
not let us anticipate; let us begin 1T the
beginning.
cone evening, going to fulfill an en-
gaGemtnt with Miss Van Horn as the
servant u5hereu me unannounCed into the
parlor, found hel engaged in cOnyersa-
ton with a singularly handsome Young
man, who, | saw at a glance, might readi-
" become a formidable rival, and felt
for the first instant sharp pang of that
unaml1ble, dlScOnccrting passion, jeal-
ousy. But as my entrance had been un-
observed, | was able to recover myself
before saying in my blandest manner,
Good evening" The gentleman start
ed, and stittiy returned my bow As for
Helen, With sutfused cheeks she said
why, Mr.. Hume, did not hear YOU ut
all You are absolutely as gentle as Il
lamb
"SomeWhat angry at her satirical tone
observed that she was engaged in con
Ncrsation and probably did not hear me
enter, and added that | had called To
attend her to the gallery to see the pie
ture she was anxious about.
Ilu1 ,nuity Nh IIup,a cha so "A s,,,,n
what contusedly looking from the SGran
ger to me, II had entirely forgotten All
about il, and 50 promised Mr.. Churchill
here to accompany him to see Richelieu
Tonight
''I glanced toward the stranger and he
returned the glance with Il slight trown
on his face Miss Van Horn continued
But oh / beg y0ul pardon, gentlemen,
| had forgotten you were not acquainted
with each other. Mr.. Churchill, Of Rich
mond, and she careleSSly fell back into
the chair, from which she had half risen
for the moment.
II am sorry Miss Van Horn has SC
treachtrous a memory but | hope, Mr.
Churchill with your approval be
prevailed upon to defer his engagement
for assure you the picture is a rare gem
and we'll worth seeing" | persisted il
this because had become slightly rous-
ed by the indolent way Of receiving the
homage paid her, and there seemed to be
a gleam of triumph in the face Of my
rival.
"The young man looked at me grayely
then silently turned to Miss Van Horn
for some expression of her wishes. He
was evidently very much displeased al
my interruption OF their tete-a-t tete, anC
was sufficiently interested in the lady tG
be seriously rutfled by my rivalry; he WIS
not altogether pleased with the fact thai
she seemed so careless with respect tc
her engagements, which did not accorC
with his standard of women, He was F.;
Well-cducated young man OF good fortune
accustomed to be we'll received by Wo-
men, and yet-a as he afterwards told Inc
he could not help for the moment some
apprehension that the lady's choice toI
the evening might 90 against him, fol
YOU know was called quite Il lady's mal
i'll those days.
"As for Miss Van Horn she sat, mean
while, demulely toying with large tas
sci suspended from the arm Of her easy
chair for moment, rs if in deliberation
then exclaimed: "Realy, | am sure il
must he very wrong in ne to be s.
thoughtless, is it not ~ Here a captya-
ting smile Illuminated her beautiful feat
ures and parted her bewitching lips, JUS
discovering the pearly teeth between
them, and she added, 'Will you not set
tie the question, gentlemen, betweel
yourselves I?
"The matter must be arranged in SOME
way, and, as | was the most intimate
friend in the family, and my rival com
parative stranger, was about to mag
unanimously Withdraw my pretensions
and leave the field, when suddenly there
was Il loud ring at the front door, an(
Miss Van Horn started to her feet Will
the exclamation
"'Ah, that must be Mr. DeStultus wha