The National tribune., 1883-05-10

Sitting down to dine the following day with
his bosom friend, Tom" he asked, "you know
everything and everybody: can you tell me
where have met Miss Lucille Lindsay?"
She was the person Captain Hamerton
wanted TO marry. You remember old Ham
ertong Forty years her senior. Romantic
story. He tempted her with jewels as Faust
tempted Marguerite; with kindness and luxury;
but although she was only poor little circus
rider she wouldn't marry him. When he died
he left her half his estates. ] heard she went
abroad She broke bone, falling. from her
horse, at one time, in the circus ] suppose
you must have set it. Gone, eh? Been on
the ragged edge of Irritation on the voyage?
Fancy d HarrisSe marrying a circus rider!
How Beacon Street would howl"
Dr.. Harrisse was perhaps thankful that his
patients demanded his attention, and gave him
no time to think or visit at once and that
a case of special and serious importance I'M
portuned him and made il utterly impossible,
as he said to himself, to do other than postpone
Miss Lindsay. After all, had he compromised
himself? Did not many a bachelor whisper
tender nothings on sea-voyage without in
tentions? Was itnot expected of him to charm
away seasiciness and ennui? Should he not
go TO see her, naturally, like any other friend
like Dr. Johns-when opportunity offered,
and let affairs adjust themselves? After a
months reflection he adopted this course. lt
seemed to him that Lucille was trihe paler
than before bat she made up for this defect by
a greater vivacity. Presently he found that when
he called for an hour he was apt to remain two.
After his first visit they never referred to the
voyage. One day he met DR.. Johns coming
away from her presence; he had an air of sup
pressed excitement about him. 1t was year
since they parted on the Malta The fellow
is almost handsome" thought Harrisse and
he is in love with Lucille" Miss Lindsay was
rnI .xsfh n hoo nnd haUUad Ilr
risse would excuse her. The words sounded
strangely TO him; he felt dazed and miserable,
and angry with DR.. Johns, as if his visit had
something to do with it. All at once the fact
that Lucille had begun life as a circus-rider
seemed trivial and of no importance compared
with the greater fact that he loved her Let
those laugh who win. What did it signify to
him, though Beacon Street and ali creation dis
approved?
He drove home, and went to his library. 1t
seemed as if there was no time to lose. He
never remembered having been in such hurry
before in his life Why had he postponed hap
piness so long2 1t was late in the following
day when he received Lucille's reply.
Your kind Words,'' she wrote, "have car
ried me back to those halcyon days on the
Malta. when 1 believed myself as desperately
in love as you believe yourself to be to-day.
confessed all this to DIR. Johns when he pro
posed TO me yesterday morning, and he was
willing TO absolye me-
/ DR.. Harrisse tossed the letter into the CRATE
and went out to his patients.
1t was perhaps half dozen years later when
looking over some old papers, he happened
! upon the charred remnant of Lucile's letter
which his servant had rescued from the fire
and folded away. He opened it curiously, ant
/ fingered over it, fascinated.
Il confessed all this to DR.. Johns when h,
proposed to me yesterday morning, and he wa
willing to absoIve me" he read; . but if yol
love me-poor DIR. Johns! / should like t.
punish you; / should like to quote to you
There must be Nauteh girls and circus riders
perhaps, but we do not choose our wives ant
sweethearts from among them, and refuse you
/ gift-but l love you. LUCILLE"
AT this date, however, Lucille had long beer
| Mrs DIR. Johns.-Harpers Basar.