The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-08-22

was ambitious, and believed she had
magnificent future before her; and / be-
lieved it, too. When the goal was
reached, she said, if / wished, she would
send me word l saw she was right;
but / was human and miserable, and
how sweet and tender she wasr'
land is that the end?" asked Bella,
who was thinking she must seem very
old and aunt-like to this man, or he
would never have confided so foolish an
escapade.
81 have never seen her since"
"You are still expecting itP"
II do not know what 1 expect. I
have been to Europe three times. l
have heard every debutante. She WAS
seventeen, or so, and of the kind of
beauty that might be of any age. The
world would be ringing with her name
if she were before il"
"You would know her again?"
"Know heri' he exclaimed, looking
down at her. "How strange question.
Here is the hulk of an old boat, Miss
Summers; YOU look flushed and tired.
Will you sit DOWN. / do not dare ask
you what you think about this piece of
foolishness."
at is Just that, isn't it?" Then he
looked disappointed. at is very pretty,
you know" That was not what she
wished to say, either, so she went on:
'She would be twenty-five or more if
she is living"
"She isn't deadr' he exclaimed.
There was promise about that. She
has married, probably, some Prince or
nobleman. 1 have about 500 photo
graphs of the great ladies abroad; not
one is She"
"She may have lost her voice; she
may be poor with that family she told
you of, and too proud, in such a case,
to send you any message"
That idea has never occurred to me;
but am rich now; / could assume any
obligations"
II hardly like to suggest it, for it
may be mistake, and cause annoy
ance," Bella began. She turned her
head so he could not see her face very
clearly. ''But such a person / once
knew about. She answers your de-
scription in some ways-the time, the
age, the voice-but she was i'll and lost
"Not married?"
mo; do not be so eager about it, Mr..
Mcmillan; you are, indeed, boy. 1t
is only a suggestion that may lead to
nothing, or worse, to disappointment.
You know have had good deal of eN-
perience, and since you have told me
the story you must have little advice,
too. She has probably changed in many
ways-in face, you may be sure; for
such beauty as you describe is all light
and color, and goes. You are not the
same, either. You have different tastes
and opinions. Six years is life time
at that age. You were younger than
your years then; you have made your
fortune since. Don't you know Captain
Thompson thinks there We're never such
pumpkin pies. as his mother used to
make, nor such gingerbread, and do
we not know he is unappreciatingly eat
ing better every day of his life?" He
did not seem to heed this wisdom
much,
''I shall not be easy until this thing
is settled one way or the other. / must
see for myself. Will you give me this
informationP"
when we reach the house." she an
swered.
''If you could do it now 1 might be
able to leave tonight" he said.
She took the notebook he had opened
and wrote a few lines in it. She knew
that he would soon come to a blank
wall in his search for the unknown.
81 was at the Centennial that month, "
she suggested, gently.
Everybody was, I think" said he,
looking out at sea.
Bella sighed. "a cigar is a great
comfort, isn't it?" she remarked; but he
did not hear her; his head was in his
hands. She, perceiving he had forgot
ten her, let her eyes dwell on him. A
light came into them, her cheeks glowed,
the repressed, resigned look of a woman
grieved passed away. She was again
eighteen. and wildly indiscreet. But,
yes, she would do the same again for
just that happy week.
"Well," said he, presently, ''shall we
go on?''
When at length the struggling party
reached the home piazza, Mcmillan said
to Bella:
II find can make the six o'clock
train, so I'll say good-by. If have d
guardian angel, that being must have
inspired me to tell you my story"
Perhaps it was your bad angel,
said she sedately.
''You are not encouraging. Well,
again good-by."
She saw him drive OFF with Captain
Thompson, and then locked herself in
her room, and wept all the tears she
had been keeping back since she parted
from him in the gardens of the Centen-
nial.
Would you have told if you had beer
sheP-DetrOH Free Press