, 1880-09-13

lUab WAS year ago. nave SoeIl
her just once since. She was on the
Albany train. 1 left the car for mo-
ment, and when l returned she had dis
app. ared-at the station. suppose. I
have meyer forgotten her for moment,
and l know that could love her as l
aoula love but very few women; and L
Intend to wait a little while before /
give up the pursuit"
Quite romantic Was there moth
ing in her conversation to tell you
where she lived ?"
"She mentioned several places, in
an ff-hand way"
We'll. old boy, think you might
almost as we'll look for needle in. a
haystack, to use a homeIy expression,
as to search for woman with no bet
ter clue than that You had better set
her down as your ideal, and marry
some one else for the real"
Is am not ready to give up yet, and
now"
Here | was interrupted by some one
coming into the office. The doctor
arose, and heard silvery voice that
sounded as though | had heard it in
my dreams say:
" Good evening, DR.. Howard Am
| not stranger p
"Why. Belle Hunter, when did you
get back?"
Last week; and as 1 am suffering
compelled to make you an early call. )"
:" You are very welcome, though [
am sorry for your tooth. Step this
way, please"
! The next moment l was being intro
duced-could l believe my senses 2
to the twill o. the wisp" of my sum-
mer dream!
She extended her small white hand
and smiled as she give me glance
from her glorious dark eyes. took
her hand and pressed it with more than
usual warmth, while l said
Z" / believe We have met before, al
though Miss Hunter may not remem-
ber me"
remember you very we'll, and l
am glad to meet you again
The doctor gave me look and
smile, and left me to wait until the
troublesome tooth which l valued
more than a priceless pearl-was ex-
tracted.
Then We all drifted into a pleasant
conversation. until, glancing up at the
clock. Miss Hunter exclaimed
why, did not know it was so late!
You see, the doctor and are such old
friends that we never know when to
say good-by."
II think it is almost too late for you
to go 50 far alone. AS | have some
work to do, if you will accept my old
friend as an escort you will confer a
favor on US BOTH
She said something about not being
afraid, but l would have walked to the
ends of the earth before 1 weuid have
i.rivcn up such AZ opportunity as this
afforded.
made our walk as long as / could,
for I enjoyed every moment spent with
my fair companion. l returned to the
office. and DIR. Howard exclaimed:
You see, [ saw at o glance that it
was Belle you had been raving about,
so / managed that affair for you; and l
must say, if you win Belle Hunter,
you will draw a prize. She is rich,
gifted, good and noble; in fact. I do
net know of woman that can COM
pare with her"
"One would think you were in love
with her yourself"
am not. and for that reason con-
slider myself a more competent Judge.
1 have known her for a long time, and
if you win her, shall expect an invi-
tation to your Wedding"
Il should not consider it complete
without you, aud trust you may re-
ceive one before long, as she has given
me her permission te call.
remained in NJ as the doctors
guest during the remainder of my va
cation. 1 had improved every oppor-
tunity where Belle was concerned. She
had been to the mountains that sum-
mer, and her incidents of travel, given
in her own matchless manner, made
every hour long to be remembered;
and in October 1 said farewell, with
promise of pleasant correspondence
between us.
The next year l sent DR.. Howard
the promised invitation to my
wedding, and he came, little dreaming
of the surprise waiting for him; for
that summer had come across Annie
Dumont in little country village to
find that she had been widow several
months. So she. too, was invited.
Never sun shone on fairer bride than
mine, said, and 1 was the happiest,
proudest man on earth. We had many
laugh over our first meeting. and
Belle confessed that she had never for
gotten me from that time.
When the doctor and Annie met
there was start of surprise; but they
managed to keep together the rest of
the evening.