The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-09-12
WHAT VENTRILOQUIsM Old.
by JOHN A. o'REoAN.

~ CHueil Will uut DelleNo ~ Wv
imagine II Is some wild creation Of
my excited fancy. She whom !
deemed the impersonatIon Of beauty
and honor act thus Why, it lis re-
moved from her nature as heaven Is
from earth"
And In a tremor OF excitement he.
began pacing backward and forward,
grinding the inofEensive carpet be-.
meath his iron heel.
"But here Is her letter. he con-
tlnued. "What other proof could /
possess ? Let me once more read II,
so that each word may be lndelllbly
imprinted in my memoEy:"
Mr.. lie CTARE.-I hope, for the
sake Of both Of MS, that yoti viii Ter
get what passed between as il the
grove last evening, as ! find on clos
er analysis Of my feelings ! do not
entertain for you that love which 2
wife should hold for her husband.
During our intercourse never for q
moment supposed that you regarded
me with anything more than . pass
ing friendship, and, on learning the
contrary, was so astonfshed ] knew
not for a moment what to say. The
fire and strength Of your declaration
almost overcame me, and seeing that
one little word would render you 80
happy, could not refrain from utter.
Ing IL. After your departure pru-
denee whispered It were better 10 un-
do ut once what pity had dictated /;
and 50 much against my inclination,
/ am compelled to make you ac-
quainted with the facts as they Ia
reality are. Forget me aud bestow
your love on some other more worthy
Of 1t. II the past could be forgotten,
II would be a pleasure 70 me for you
to include among your friends,
AMELIA FORFEIT
After he had finished reading II,
for the moment he paused and held
his burning brow between his hands
al viii do IT," he said, with the
air of man who had resolved to be
desperate. az will learn my fate
from her own lips, and II II is as l
fear, will"
That evening he called on Amelia
and fonnd her ready 20 start on .
surprise while the face a moment be-
shopping excursion. On beholdIng
him she started back In unaffected
fore resembled caFmine was now
deadly pale. Il was almost dusk,
and no lights being In the room he
was not aware Of her agitation.
''Good evening, Miss Forrest" he
said, with coolness be would faln
have thrown aside, as he seated him
self In accordance with IN invitation
from her. tI am sorry 60 detaln
you, but beg you will net object to .
few minutes conversation with me.
Indeed, 1t Is on a subject Of vital I'm
portance to me, otherwise / would
hot have presumed 70 trespass on
your valuable time"
al see you have not forgotten how
to fiatter," she said, as she lowered
her face so that he could not observe
none OF Its. workings, "and, sup
pose, ] shall have to grant what you
desire"
Miss Forrest, - he continued, IS
IL he had not heard what she had
just said, sis this farce or does II
contain your sentiments ?'' and he
handed her the note that had been
80 fatal to his happiness.
One glance was sufficient to satisfy
her; the writing was unmistakable.
"Mr. lie Clare, she answered, In
tones that sent chill through him,
.'when you entered supposed you
came In sccordanee with the request,
contained In this note, and as q friend
and only such am ! willing and hap
py to receive you. Since you mem
ton what passed Sunday evening; /
must again say It can never be. You
might, have spared each Of rs this
painful interview, but perhaps Il
were better as It IS"
"You mean this for yeur final an
swer?" he asked, with q calm dignity
that surprised her.
G1 do"
Without word he arose, and iefl
the room without ever noticing her.
The following morning the Forrest
family were seated at breakfast when
t'AIiss Amelia Forrest 70 cried the
postmaster, as, letter In hand, he
tapped against the window. Kate
Payton, her cousin, blooming bru.
nette Of 1s summers, ran to the win
dow and received II from him.
GI wonder who it Is FROM" she
said, with sly glance, as she threw
It into Amelia's lap.
Amelia bIushed as she recognized
the handwriting, and, going to the
window, eagerly began TO Peruse it.
No sooner had she mastered its con
tents than. with a shriek that startled
all, she Cell senseless to the floor. In.
stantly all became confusion. One
suggested one thing and another
something altogether different, bal
Kate disregarded them and bathed
her temples with cold water and
forced little wine between tbs
clenched teeth. In q moment the
effects of the liquor became manifest
and she once more breathed freely
Her swoon, however, brought on I
fever which was destined for weeks
to confine her TO her bed. Kate now
took up the cause of all the trouble
the letter-and, as she supposed, /
was from Mr.. lie Glare. Its contents
astonished her, and. as she finished
reading 1t, she cast glance Of pity
toward the unconscious Amelia. j
contained the following:
EsMrss FoREsr. In a kayv houYs