Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-23
MATS LUCK.
ut is just my luck!" said Mat. "Con-
fnrpN ~ T.,

fOund IT.
He walked gloomily to the window
and looked out-on the vivid green OF
the croquet lawn, on white and red roses
clustering about the porch; on the old
rector, tending his favorite geraniums in
the distance, amid blaze Of sunshine
and glow of color. Mat longed to be
with him-the somber room seemed as
oppressive as cage.
He threw open the French windows,
drew a long breath, and thrust his fingers
into the pockets Of his shooting coat, fall:
ing naturally into careless, lounging
attitude, peculiar to him. The fingers
came in contact with a note, and idly
brought it to light. It was addressed in
u oman's handwriting, to mathew Cur
it's, ESQ.,, M. D." A grim smile played
about that gentleman's lips as he reflected
how unsuited was that formal superscrip-
ton to the jovial, reckless good-for-
naught, known to rich and poor for miles
around as young Mat Curtis.
With Il listless air he drew forth the
brief Enclosure. His face darkened as
he pursued it.
miss Agnes Bellue would be glad to
have a few minutes conversation with
Mr.. Curtis"
"Lover-llke-very! commented Mat,
with sarcastic emphasis.
Another glance at the delicate paper
and the firm square handwriting, the dark
look hardening the while, until the char
acter OF the face seemed completely al
tered.
"Look at it!'' quoth Mat. "Her hand
never trem bled; there is not wavering
stroke! Why most girls would cry their
eyes out while writing such note as
that to their loversr'
He crushed the offending nissive into a
crumpled ball as he spoke, and addressed
a few more expletives to the fair sunshine
-expletives peculiarly unbe6tting q
clergyman's study, or the hearing of the
young lady who nolselessly entered in
time indistinctly to catch them.
Young-not more than twenty, perhaps
but with serene and queenly grace of
movement, assgravely beautiful face-an
air just now OF naughty disgust.
pardon me-" she says icily; $50 inter
esting a conversation with yourself is
probably of confidential nature"
Mat turns with a flaming face, quick,
deprecating gesture, courteous, apollo
getic bow and speech tina: somehow in
their confused humility stamp him as a
gentleman,
II trust indeed you did not hear it. !
earnestly crave forgiveness if you did,"
She contemptuously dismissed the mat
ter with the slightest wave of a little jew.
eled hand. Cold, hard, proud she looks
and her words have clear cut articula
ton suggestive of newly clipped coins.
II sent for you.
EYES," answers Mat, de6antly. Hit
penitence is dying away-the dark, hare
expression IS returning. "Just my luck,
it seems to repeat.
ITO beg an answer to two questions,
continues Miss Bellue.
Mat bows, thrusts his hands into TIL
deep shooting pockets once more, and re
sumes the careless, Longing attitude.
"Have you entered your name, not
withstanding my protest, as a gentleman
rider 70: the autumn steeple-chases'''
YES"
ISIS it,. indeed, true, that last night yo'
involved yourself in a poachiDg atfray
knocking down keeper and helping tn
poachers to escapes"
''Yes," says Mat, with a kind Of sulle1
despair.
Miss Bellue draws something from he
white fingers, and holds it out. Me
chemically Mats hand comes out of tn
shooting. pocket and grasps it. 1t is
woman's engagement ring.
They looked at each other, g curiou
con trast in the two faces. Hers composed
calm, haughtily Indifferent His blankl
astonished, angry, agitated, by turns.
"Not-not that, Agnes,' he pleads
huskily.
The serene beauty, the quiet determi
nation Of her face answer him.
| SAT least, let me- explain. l caR do S
to your satisfaction, I think, I hope!' b
says, obviously. "Return it to your fling
er, and reserve judgment till you bea
the defense!'' And he holds the ring tc
ward her, with great clumsy ha I'd tia
trembles somewhat.
Still no audible reply. A faint shak
of tile head, a look of polite incredul
that is all.
do you not care2" he asks.
His appealing eyes search ed her fac
1t does not change. Beautiful. impertul
bable, the sentence written there neve
varies. His unsteady fingers dropped tn
ring; but he lets it lie, half buried in
f1eecy rug. Then, with set, stern iooh
he sets his foot upon it, bows slightly
and walked from the room.
He leaves the house, passing the wiz
dow to gain the road, but looking neithe
to the right nor TO the left.
His head is erect, his hands are out c
the loose pockets. For once (startlin
transformation, young Mat Curtis look
positively 'digni6ed.
And as he vanishes as startling tran.
formation takes place IN the room he ha
quilted. Miss Bellue proves herself
woman, and not a queen, by series {
actions essentially feminine.
First she rescues the bent love toxic
FROM the floor; then she kisses it and erie
over it.; then she locks it away CAREFUL
in writing-desk; then she rushes W
stairs to watch her lover out of sight fror
an upper window.
For quarter Of mile or so she watch
ed him. retreating figure, growing small
er and smaller in the distance. He neve
once looked back; the regular march {
his step never faltered a turn of the roa
hid him from sight. Miss Bellue IS
down on the floor "a most undignifc
position-and cried till her pretty eye
were red and swollen.
st is all over!'' she moaned--"a
over!" 49,
Fire! FireI'' -.-----
Mat sprang from his bed, and, wit
: professional >experfness struck ) ligh
tumbled into some clothes, and rushe
from the house. i} ....-, #= S
: f" No need to ask whence the alarm pr,
ceeded; the fierce pillar Of fame and .th
red glow in tine sky were beac0ns towar
: (which he ran at headlong speed, wi,