Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-05-07


ing Il, she inquiredi "HOW IA Il about
MF, HgntingtonP lie wasn't here TO-
night"
-" He's very devoted, +" said May, care
lessly. He has gone 10 Boston just
now.n
"That Is not all, F" said her friend.
May was silent.
"Now, May" said Alice, a'if I'm go-
ing 10 help you in this matter you've
Just got TO tell me the whole story. i
know your prejudice against talking Of
your offers and respect you for Il, but
you know you always tell me every
thing and itgoes no further" d
"Well," said May, SCI always have
said ] never would tell II / refused 3
man, but haven't exactly refused him /;
besides, It isn't telling TO tell you. /
think Mr.. Huntington Is in love with
me, at least he has told me 80 several
times; but / don't want to marry any
body yet awhile, and l don't want to
hurt his feelings, so / turn II off, pre-
tend not TO understand him or that l
think he is joking--you know the
thousand and one ways TO keep off a
crisis. know he is very good and mo-
BILE and high4minded and all that, and
he is very religious, too, and Em relig-
ious myself, after fashion. Eric isn't
one bit, so ! ought to be more in SYM
pathy with Mr.. huntington about that
though I'm not, a" she added, re-
hectively, "for never dreamed Of say
ing a word TO him on any such subject ;
while with Eric II gives me quite vant-
age ground, and / always resort to it
when he gets the better Of me. But then
Eric is such society fellowl He will
always be a society man and nothing
else, and when it comes to such serious
business as marrying it seems as Il I'd
rather have something little more sub
stantial." ea
81 don't think so at ALL" said Alice,
promptly, eat least not 80 far as / my
self am concerned. / expect TO be in
society all my life, and mean TO marry
somebody who will be in sympathy with
me. But what about that needle Nc
Rae alluded TOP"
'sI am so horribly ashamed 1 don't
want to tell you" replied May; "but
suppose must, if you'll be sure and tell
me exactly how it strikes you,h
Alice listened in ominOus silence To
her friends story.
"Call me horrid, improper, dreadful,
dol" cried May, after the pause which
followed her conclusion. "I'd Just as
lief you said it as to know you think it
Don't act that way; you said you would
tell me Just what you thought.n "a
"Well;" said Alice, /" every thing de-
pends. Some girls can do any thing and
others can't. Now, if 1 had said it
presume it would have sounded rather
peculiar; but you hFve sloh an indie
,scribable little way with you that I've
no doubt it wasn't dreadful at ALL"
The next day was filled with engage
ments, and May gave a dinner party il
the evening. The latter broke up early
as some of the guests were going to 8
later entertainment, and at clever
o'clock May and Alice were again il
their room, chatting busily about tho
events Of the day As AIaystpod be
fore the glass brushing her hair sh,
heard a ring at'the door.
"Who's that, so late at night?" she
exclaimed, pausing to listen, brush il
hand. A servant was coming up thu
stairs.
ga gentleman left it for you,'' sh
said, giving May little package; "h
would not come in, he said, it was SC
M 7 May took a package to the bureau
and broke the seal. An instant late
she gave a little cry Of terror, anC
springing to her friends side knel
down and buried her face in Alice
I l1Aps G8 E A-,.-.g
"May, my own darling, what is tn
matter!'' cried Alice, thorough,
frightened. .J,N iflJ|iit 4
yi.He has threaded the lneedle,'% sal,
smothered voice. Alice sat q mo
ment softly stroking her friends hair
as she burned with curiosity to see tn
contents of the package and secretl,
wondered how May could have been 81
foolish. '''H
"Don't be so frightened, DEAR" sh
said, atlength, sits only joke"
F" Mott isn't,n said May, raising
mournfully tragic face; and sptingini
againto the bureau she took 7 up til
package and handed it TO Alice. ~ 30
1t was a jewel case containing a soil
taire diamond ring, and through tn
silken lining was thrust the fatal needle
A little hole had been drilled through
Just below the broken eye, and it wa
\ threaded with bit of fine white silk
Mr.. Huntington's card lay within, an
beneath his name was, written; !" Ma
1 come and see you tomorrow evening
at half-past eight o'clOekP'
Alice's face was grave.
! IlIDhdt ring doesn't look much like
ioke,m said May solemnly, "and yo
\ seelhe makes an appointment for me a
4 H.my time belonged to him alteaGy."
E'yNow May SAID Miss Larocque
firmly, ,'d one thing is certain. Arthu
Huntington is a perfect gentleman, an
he will never make himself disagreeabl
l by holding you 70 any such agreement.
"But l have promised" said May
with decision, sand that holds me, an
I can notgo back if he should release m
twenty times" She furtively slippe
the ring on her finger as she spoke, try
ing if it fitted. INA. c-rl o.. =,
'T' Oh that is too absilrd!" cried he
friend. "You are the last one t
suddenly discover you must abide b
every thing you say in jest; we woul
all be in. a pretty fix Ii we took that vie'
of things. Just let me see Mr.. Hunting
ton for five minutes tomorrow nigh
and III soon make itright. =" u
"Oh no, " cried May, suddenly, 't
wouldn't have you for the world. Nc
Imust see him myself, and take th
consequences ofmy own folly. He is
good, true man. like and respect him
and perhaps / could learn to love him
it wasn't for Eric.n
Mays voice trembled and her eye
were filling with tears.
"Oh, Mayl" said Alice, solemnly.
Eyes, Alice, I'm afraid it's So" sh