Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-12-28
GaIfs ano Sketfbes.
RrWA.p o. yEALeUsr.

Feeling in = lively pood this evening.
have resolved 10 write. for the edifica-
ton of whoever may chance to read it, nv
experience in love. As you must know.
I. ike all others, was once young. and
likewise had my love dreams and also
INV share OF trials and tribulations relative
to that distressing evil. jealousy.
Well, shortly after my return from col
lepe. met and formed an attachment for
Ethel Graves. charming little brunette
with large brown eyes friDged all round
with jet lashes. the daughter Of a wealthy
merchant. Being neighbors. and our
families being on good terms. we were
constantly thrown together. and in due
season my affections were made known,
and, am happy to announce. were fully
reciprocated: so we were betrothed after
the usual fashion.
One evening. having called on nv lady
love, there arose question Of which she
had been teasing me to tell her. and hav-
ing it in my power to tantalize her.
made use of the opportunity.
.'Woman's curiosity" said !. with
shrug of my shoulders, land feminine
jealousy
'.Nonsense - retorted Ethel. coloring
Il suppose men are never curious. nor
jealous either"
Never" quoth I, with smile Of calm
superiority.
Then you must tell me, Herbert
Il think, my dear, that your curiosity
and the other emotion need little dis
cipline."
Now why on earth wanted to be so
provoking, can't tell; the natural per-
versity Of man, most probably: for there
was no other reason. I wanted to tease
Ethel, 10 / withdrew into veil Of impen-
etrable mystery.
She did not say one word more. but
turned quietly and left the room and as
she disappeared through the entrance, ]
saw the downward flutter of a little slip of
white paper from her dress. Now. whe'h-
er Il was dropped unintentionally or on
purpose we will leave for the readers to
guess. Instinctively stopped to pick it
up, and as stopped. could not avoid
reading the characters inscribed thereon
"ll.3--Clark and Newton. No
disappointment this time. X. c."
felt the crimson flush mounting to my
temples. as read and re-read the myste-
rious words of "R. CO. Didn't remem
ber that Robert Clark was Ethel's cousin.
and provokingly handsome fellow at
that? Had / forgotten that people used to
think what "handsome couple" they
would make, before stepped into the
ringP r. c. indeed! And I clenched my
fist involuntarily as crumpled the paper
inside its grasp.
"What are you looking for. Ethel p
She stood. with one hand resting lightly
on the door knob. glancing uneasily round
while there was guilty flush on her
cheek.
"I-that is-have you seen little slip
Of paper lying about P''
mo"
uttered the falsehood with deliberate
calmness, even while the tell-tale billet
lay in my hands. So she was anxious
about IL. She didn't like the idea that !
should have an insight into her little ar
rangements with X. c. All. false and
fair---all women are alike.
1T mnst have been something very i'm
portant," remarked. rs she hurricdly
turned over the books on the tabls. still
searching for the missing treasure.
81 suppose have left it upstairs" she
said. artfuIly evading direct answer.
"You are not going. Herbert ?"
II am going. Goodnight
Not until | was in my own room did
open and re-examinc the odious little bin
OF paper. al, s." OF course the
whole thing was as plain as daylight To-
day was the tenth of the month: it was
simply an appointment for the morrow at
three o'clock. ground my teeth as the
truth flashed across my brain. mo dis
appointment this time" | would have
liked to challenge Robert Clark to mortal
combat on the instant. were it not that
duels were entirely out Of fashion. What
business had he to lay down law to INV
Ethelp But there was one consolation,
Willie Newton was my old friend he
would not see me wronged. il he could
help it. and promptly resolved to ap-
peal TO Willie for aid and justice. |
glanced Mt my watch nine o'clock too
late to seek out Mr. Newton. who proba-
bly, was at his country seat long before
this. So lighted the gas. and sat down
to chew the cud of my own bitter medita-
tions. The more mediiated on my in
juries, the more furious became. until,
as the clock chimsd midnight. took my
final resolve.
al will not be made an idiot of, | will
cast her of as unworthy of my love; but
will first possess myself Of clue to this
mystery, and accuse h. boldly to her face
So went to bed. to dream fitiully all
night of monster sheets of phosphorescent
paper, with "R. c." dancing in scarlet
fire all over their expanse.
us Mr.. Newton in ?''
Yes; Mr.. Newton was in. and one of
the clerks ushered me into the private Of
flee, where my friend Willie sat looking
over huge pile of letters.
Herbert Anderson! Sit down. old fel-
low. What good wind blows YOU here 9''
He drew out large armchair. but I
declined it.
"Newton. want you to do me a fwor;
will youY''
''Certainly, il | can"
looked up at the clock; it wanted just
fifteen minutes to three, and | hurriedly
confided the whole story of my wrongs to
Willie's honest breast.
MY dear fellow. really think you are
attaching too much importance to a mere
trifle"
"A triAe' bit my lips until the blood
came. II think differently; and it's very
easy to see that YOU are not standing i'm