The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-26
A Lover in Spite Of Himself.
CHAPTER II (Continued.)

associations that tickled me, and also j
another thing that will surprise you
when you hear it. But first, go ON with |
your yarn. Who and what is sher' II
II haven't the slightest ideaP' b
"You don't knowf"
aAll know, Tom, is that l have seen {
her, and that / adore her. | have never :
been able to get speech of her, or even
10 much as find out her name. Ii she !
were like other girls I'd soon scrape up
m acquaintance, but she awes me aud
ab.shes me- and I'd no more think OF
being unceremonious with her than with
Her Majesty Queen Victoria. l must
get presented in regular form or not at
all. But nobody seems to know her; she
seems to betraveling incog. They never
stop at hotels, but Always 70 to private
lodgings, 90 there's nothingto be learnt
through feeling walters first caught
sight of her in Paris, and have been
trotiing round at her heels ever since,
sometimes losing Eer for while, but not
for long. Yesterday, though, thought
she had given me the slip finally; but
by aecidentI heard it ruinored that some
one answering her description had taken
the train from Berlin southward four
days ago. came on here on speculation,
not here early this morning, and sure
enough, / had a glimpse Of her as she
drove by in her carriage not three hours
since"
"By Jove, Floydp said / musingly,
and paused.
81 'Thats my yarn, 50 far as it's gone. "
IL rose and Joined him at the window,
and we both leaned over the sill and
pazed thoughtfully down on the street
Beneath. The coincidence that the OBJ
iects of our respective alteration should
both happen to be in town at the same
time impressed me. 1t confirmed me,
too. in my design of making Floyd my
contilant, as he had made me his. Our
destinies were entaugled, and the fact
that his predicament OF not knowing 50
much as the name Of his mistress was
identical with nay own, encouraged me
to proceed. e
Exactly what expected to gain from
nv confession / did not pause TO con
sider. Matrimony must, OF course, ge
as much against my principles now as 1t
Mad been Yesterday; nevertheless some
how or other, the magnetism of Floyd's
presence had the effect of causing me at
least to reconsider the matter. 1t might
he worth nv while, at all events to heal
his opinion upon it; it would he an opln
ion founded upon good sense and knowl
edge Of the world.
The chances were, reflected, that hi
would but confirm my own views rs u
INV unfitness for the married state; hat
he not already insinuated as much, whit
ignorant of my infatuation? ! woul'
speak out, then, fearlessly, and woul'
speak at once.
"sFloyd-"
The loud rattling of carriage owe
the stones beneath interrupted me. W
both looked down, aud at the sigh
which met our eyes we both started
4Floyd was the first to speak.
"Ouickv look there, Tom," catchin
my arm with more of excitement in nj
manner than ] had ever before know
him to betray; "look, man, there she is!
"She@' I cried; "why, how did yo
know her? .....
"Know her7 Know the woman
adore?'
"You-adore-"
"Sbe's the one I've been telling yo
about--the one I love! o you beauty!
and he kissed his audacious hand at Il
retreating carriage.
Ileft the window without word an
walked to nv chair. The truth was +
vealed; Floyds "she" was mine; we bot
loved the same woman.
The carriage had contained three pc
aons-the white bearded old gentlema
another old gentleman who, from Il
hurried glance I had obtained Of him, r
minded me very much of Mr.. Frisb
our former business agent; and last al
above all, the lovely heroine OF the co
cert garden adventure.
FLOYD still remained at the windo
,azing down the street after the vanish
vehicle. and took advantage OF the O
portunity thus afforded me to hastily
view my position. and decide VIII
course Of action l ought to pursue.
was to be noted in the first place that
though | had been made aware of t
inso,u1le deadlock between my frie
and myself, he was entirely ignorant
it. The accident of his having been
forehand in exclaiming at sight of
carriage had made all the differen
Had my tongue been an instant quick
he. and not /, would have been the q
consulate one. 1t was fate; and ! refe
ed. with perhaps a moments bitterne
that fate had always been as kind to h
as she had been unkind to me.
But this unworthy mood did not Ia
II it was no fault of mine that was I
lucky, certainly Foyds good fortl
was no fault of his.
And as for the Psesent affair, / ous
consistently with myself) to reio
rsther than grieve at the turn i'll
taken. .a
e,If I did not wish to marry my dis
clination now bade fair to be respect
destiny was working on my side after
ought to esteem it a happiness, MT
over, that it had fallen to my lot
onlv In endow nv best friend with q