The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-07-16
IN A MOMENT OF PIQUE.


"What makes you think she's making
q fool of me?" Allan asked, in quiet
way that quite concealed the depth OF
his feelings.
"My dear boy, You must look at these
things in common-sense light. Miss
Lindsey is an heiress-the richest girl IN
Cambridge; You are"
"What?"
"Well, you know very well, Allan,
that, from worldly point oil view, you
are poor, like myself
III have few thousand, Charley; and
then, there's my profession. / could
support a wife comfortably on my in
come. have enough to make woman
happy, il she loved me-"
ayes, if--if-l That's just it T. cried
Charley. springng up and pacing the
room with restless stride. "Women
don't love nowadays not with their
hearts, at least. 1t is all fancyF
Allan looked up, half quizzically.
"Ah, | thought there was something
behind all this cynicism, he said, "You
have been playing with the divine fire
again. You and your Dulcinea arc
out |"
"Don't joke about it, Al, for heavens
sake It's home thrust this time.
Three weeks ago ! thought my happl-
ness was acquired. The woman / loved
had promised to marry me, and now, Tor
the merest triile, she has cast me aside.
No wonder have no faith in women or
their professions.
"1'm sorry to hear it, Charley in
deed / am--and / hope 1t may prove
only a lovers quarrel. But You must
not expect me to share your doubts.
will not deny it; love Nora Lindsey
with my whole soul, and ! intend to ask
her TO be my wife,"
"Well, / wish you success, AL. For
give me for meddling. l My"
The door opened and rough old fol.
low came numbering in-one OF Allan's
clients.
Charley picked up his hat and left,
with the brief remark:
81 will see You later
II was while Allan was engaged with
this client that the postman came in and
threw down npon his desk thick ell
velope, with graceful superscription
that conirasted strongly with the care
less, dashing style of his business cor.
respondence.
Allan's heart bounded.
His patience hardly lasted till he was
alone and could open the letter.
II WIS rather longer than Miss Lind
seys favors usually were-two full
sheets, beginning: "My dear Mr.. West
lock-" and ending, "Your FRIEND, al
ways-Nora Lindsey"
"Your letter was really favor" she
said on the first page. "Seaton is
pretty place, but horribly dull in winter
/ shall be 30 glad to get back to Cam
bridget 1t was very kind Of you to ask
me TO go and see Bernhardt next Wed
nesday. 1t will give me great pleasure
to do 30.
Then the letter rambled on in pleas
ant way till the bottom Of the fourtl
page, when there was complete break
The second sheet did not go with the
first at all. Neither the words nor the
ideas were in any way connected.
Allan turned II over and over in new
bewilderment, and finally held it per
fectly still, when these lines stared hin
straight in the face:
81 nm only flirting with Mr.. Westlock
and leading him on for the sake o
amusement, Don't distress yourself, m.
dear Blanche. l know what il best 70
my own happiness. shall never MARI
man whom do not love-"
The paper trembled in Allan's hands
and he gasped for breath.
GOOD heavens |" he cried hoarsely
"What does this mean ?"
Slowly II dawned upon him that, b,
some mistake. part Of another letter
not intended for his eyes, had been in
closed in the envelope that bore his ad
dress. But what did it reveal to himp
Allan crushed the fatal sheet in hi
hand and sank down in chair with
pale, distorted countenance.
II was hours before he could command
himself; but once he gained the mas
terry, he drew from his pocket tive
theatre tickets and, taking up sheet o
elegant note-paper, wrote ns follows:
"MY DEAR Miss LINDSEY Circum
stances compel me to recall my invita-
ton for Wednesday next. inclose 20
the tickets. You have 80 many attent
ants that am sure you will not want ic
an escort. Hoping you will enjoy Il
performance, l am, yours truly,
"ALLAN WEsTLooK. "
That was all
"She shall never know by word or n
of mine." no said ms he dropped this moi
In the box on his way homo to suppe
"That dream is over, and my happines
at IN end forever; but she shall nc
Know It, will hide my suffering iron
her II i die for it."
That evening, when society was abou
awakening to the touch of dissipation
Allan Westlock presented himself il
faultless attire in the parlor of a prett.
up town residence.
"How fortunate / am to find you a
home !" he murmured, as he bent ovel
the slender white hand Of tall graceful
girl, In an exquisite dress Of pale blue
surah. "But what have you been doing
to yourself, Miss Blanche2 You are mo-
looking at all we'll"
Blanche Merle replied with ligh
laugh, whose studied indifference coult
not wholly deaden the ring Of one sac
note.
ut is dissipation, I suppose |" she an
swered, glancing half-curiously into
diamond mirror that hung Just opposit
in a plush frame. II have been to thre
balls this week. WINS going to anothe
to-night-the Charity ball, you know
but"
"Why, I'd forgotten all about it Thi
is the night. Charley Leonard gave IN
couple OF tickets. He's ono Of til
managers this year."
Man as he was, and not at all inter
ested in Miss Merle, Allan failed to not,
the quick spasmodic twitching Of hel
mouth, the dropping Of her eyelids, and