The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-05

| chief good Which his heart craVeu.
| Good luck came in its own time. He
stood again in New York, at 81, rich man,
| prospered beyond his widest dreams and
holding an assured position. He had liked
many girls during the ten years of his alb
| seuce; he had even been half in love with
one or two; but the memory of Evelyn Nor
ris had been spell potent enough to pre-
vent him overlapping the other half. He was
free still-a freedom he had hardly rejoiced
| in till that day, when in his incredulous ear
rang the news that his early love was still
| unmarried.
| For two or three days after the Huntley
| dinner he went about like man in dream
Everybody was ready enough with histories
of the great forgery, but no one could tell
him anything about the Edward Morrises or
their Whereabouts. The Robert MorriseS
were in Europe, living under a-cloud, no one
exactly knew where. By what seemed fatal
| ity all the families whom he recollected as
intimate with the Morrisies were abroad just
| then, or in Florida, or scattered by the
changes which ten years had wrought NO
| one seemed to have cared to acquaint them
| selves with the movements of the ruined
family. The little ripple caused by their de-
parture soon subsidized. People easily forget
| in the busy life of cities, and all this had
| happened nine years b fors.
| In dispair Aeck Dent at last betook him
| self to the rooms of the Decorative Art soci-
ETY., and produced his dinner card. Could
they tell him the name and address of the
person who painted that? He was anxious
| TOTO order some others like 1t.
81 will take your order, sir, said the bus
iness-like young secretary You will please
| give me your name and address,"
| But this was by no means what Aleck
| wanted.
Thanks; but I should prefer TO commu-
nicate directly with the artist" Then see
| ing surprised dispeasure il the face sud-
denly turned upon him, he made haste to
add, THE order will of course be given in
! the usual way, through the society, but it is
| indispensable that l should have personal
| interview with the designer"
The young secretary looked puzzled. She
| tapped her book with pencil, and was ST.
| lent for a moment evidently balancing the
proprieties. Then, as the door opened, she
| exclaimed, with sudden relief: "Oh, there's
Mrs. Curtis now; excuse me moment,
and I'll ask her," and hurried across the
| room.
Presently the newcomer walked straight
up TO Aleck Dent.
Miss Dunn tells me that you are DESTROYS
| of an interview with one of our correspond
ents on the subject of dinner cards." she
said. personal interviews are not usual in
such commissions, nor are they at all need
| fulfil the cards are really all that you wish
|
| him magnifcent'pair of Irish eyes, blue,
| with black lashes, and full of the peculiar
facination which sometimes accompanies
| the possession of short sight. ST can furnish
| you with set of cards on silk, painted by
| the same person, and exactly like these, but
with different subjects, which we happen to
have for sale at this moment. Will that an
| swer your purpose"
| There was a mingled archness and soft
4 in ho xUh IVA infinifp-
| " captivating, and which won Aleck to sud-
| den confidence.
| s'No, that will not answer at ALL" he said.
| 81 don't care specially about the cards, but
| I am anxious to see the artist, and verify
| suspicion l have that she is friend OF
mine"
He was amazed afterward when he re-
membered his own frankness of speech.
| The lady listened with an interest which
seemed to divine meaning beyond his
| words.
81 will be frank in my turn she said at
| last, her beautiful eyes full of the sympathy
which love tale, revealed or suspected, al
| ways eXcites in a true woman. Evelyn
| Morris did paint those cards. She was
| favorite of mine always, and when this soci-
| ETY. was started wrote, urging her to turn
| her salient for painting to account through
| us. They are greatly reduced in circum-
| stances, as you may have heard, and she was
| glad to take my advice. Their quiet life gave
| her plenty of leisure, and her things always
| SELL they are so choice and so exquisitely
DONE"
"Indeed should think so. Where do The
| family live?''
Il think may tell you, though they pre-
| fer to keep their retreat a secret from most
| people. 1t is at Merton, village in south
| ern New Jersey. 1t is an out-of-the-way
place. You have to take three railroads 10
get there, and there is long drive besides.
| | wish you might have time to go down and
| see them. They have few visitors, as you
may suppose, and an old friend will be
treat"
81 shall certainly hope to do So"
"When you return" continued Mrs. Cur
| tbs, perhaps you will kindlsycome to see me
| and tell me something about Evelyn, whom
have not seen for nearly two years, though
we are continually corresponding abont din
ner cards and the like
"a thousand thanks" taking the card she
offered him. SIT will be great pleasure 10
do So"
''You begin with the New Jersey Central,
and change twice, but I can't tell you where;
YOU will have to learn that on the road"
went on his new friend. Then with CLINT
OF fun in her mobile face: "Good by, Mr..
Dent; don't lose your way. Merton, have
always heard, is very hard place to reach,
and an equally hard place to get away
from"
So, indeed, Aleck found it. A long day of
slow, jolting railway travel, with continual
stops and frequent changes, ending with
drive of miles ever sandy roads, brought him
to Merton; and once there, he was in no
hurry to come away. Evelyn Morris at ~
was no whit less charming in his eyes than
in the early bloom of 10. Nay, time had
lent further charm, soft courage, rip
v,oA md aroiH ha IN
ment of her surroundings her beauty BEAM
ed with added lustre. Aleck gazed at her
with a wonderment which he could hardly
conceal By what inconceivable good for
tune bad this lovely creature remained till
20 unmarried? 1t could mot be for lack OF
suitors. Even if, like the poets star, "con-
fined in a tomb" some eye, he was sure,
must detec and covet the treasure. What
happy chance had saved her for him-and
was i. for him? That was the question
which he longed to ask, but dared not
yet.
In single week all the friendly relations
of old times seemed restored. Aleck secured
a lodging in the village, and spent as many
hours day as he dared in the society of his
love. Always the same gentle welcome met
him as he sat by Evelyn's side, and she
wrought OF her dainty handicrafts; their
talk bridged the long interval of separation,
and the old time sense of intimacy revived,
bent with new fascination as each recog-
nized in the other the qualities which ten
years had matured and urfolded. Day by
day Alexis hopes strengthened, but with
the msgivings of true lover he delayed,
10th to break the blessed peace and certainty
of the moment by rash or Premature word.
At last he spoke, taking the dinner card for
his text
"You see," he ended, "this way my clew.
1t helped me to find you. And now that l
have found, will not believe that l ever
must lose you again. l have loved you for
ten years, without daring to hope that
should ever have the chance to speak my
love. Now, Evelyn, dearest, tell me my
fate"
She did not answer in words, but she put
her hand in his, and her eyes were full
of happy tears. He drew his arm round
the slender waist, and as he stopped for his
first lovers kiss, she murmured, "At
lastp'.
cat last?' he said, surprised.
cat last" she repeated. ooh, dear Aleck,
foolish Aleck, did you never guess that when