The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-04-08

Where no kind parent sought her.
In winding sheet of snow and sleet r. -.
Was found the drunkard's pallid daughter.
&c.: Tile Rechabile.
HOW GREEK MET GREEK.
$50 it is true, Jessie Handbook! You
have been trifling with me from first to
last. May God forgive you'll cannot !''
said Ralph Ashton, bitterly, as he
dropped the white hand and gazed down
scorntully ut its owner.
"Why, Ralph" lispcd an al1ectionate
voice, II never dreamed you meant any
thing really, it seems 80 oddr'
"Odd, Jessie Handbook" and his ewes
flashed angnly. "You never dreamed
that loved you2 You knew it we'll Day
by day you have been leading me on.
Why, when you saw that I was begin
ming to love you from my very soul, did
you not check me? Twas because you
wished to swell the list Of your victims.
| congratulate you upon your success.
Now farewell forevcr!' Ana before tho
apparently astonishcd young lady could
frame sentence. the door had slammed
behind Ralph Ashton.
He strobe tiercely down the street to
his studio, and entering it, locked the
door behind him. A picture stood on
the easel, partly concealed by cloth
which had been thrown over it. This he
snatched hastily off and revealed full
life portrait Of Jessie Handbook, Just as
she locked the first time he had met her,
clad in white silk trimmed with tube
roses, the same which nestled in her long
golden curls. A smile parted the saucy
red lips, and dimpled one daintily tinted
cheek. It was Jessie Handbook, surely,
but a thousand times more beautiful, for
he had endowed it with a soul-not hers,
but one of his own crcation-one that he
imagined that the woman he loved DOS.
sessed.
He had spent much time on this pic
ture, and had succeeded beyond his
widest hopes. 1t had become the great
est pleasure of his life to sit before it,
and with every stroke of the brush paint
and fancy wonderful dream of the
future when lie should call her his yerv
own.
All this may seem romantic and nom
sensical for strong man to indulge in
but it was true. Ralph Ashton possessed
the sensitive nature that continually
leans toward the ideal and suns the prac-
teal side of lite. Whatever pleased or
attracted him, he endowed with gifts of
a divine nature. He was honest and
truthful in the highest degree-just the
one to fall a victim to the snares of the
hard: hard world.
Jessie Handbook was a f1irt of the
deepest dye, without shadow of heart.
Her one aim was to secure rich hus-
band-who would keep her in ease and
atfluencc all her butterfly life. She had
been pleased and flattercd with Ralph
Ashton's presence, and, when sac saw
him falling under the spell of her charms,
instead Of releasing him there and then,
as an honorable woman would have done.
she strove the harder to please until she
gained her own wish--mainly, to say s'no''
to the important question.
= AS Ralph Ashton gazcd long and bit
terly at the beautiful picture, he felt the
one great hope of his life died within
him, and all became darkness and de-
spair. AT last, snatching it angrily from
the easel, he ripped the canvas with his
knife and thrust the whole into the crate,
watching the flames consume it with a
look of fierce hatred.
The next day friend, coming to call
was surprised to find this placard ON the
door, "Gonc to Europe
X r X i
A suppressed murmur ran through
Mrs. BIS crowded rooms as Ralph
Ashton entered them. It was his first
appearance in society since his return
from Europe, and Mrs. B-had secured
him, though by dint Of strategy, for that
one evening, ut least, as she ANNOUNCED
triumphantly to her guests.
He was quite lion, for his paintings
had won him fame, and already riches
enough to secure comfort. When lite
had become barren and dlstasteful to him
he had sought consolation in his work,
and had grown to love it with the 1nten
sity which insurcs success.
Jessie Handbook was there. She had
tailed, although it was four years later
to secure the rich husband. She had not
altered, but looked rs fresh and beauti-
full as ever as she stood under the full
light OF chandelier, clad, singularly
enough, in white silk garlaned with
tube roses just as he had seen her for the
first time whe he had fallen so madly in
love.
A blush dyed her cheek us she observed
his figure approaching her. II will win
him YETI she said, under her breath. For
the man whom all the world acknowl-
edged seemed very different to her from
the poor, unknown artist she had scorned.
"Miss Hardbrook2 What pleasure -
She felt her hand graspcd cordially,
and thought she noted look OF interest
in the speakers brown eyes.
He remained by her side the most of
the evening, making himself wonderful
ly agreeable by descriptions of his trav-
els, and when he placed her in carriage,
whispered softly:
j. "May I come to morrow"
After that their old intimacy seemed
revived. The gossips began to dream OF
a grand wedding, and all the girls en-
We'd Jessie her good fortune. She was
very happy, too; for the first time she
knew what ii was 10 love; yes, she
loved Ralph Ashton from her very soul,
and felt sure that he loved her in return
Only one thing troubled her; he did not
speak.
"He is waiting TO be sure of me-" she
would say to herself. "He will not risk
another refusal. And she became doubly
gracious. :
One afternoon he remarked carelessly,
as he sat by her side,-
81 ana going away tomorrow, Jessie
shall you miss mel''
"Whata question, Ralph!" she replied,
blushing. ::'You know I shall. You'll not
be gore *long?" 49,.
80 "Only a1ew weeks. shall bring q
friend back with me whom I hopo YOU
will love for my. sake" =. III: l. Il 49, is
Indeed will ! she answered. S.sIs he
like you2" r 2. 75,, 49, , - ~.
~ !" Hardly" And curious smile PLAYED
about Ralph Ashton's mouth as he rose
and bade her good bye. %si.i.S:
r Three weeks later Miss Hardbro re.
ceived little three cornercl note, which
read as follows: