Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-09
GaIss a,lo Skstfkes.
N Al nEvAroR.
(Coutipuued from Yesterday

John now felt . desire to get away from
his co0pnnfous. Who was the woman IN
the elevator? He must know. And
knowing she had not come down. and that
she could not come down until he was at
the top, he went up, squeezed in among
. crowd q captious people. At the land
ing be took hfs stand. determined to inter-
cert tie unknown when she came to take
the elevator to 60 down. He saw her at
last, . gay spirit among crowd Of young
people. She came forward without a
sign of recognition, calling the attention
Of her companion to his intent look He
crowded into the elevator alter her, but
he could find no excuse for speaking to
her. She stepped out at the bottom. and
he saw that he was about to lose his OPP
portunity. He stepped forward and blum
deringly asked: Excuse me, but what
10 your name. please 30 and she, turning
on him . look of indignant surprise.
answered with manner that said. 'None
Of your business So expressive was
the action that John did not hear the
words spoken nor heed them. He acted
like dolt. He stared at the young W.
man in stupid establishment, and she turn
ing to look at him when some distance
from him, laughed a genuine country
laugh that started all her companions in
fit Of merriment And laughing and cap
ering, they were lost in the crowd.
John sat down overwhelmed. He had
sought to settle question by direct in
-aH:yy, and had been met by rpdeness in a
woman. But who Was this woman
just then he saw her coming
toward him. She came eagerly. and John
could not analyze the look on her
face. She came directly to him. and hold
ing out her hand. said. duplicating the
words Of another, This is Mr.. Pringle.
isn't it? You must excuse me did not
know you. I'm sorry spoke that way.
But you know how always was, and we
can't get over old faults in minute. You
really are very much changed. and sup
pose ! am; but remember you, and how
bashful you were. I was never much
troubled in that way, you know. Wish
had BEEN" And SO tine girl talked on,
her face. eyes, and her manner all recall
ing memories of the old time. John was
bewildered, and said, helplessly. won't
you tell me who you are?"
"Grace Bartlett. Thought you knew"
"But Grace Bartlett was with me when
first saw you not half an hour ago"
Amystified young lady looked into the
eyes Of thoroughly mystified young man.
John ventured the remark, But sup
pose you are Grace Bartlett. But if you
are who is the other womane" And his
eyes flashed the question with rare inten-
sity.
Looking about he discovered the other
woman. and in half a minute the two wo-
men stood face to face
They resembled each other but this re-
semblance was not close now that they
were together. Both faces were full of
expression eyes of both full and alike in
expressive range. John saw now that
there was q difference. lie extricated
himself with comparatively little difficult
ty. as the truth began to dawn upon him
lie explained to both ladies the nature of
the difficulty, closing with the remark
that he had no idea who the woman was he
had first addressed as Miss Bartlett.
The ladies were disposed to tantalize
him, but a disposition to assume the atti
tude of Mr.. Pringle's friend on tn, part
Of each led to happy dissolution Of the
prosecuting combination. John under
stood that the woman would not long be
good friends. which, in his obtuseness. he
the woman Mr.. Pringle had assumed to
lie Grace Bartlett was Miss Pograve She
had been puzzled and vexed by his con-
duct when introduced many months be-
fore, and in her young woman's indigna-
ton resolved to ignore him. His con.
duct the first night he met her at the ex.
position had taken her by surprise, and
was quite as inexplicable to to her as his
previous line of action. The incident had
been talked over at home. and on advice
OF her father she had spoken to Mr.. Prin
gle when 1t seemed to her his attention
to her little sister afforded opportunity
She couldn't understand why Mr.. Prin.
gle should net have recognized her. and
John did not better the expression on her
lace when he admitted that he did moi
look at her when he first met her. and
that he never saw her until he met her at the
exposition and thought she was Grace
Bartlett. This was an old confession
to make to woman who was conscious
OF beauty of face and charm of manner
and who was courted on that account.
John had seen the face in the crowd nj
the exposition in new light; and when
he commenced idealizing he had scarcely
the power to decide wherein the face dit.
fered from that of Grace Bartlett, with
which he associated it.
Difhdent in actual life. John Pringle
was bold in arranging imaginary details
and once given base-line for action. hi.
mind contemplated no contradiction of de
crees, no disarrangement Of ideal plans
He chung tenaciously to what he fanciet
the truth. as ready to his hand as the sub
stitue.
Walking with handsome woman or
either side. John managed to say some
thing like the above. and to say itin sucf
u way ~ 70 give the ladies more insigh
into his nature than any person had evel
had before. They were interested as wei
~ amused, and said 80 with their good
bYss.
The end was inevitable. John Pringls
was jolted out Of the rut in which he hae
been moving. Diminishing his dream.
about Grace Bartlett, he found Miss Pc
grave taking possession of him as no idea
figure had ever done. And now wher
Mr.. Pringle, counted among his bushes.
friends IS somewhat bold in speculation
and among his social friends as a grea
talker, confides to new acquaintance tina
he Was always aclose observer As young
man. althouVh reficeuf and difFSdant his