Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-01-24


sensible words she has yet spoken. 1t is
Balzac who has said that plain woman
is only in danger of being loved too well.
But am only taking Miss Olive at her
own valuation; it would scarcely be po-
lite to call lady plain
"Your politeness is very suggestive, !"
/ / replied. 81 am plain, and no one will
ever love me- A popularity of Miss
Olives to utter words which afterward
caused the forehead to Jingle with shame.
DE Mott turned his eyes away with an
amused look. alt will do for Miss
Olive to make such statement only be-
I fore me, but in presence of some other
gentleman it might meet with a practical
denial"
" He must mean Lawrence Wharton"
1 thought, who was only drawn to me
by the law of opposites, l always ex-
planned TO Lora when thought she no.
ticed his preference. Larrey,as we called
him, was a ward Of my uncle's, Lora's
father, and lived in his family; NJ. De
Mott was my uncle's partner; also
was in my uncle's charge.
Before leaving. NJ. De Mott invited
me to a concert that night; he had al
ready secured Loraine's attendance.
He had asked me at the eleventh hour,
hoping | might have some other Oppor-
tunity hut then there were always lions
in the way if l wished especially TO 60
anywhere, so / accepted his escort.
At the concert we had not long been
seated when Larrey joined us, looking
tired and nervous.
He should have come around for
me in time" he said, al but old AIorton's
wife was sick and he had taken his place
at;the books" Uarrey was unoccupied;
he had but just made his exit from col
lege, and had not yet decided upon his
life work The governor says that
the books must be kept up, so l shall
have to work until Mrs. Morton mends."
And the salary ?" asked, in concern
for the old couple, for l knew it was
their only dependence.
"Ohi that goes on of course. What
could do with it? My quarterly allow
ance has to 60 a-begging now, l can
not find ways for it,"
The blessed Larry! well knew
that, from the expensive keepsakes that
/ had so often thrust back upon him.
If doing His bidding constitutes one,
you, Larry, must be one of the Lords
servants said to him.
He smiled, pleased at my approval.
"Olie, you will return in my carriage.
Monsieur is not particular about having
charge of more than one lady
Monsieur was, perhaps, watching for
the entrance of the cantatrice, and did
not reply.
"De Mott, will you give Miss Ole to
my care for the remainder of the even
ing?''
NJ De Mott turned slowly and exam
ined me with cold. critical eyes, and turn
ing from me indifferently, replied to
Larrey, "Miss Olive is at liberty to
make her own choice"
His san9-troid always made me irate,
and ! replied, - Thanks, Monsieur, my
choice shall be good one; it shall fall
on You, Larrey."
In our set Monsieur was considered
something of an enthusiast. He had in
youth left France. disguised with its
rulers. and fired with admiration for our
free institutions. In the Franco-Prus-
sian war, when Napoleon fled from
( France, he returned to it, and took up
arms. Later, despairing of its ever be-
coming what he had once hoped for it,
he returned to his adopted country.
For two years he had been connected
in business with Lora's father, and, not
withstanding the prestige of his career,
we had never during that time discov-
cred in him any indications of ardor.
For me. had my private opinion con-
corning his enthusiasm. | believe that
his nature was phlegmatic and his cir
culation sluggish, and for his heart
bah! it was but an organ furnished with
the proper auricles and ventricles for
receiving and propelling the blood,