The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-04-19
LOSS AND GAIN.


noon, when small, fiat parcel lying near
the entrance of restaurant attracted his at
tention.
People were passing to and fro on the
street constantly, yet none seemed to observe
the dusty package, until it caught the eye
of this inert, slow-moving young fellow ON
his way to his bachelor apartments.
He bent lazily to raise it, glanced into the
saloon which was almost deserted at that time,
and moved on, with the conclusion that it
had been dropped by some one of the fair
sex, who had paused here for light lunch
on her way home from a shopping expedi-
don.
II hope it isn't anything valuable" Arth-
ur Thought, as within the seelusion of his
own room he removed the paper wrapping
with half formed curiosity as to the con-
tents.
A couple of photographs, evidently new,
were disclosed. On the back of one, inn
printed with sweet, baby race was the
name +" Baby Lou" on the other . Friend
Renen
The latter contained greater interest for
Arthur. 1t was the face of girl yet in her
teens; neither classic nor beautiful, but rem
dered attractive by IFS expression of sweet
modesty and simplicity.
mice little girl, was Arthurs comment,
as he proceeded to return it to its wrappings !;
when a sudden thought flashed across his
mind, aud with mischief burning in his eyes,
he removed landscape gem from its easel
and substituted the photograph.
Now for some fun with the boys" he
thought They'll be sure to notice it."
And they did. The first one who APP
peared was Harry Lowell, on his way from
the office.
Hello! what's this z" he cried, espying
the portrait "a girls picture, declare !
Look here, Arth, thought you were down ON
the women, declaring that they were bores,
preferred your cigar to their society any time,
and all that sort of thing. Explain yourself,
young mani"
"Ifs only friend % Arthur replied.
"A friend, ha ha p laughed the other,
with nudge. sly dog Won't it be a
good joke at the club tonight? Arthur
Whitney with sweetheart, la, ha.'
Then he took his leave, only to be sue
ceeded by several others, all of whom won
dered at the presence of pretty young girls
picture in the apartment of their friend
Arthur Whitney, whom they lad long look.
ed upon rs a confirmed bachelor.
Arthur enjoyed their surprise and raillery
at first, but he soon began to have dim
idea that he was acting unfairly
How unpleasant would be the position OF
the original of the portrait, If ever met, as it
was not impossible, by any of his many
friends
In the midst of his reflections Alan Dowell
dropped in, as the others had, for few mo-
ments' chat, but he did not notice the por-
trait until about to depart. Then he chanc-
cd to raise his eyes to the easel, and started
back with look of surprise on his face
mingled with another expression that Arth.
ur's former visitors had not worn.
Whitney, where did you get that card"
ne asked, q trife superciliously, Arthur
thought, as he replied carelessly;
"Where do you suppose, AlanS II was
gift, of course"
You don't mean she gave it to you ?"
Alan said. Have you known her long ?"
''Ah, no a very short Time Arthur re-
Piled, with slight smile "She's nice
little girl Wouldn't you judge so? But
perhaps you know this Miss Rene, Alanf"
:" Yes; but never thought this thing pos
sible of her." Alan said, and there was
huskiness in his tones.
Was il recent cold or emotion?
Arthur did not know, but he was q trihe
puzzled over his strange speech and manner,
and wondered if his mischieyous presump-
ton had led him to commit any blunder.
% rather fear I've caused trouble some
where" he thought, as he replaced the land
scape, and put the photo away with its COM
panion.
II he could have looked in upon his friend
Alan Dowell, half hour later, his suspicion
would have been fully confirmed.
Alan was pacing the floor of his apart
ment, his lips white and set, his eyes glow
ing, and frown on his forehead where the
VEINS uitu risen III lissiOn
Alan Dowell possessed fierce fiery tenn
per, quick to blame and censure, slow to
forgive. The sight of Rene Davenport's
portrait in his friends room had dashed him
into sudden furry.
Rene Davenport, his betrothed, whom he
had believed pure and unsulled as the fall
ing snow whose honor he would have stalk
ed his life upon; dealing her cards out
among young men, and those whom she had
known but a short time.
Alan used the plural form of the noun,
because it sounded more forcible and blam-
able, and he felt then ike heaping ON accu-
sations instead of reserving them. A thor
oughly honorable and generous man he usu-
ally was. but in temper lac was both unjust
and cruel
Now in these moments of anger he forgot
his love and respect for Rene Davenport,
forgot her noble bearing and truthful, inno-
cent ways, forgot everything save his wrong
as he fancied it, and pausing in his steady
walk he seated himself at the open desk and
seized upon pen and paper.
He could have written page upon page OF
bitter, burning words, but he dare not trust
himself SO dipping his pen in the inkstand
with an impatient movement he penned a
cool, and short epstle to the girl to whom
he had never before used aught but endear-
ing language
"MIss DAVENPORT When a woman SO
far forgets herself and her duty to her ac-
cepted lover as to bestow upon other gentle
men, comparatively strangers, her portrait
and other attentions, then my respect for
her must cease, and consequently my love.
Please consider our engagement at an end.
"Yours truly.
s. ALAN DowELL."
The young man wrote the words, other
attentions without the slightest idea as to
their reference. Only he supposed there
must have been other attentions, and there
fore felt justified in expressing himself to
that effect