Richland beacon., 1880-10-23

that her wedding clothes were being
made. That struck me hl:e the ball
from Whitworth gun. Lon said,
the first time l met her after hearing
this story, is it true that you're getting
ready to marry this man?' naming
him.
"She had way of half turning her
face and looking up at you with sauci-
ness in her black eyes that would drive
a man crazy. She looked at me that
way.
"Don't you wish you knew? she
asked, and walked away, looking back
ward Just once, in her coquettish way,
over her shoulder.
"Ten minutes afterward l saw her
walking with my venerable rival"
Venerable alongside of veal" said
Gherkins, savagely.
The Judge laughed.
"You are posted, Colonel" he said.
"You forget that mentioned no name
for the gentleman"
"You might as well. said the other.
"Oh, the doctor can wait or guess, u
was the reply. Then" Miss Dexter's
indifference crazed me. I wanted to
tell her that, as a man, I loved her. She
knew that in my childhood 1 had idol
lied her. But what chance had ]? What
good would it do, if she were going tC
marry the infirm fellow Wheeling asth'
matically by her side? went home as
| sured that life had no value to me. The
more I thought of it the less I cared fol
it. The less 1 cared for it the greater
my anxiety to be rid of it. To he rid O
it meant to take it. Suicide is horribly
vulgar, ordinarily. II is only thu
Frenchman who makes it sublime. HI
There! here! Imust protest" ex
claimed the parson, holding up his hand
in horror: "Such talk is not orthodox.
I'm not telling an orthodox story
doctor. What think now and though
then are two different affairs. Enough
to say I resolved ON killing myself. A
in my disappointment I felt no hunger
starvation seemed very refined metho'
of self-extermination."
Economical to the last !" exclaime,
the Colonel, returning to the attack.
you'll never carry the practice q
your life to such an extreme" said Bar
ron ~ have the satisfaction of know
ing that. However, Colonel, your bitter
ness is natural. 1 forgive you. Dr
Miller cannot fail to see that I'm treat
ing you like Christian-that is, as
you we're one. Well, began the sieg
myself. The supplies were cut of.
retired to my room and refused to eat
That meant great deal when it is cor
sidered that for four years I had lived q
q college clearinghouse. 1t mean
more when one remembers that it wa
done for love. Men talk of killing then
selves for the objects of their affections
but they seldom, if ever, try the starvs
ton plan. It takes true grit for til:
sort of thing. Perhaps this story I
mine hasn't the sentimental fervOr th
animated me then. It seems now
have been an example of rather funr
cbstinacy. The first day was live
through without much discomfort ; Il
second found me hungry /; the third,
was half crazy for food, and the smt
from the kitchen infuriated me. b
gan to wonder if I wasn't making to
of myself"
eyes You were the onlyone who b
doubts about it T. said the Colonel, qui
cheerfully, all things considered.
, Meanwhile" continued the jude
"every relative got wind of the matt
and came to hold an ante-mortem
quest. The doctor was summoned, a
at last the newspaper Of the town cal
out with q highly-seasoned story,
. which Miss Dexter was, by innuendo'
referred to as the cause of the troub
! Of this, however, I knew nothing.
was too busy in scheming to count
!. act the plots of my friends to force TO
into my stomach to care what was bel
said outside Of the house. The night
y the third day was horrible one. 1t
made up of q succession Of dreams
, banquets at which could not eat enou
"a to satisfy my hunger.
"The next morning ! was out OF
:. head untl noon"
d "Out Of your stomach! Brains
nothing to do with it" said the Colon
N "Out Of my head" repeated
z Judge. cit seemed as though I '