The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-24

discover if she cared for me in the least. |
: tried several times to speak out like man,
but when opened my mouth no sound would
come for long time, and when said Made
|lincr'-shc sprang TO her feet, and the poodle
on the rug q hate poodles) yclped as if the old
'un was after HIM.
Gracious. how you frightened me-" Made
| line said what in the world did You shout 80
f0r?"
! broke out in cold pcrspiraton and felt Il
booming III my ears which made me imagine
those auricular organs were increasing III
| length; after awhile became subducd enough
to resume the attack IN lower key.
Would you like 10 live in II cottage, Miss
Madeline" asked gravely, with one you
! lOvcd?"
What kind of cottage cottage orHee,
with all the decorations Imaginable"
"Oh, no! Il plain, practical cottage, with
slopIng roof and brick chimneys, and plain
ingram carpets within, and canc-seatcd chairs
| answered gravcly
NO indeed" she said, emphatically, Il pre-
fer u three-story brick, marble front, with
black walnut and green rug inside; / dctcst
cottages
Think of that, | felt poorer than JOB.
But would you not be willing to share
poverty with one you loved? Think Of the
communion Of spirits, the interchange of true
affection TO swcctcn such a life
"Ycs; but think OF pork and cabbage for
dinner and baked beans for supper No, thank
| you! | should prefer to share riches with the
rest"
was sick at heart after that, and said no
more; when | got up to go Madeline follow
ed me into the hall.
You are working too hard" she kindly
said, "t is beginning to tell on you give your
self more leisure"
"And starvc," replied bitterly, for thought
her tone patronizing poor folks cannot find
time to rest"
She looked hurt at my rudencss, and was
angry enough with myself the next moment
for it and tried to make amends but she said a
cold good night" and was gone.
On my way home | stormed ficrcely to my
self | would succeed, if only to show her
that she must not despise me; would win the
case if human foresight were ever available,
and whcl | got to my office turned on the
gas, took %" my coat, and enveloped myself in
my dressing GOWN and set to work to find the
clue | sought
How worked! the hours passed on and on
and my task was not completed. had no in
tcrruptiOn, for my roommate and Chum had
started that day on trip to Philadelphia, and
would not come back for month, and was
too hard II workcrtobc popular with the young
men about town who kept late hours. So my
brain never once swcrvcd from its close con
Ccntration on the one tangled thread in the
otherwise smooth sliein.
At last 1t came to me like an inspiration
where | could obtain the evidence | needed,
and where ] was sure no one else would ever
think of looking | made n brief note of il,
for was too excited and overweight to make
II out clearly, and then springing from my
chair made one vast bundle of my papers and
let them lie, boltcd my office door, and, she'd
ding my drCSsing-gown and slippers, threw
myself on my bed in the next room, with a
feeling IN my head as if it were bound in hot
iron. | closed my eyes and electric sparks
shot from them, hut slept or swooned, | can
not say which, nor for how long, only know
that suddenly my eyes opened, by no impulse
of my own, and ! became instantly aware that
&omc 0Hc was in the office. ! knew that had
bolcd the door, and knew that the windows
were burglar proot-thcn how could any living
being get in? ! became thrilled with IA secret
terror MS | noticed that the gas was burning
brightly and the mysterious visitor was actu-
ally seated Il. my desk, writing away; more,
was wearing my dressing ! could only
see his back, but il was strangely familiar |
could hear him breathe, and the monotonous
click of the pen WIS painfully distinct. VINO
was he? |Ihm Was hey | felt the most unac-
countablc and horrible sensations while look
ed at him. 1t seemed as if my heart would
stop beating and there was Il whirring sound
in my head that sounded like the cars
lOnged to see his face, yet dreaded to have him
turn! Al last he ceased To writc-rOsc sudden
y, and with hasty motion that was natural
with myself; and after laying something in
the letter box, turned slowly around | felt as
# ] must die from terror if | looked at the
%. Il ~
full fascination. II was as | feared. | looked,
and bcheH myscf-my doablc,
| swoOned with horror and alright: |
thought it meant death, but when long after
lifted powcrlcss heart and feeble hand, be
licvcd myself to be in the land of spirits, until
a voice, that sounded in no wise spiritual cX-
claimed:
well done, Fred. we'll have you back
among Us yet, please God! but that stroke
nearly did for you, old fellow
IL was Leonard Holmes my chum and room
mate who spoke and whose CHEEKY face, now
looking thin and anxious, bent over me
How long is il sincc-sincc:" | began, as
the horrible rccolectOns came back.
"Sincc you had your first attack? Three
weeks; the Judge and | have nursed YOU
through it all, with little help. | knew you
would do it, working SO long and hard. Told
you so."
Leonard" said solemnly II shall die, for
I've had a warning I've seen myseifh"
Seen yourself! Ha! ha' Why of course
you have! Isn't there n looking glass half rs
big as the ROOM right ut the foot Of the bed?
I've been tempted 10 turn il TO the wall half II
dozen times, but hadn't courage To take out
those screws"
"Oh, you don't understand me-" said DIES
pcratclv. II saw myself rs plainly aS now
see you. 1t was that night, and lay here and
saw myself writing at that desk saw the back
and the hair, and when il .urncd | saw my
face, Leonard, and | tell you it's warning"
Leonard regarded me with prolonged stare
for few moments, and then he burst out
laughing. "Oh, you precious goose" he
calculated selling my weak hands in his
why it was ne you saw, and nobody else. |
came back that night, after missing the cars
and sat down at your desk, as il was open, and
wrote some letters; | put ON your uressing
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