The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-06
RALPH'S MISTAKE.

bury's musical voice, and faint shrug
of the widows graceful shoulders con-
veyed the impression of an underlying
sneer.
whats thatp" Ralph Entresol ask
ed. following his companions glance to
little alcove on the opposite side of
the brilliant parlor, in which stood
some very handsome towering plants
in full blossom. A piquant girlish face
was bending over the central vase, a
face sparkling with a fire and color
that rivaled its surroundings. Ralph
Entresol was not insensible to the al
lurement of the picture.
The widow saw and shrugged her
shoulders again.
''Such pity that Nora Payne should
have broken with Burt Vansanf. Ev-
erybody thought that was going to
be genuine love match, but 1 don't
suppose there are such things nova
days"
"No?" questioned the wealthy law
yer, in his non-committal fashion,
and still watching Nora with interest
ed eyes.
"Vansant & Milligan failed last
week, you know. Miss Nora, doubt
less, thinks she can find a better mar
ket for her charms than bankrupt
merchant"
perhaps they were never engaged"
Entresol remarked dreamily.
POSSIBLY. l don't see that it makes
much difference, however. They were
scways together; the most devoted
pair in the world, till recently. 1t
was not Vansant's fault if they were
not engaged, and the rupture now is
aertainly her doing. See, Mr.. Entire
lol."
Mr.. Entresol did see; he had never
once removed his admiring eyes from
Nora Payne's sparkling face. Burt Van
SAINT stood now at the entrance to the
alcove, and Nora was speaking with
him, apparently in reply to some re-
monstrance or urging on the young
mans part, for she shook her graceful
little head emphatically and frowned
slightly. Burt turned away presently
and sauntered down the room, his
handsome face wearing an expression
of angry pain, while Nora looked after
him moment, still frowning.
Her glance, on its way home again,
encountered the lawyers. She co1ored
wildly an instant, then laughed and
nodded.
"She bats her hook very prettily:
Go at once and be caught" laughed
Mrs. Dusenbury, but she bit her car
mine lips with vexation, as the lawyer,
nothing loath, smilingly excused HIM
self and crossed over to pretty Nora.
"She's an outrageous firt, and that |
is what she is" muttered Mrs. Dusen-
bury from time to time, as the evening
wore on without returning to the cir
Gle of her charms Ralph Entresol.
her after what told him."
And still the lawyer fingered and
in sort of intoxication, the
changeful ripple of Nora Payne's
bright, expressive face, and bent his
grave thoughtful eyes to the study of
those other darkly sparkling orbs
which Nora flashed in shy mischiev-
BUSINESS at him.
"Come and see us, Mr. Entresol,"
Nora's papa said, as he claimed his lit
lie girl from the lawyers obsequious
arm later in the evening, when the
party was breaking up.
Eyes, do, and I'll show you my cac-
uses. They are altogether finer than
hose we were looking at this evening"
Nora echoed, letting little velvet
balm linger an instant longer than was
necessary in Ralph Entresols hand at
PARTING.
81 suppose 1 am bewitched," the law
-er unused that night, as he lounged in
N easy chair and slippers, and dream
ly watched the ruby blaze in his piled
Ip CRATE, instead of retiring sleepily to
lis couch. ''At my time of life, too.
'ut I'd like to know if it isn't enough {
0 bewitch any man, the idea of bask- ;
ng ones life time in the sparkle and
low of such a pair of eyes as that.
Ieigho."
And in due time he went to see Miss 9
,ora's cactuses.
There is no calculating the move u
1ents of single gentlemen of certain,
+ rather uncertain, age. A man may
raverse the blooming ranks of young II
unmoved half his lifetime,
nd as he turns the corner, 90 down ,
18th a splash over head and ears in the
ga of matrimony. II
Ralph Entresol had known Nora
az hO ioii hOi PioNel iiOeiht0, "p -.
,ast, without tender thought in her <
till that evening, when,
18th Mrs. Dusenbury's sneers at the
irl in his care, he looked across at b
er, standing among the geraniums
I'D cactus buds, herself fresher and Of
ore blooming than any of them. Gu m
d transfixed the lawyers heart in A
at moment, and, rash as your eau al
ous people are upon occasions, he W
ked Nora that evening to marry him W
they were looking at her flowers. OF
And Nora stammered and blushed, al
i'd pretended to be very much aston Sc
he'd, as doubtless she was, and then m
i'd: III
Eyes" b(
at was surprise, papa" Nora &C
id, in response to her fathers curl
sly triumphant congratulations. 81
II hoped for something of the sort CT
hen l asked him here. But it has be
me sooner than l looked for" said to
r. Payne with long, signing breath, tn