Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1880-01-15

Duuuenly JHe look OF intense pleasure
on her face was changed for one OF
wonder and annoyance. 1t had become
her duty in a moment to do a very dis
agreeable thing; but duty was q kind
Of religion to Eleanor Bethune; she
never thought of shirking it.
So she Immediately inquired her way
to the telegraph Office, and even quick
ened her steps into as fast walk as
she ever permitted herself. The mes
sage she had to send was a peculiar
and not q pleasant one. At first she
thought it would hardly be possible for
her to frame it in such words as she
would care to dictate to strangers; but
she finally settled on the following form.
Messrs Locke d LORD!
Tell brother Edward that Bloom is in Den
yer. No delay. The matter is of the great
est Importance"
When she had dictated the message,
the clerk said, "Two dollars, madam"
But greatly to Eleanor's annoyance,
her purse was not in her pocket, and
she could not remember whether she
had put it there or not. The man stood
looking at her in an expectant way;
she felt that any delay about the mes
sage might be fatal to its worth; per-
plexity and uncertainty ruled her alb
solutely. She was about to explain her
dilemma, and return to her hotel for
money, when a gentleman, who had
heard and watched the whole proceed
ing, said:
MADAM, perceive that time is of
great Importance to you, and that you
have lost your purse; allow me to pay
for the message. You can return the
money if you wish. My name is Will
lam Smith. l am staying at the Ameri
cam"
"Thank you, sir. The message is of
the graVest Importance to my brother.
gratefully accept your offer"
Further knowledge proved Mr.. Will
lam Smith to be New York capitalist
who was slightly known to three of the
gentlemen in Eleanor's party; so that
the acquaintance began so informally
wasvery speedily afterward inaugurated
with all the forms and ceremonies good
society demands. 1t was soon possible,
too, for Eleanor to explain the circum-
stances which, even in her code of strict
etiquette, made strangers offer of
money for the hour thing to be CRATE
fully accepted. She had seen in the
door of the post-office runaway cash
ier of her brothers., and his speedy ar
rest involved a matter of at least forty
thousand dollars.
Tb1o Mv, WSl1So -, Ct,oS+I, a Fatally
different man to EleanOr's last lover
bright, energetic, alert business man,
decidedly handsome and gentlemanly.
Though his name was greatly against
him in Eleanor's preiudices, she found
herself quite unable to resist the CHEEKY,
pleasant influence he carried with him.
And it was evident from the very first
day III their acquaintance that MIR.
William Smith had but one thought
the winning of Eleanor Bethune.
When she returned to New York in
the autumn she ventured to cast up ac-
counts with life, and she was rather
amazed at the result. For she was
quite aware that she was in love with
this William Smith in way that she
had never been with the other. The
first had been a sentimental ideal; the
second was a genuine case of sincere
and passionate affection. She felt that
the desertion of this lover would be
grief far beyond the power of satin and
lace to cure.
But her new lover had never dis
loyal thought to his mistress, and his
love, transplanted to the pleasant
places of New York life, seemed to find
its native air. 1t enveloped Eleanor
now like a glad and heavenly atmos-
phere; she was so happy that she
dreaded any change; it seemed to her
that no change could make her happier.
But if good is good, still better car
ries the day, and Mr.. Smith thought
marriage would be a great deal better
than lOve-making. Eleanor and he
were sitting in the fire-lit parlor, very
still and very happy, when he whis-
pered this opinion to her.
"It is only four months since we met,
dear"
"Only four months, darling; but l
had been dreaming about you four
months before that. Let me hold your
hands, sweet, while l tell you. On the
goth Of last April was on the point of
leaving for Colorado to look after the
Silver Cliff Mine. My carriage was or
dered, and I was waiting at my hotel
for it. A servant brought me a letter
the dearest, sweetest little letter-see,
here it is!'' and this William Smith abb
soIutely laid before Eleanor her own
pretty, loving reply to the first William
Smiths offer.
Eleanor looked queerly at it, and
smiled, "What did you think, dearP"
"That it was just the pleasantest
thing that had ever happened to me.
It was directed to Mr.. w. Smith, and
had been given into my hands. / was
not going back to seek up any other W.
Smith,"
"But you must have been sure that
it was not intended for you, and you
did not know Eleanor Bethune."
40, beg your pardon, sweetheart;
it Oa8 intended for me. l can imagine
destiny standing sarcastically by your
side, and watching you send the letter
to one w. Smith when she intended it
for another w. Smith. Eleanor Bethune
l meant to know just as soon as pOssi-
BILE. / was coming back to New York
to look fOY. vO1lD -