The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-11-11
Selerf Shry
A STRANGE STORY.

"Jack!" "Well ?" "That is pretty
little island down off Hamish." "Y e =
"Just the spot TO while away few days
this abominable weather"
Yes, but you see ] have to 60 to
Hale
"The-" 1t was abominable weather
it was to me an effort to drawl the words,
but Penraven was crisp enough. 81 beg
your pardon" be broke of barely; "the
fact is, l am disappointed Jack. How
long will it take you to 60 to Hale and
back"
L was not in laughing mood, but de-
spite me laugh broke from my lips.
THAT depends, Pen-that depends. 1t
is easy enough to goto Hale, but the
getting back-ratber the way / may come
back-is what troubles me just now. But
you can Judge, Penraven." 49,.
l pulled the odious scrap of paper
from my pocket and tossed it over TO
him.
"MY DEAR JACK: Mabel Grant is
again ct Hale. For the last time l beg
you 10 90 and call on her You are not
Obliged to make love to her; thoneh il
you only could-Jack, Jack, think of q
steady million and girl like Mabel
Grant!
! "By the way, I heard she caught .
glimpse of you at Hamish aud went mad
in love with you. Oh, Jack-Jack !! But
this is the last. the very last, from your
still hopeful sister, RAY"
He read it, he dropped it, and be sat
and he looked q. me.
"I suppose / am 10 for it. Pen. II
really believed this note the last of Ray
I would not take step to Hale. But /
know it is simply Of series | have re-
ceived regularly for month past, I will
receive to morrow, forever, SO long as
Mabel Grant lie single woman. And
now she has seen ct to fall III love with
me-"
s'Sbe-"
The word burst suddenly from Dick
Penraven's lips with force to make me
start and stare in my hardest fashion.
"Why, what on earth is the matter
with you, Pen : You are little like the
man
"But the odd look in his face changed
suddenly to q smile. In his old jaunty
way be interrupted me:
"The old fellow, should say, Jack
But 1t was quite too much for me-the
thought OF you marrying Mabel Grant"
sand wbyp" ~
"Such fellow as you to marry Mabel
Grant p
"And why7 You know her? What
on earth are you driving at3' / could
only jerk out the words and stare at him
"Why? You do not know her--that
is evident. l will cast you her photo.
graph. A girl--a blonde they call her-
yes, a decided blonde; for her eyes are
of the palest OF china blue, bulgiug sau-
Gers on the grandest sca'e; her hair fsxy-
trizzly, almost tie tint of her skin, where
the thick -sown freckles win let it SHOW.
Add to this her nose, midway 'twixi
point and pug; her thick waist, lengthy
6neers-but sarely, Jack it is enough. l
should dislike to see you the husband Of
such a girl. Come, give over this bust.
ness and go with me to the islet."'
regarded bim for moment, silent.
He was a disappointed boy, knew; TO
what lengths such thing might drive
bim-to what length |! The words fash
ed back to me and l laughed. Yet the
serioos, earnest look on Dick Penraven's g
face forbade doubt; did not doubt
'hough oddly that same moment made
up my mind. 8
"No; l shall 60 down to Hale l said
"After this p
"Yes, to satisfy Ray and have It over.
or course shall not love her, Pen. But
good-by / am of at once"
"Yes, but Jack ="
I laughed again Dick Penraven's pro
testing voice was lost in the hearty peals
trought by his description as walked
away. "If you only could!' They
came again as Rays words flashed back
altogether there was truth in it i though,
l was beginning TO take strange in.
terest In Mabel Grant. 1t had been my
year.long desire to fall In love unthink.
ingly, naturally, as was my notion of the
thing. Uatil this 1 had resisted the many
crafty machinations OF nv more prscti
cally minded sister; until this, secretly
unto nv odd hope, ! had resisted wo.
manhipd. And-f bad not fallen in love
/ was tsenty-eight years old next birth
day, and I was not yet in love. But, al
together. was beginning to take
strange interest in this girl-a suddel
fascinating desire to see her which ha,
| n var falt hafora Cnnld IL ha thai ra