Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-12-18
IN A MOMENT PIoUE.

Of you, and Nora Lindsey
- What makes you think she's max
txa fool of meT Allan asked, in a
4tkt that quite concealed the depth Of
his feelings.
My dear boy, you must look at
these things in a common sense light.
Miss Lindsay is ali heiress-the rich
est girl in Cambridge,-you are
fWhatT
well, you know very well, Allan,
that, from a worldly point of view,
you are poor, like myself
Il have few thousands, Charley;
and then, there's my profession. |
could support wife comfortably on
my income. | have enough to make
. woman happy, if she loved me-
Eyes, if-if-l That's just itP cried
Charley, springing up and pacing the
room with restless stride Women
don't love nowadays-not with their
hearts, at least. 1t Is all fancy
Allan looked up, half quizzlcally.
'Ah, l thought there was something
behind all this cynicism, he said
tYou have been playing with the di-
vine fire again. You and your Dul
cinea are 'out'r
Don't joke about it, AL, for heavens
sake It's home thrust this time
Three weeks ago thought my happi
ness was assured. The woman | lov'd
had promised to marry me, and now
for the merest triAe she has cast me
aside. No wonder have no faith in
women or their professions.
'I'm sorry to hear it charley-in-
deed am-and l hope it may only
prove a lovers quarrel. But you
must not expect me to share you
doubts. l will not deny it;
N'pve Nora Lindsey with my whole
sSul and | intend to ask her to be my
We
well, I wish you success, Al. For
give me for meddling. only
The door opened and rough ole
fellow came numbering in-one Of Al
lan's clients.
Charley picked up his hat and left
with the brief remark:
'Ill see you later
1t was while Allan was engage'
with this client that the postman cam
IN and threw down upon a desk
thick envelope, with a graceful super
scription that contrasted strongly wit
the careless dashing style of his 5usl
ness correspondence,
Allans heart bounded,
His patience hardly lasted till h
was alone and could open the letter.
It was rather longer than Mis-
Lindsey's favors usually were-tw
full sheets, beginning: My dea" M
Wes!tock,' and ending. Your frlen'
always-Nora Lindsey. .--- -
Your letter was really favor ST
said on the first page. Seaton is
pretty place, but horribly dull in viii
ter. shall be glad to get back
Cambridge! 1t was very kind of ye
to ask me to 60 and see Bernhard
next Wednesday. 1t will give n
great pleasure to do So
Then the letter rambled on plea
ant wav until the bottom of the four1
page, when there was compile
break.
The second sheet did not go WI
the first at ALL Neither the words ne
the ideas were in any way connecte
Allan turned it over and over
new bewilderment, and finally held
perfectly still, when these lines star
him straight in the face:
4 a Il am only flirting with Mr.. Wes
sSck, and leading him on for the sa
81 amusement. Don't distress you
self, my dear Blanche. I know W.T.
is best for my own happiness. | sh
never marry man whom DO n
love-
The paper trembled in ALA
hands and he gasped for breath.
Good heaven's!' he cried hoarse
e what does this mean?
Slowly it dawned upon him that
some mistake, part of another lett
not intended for his eyes, had be
inclosed in the envelope that bore
address, but what did it reveal to hi
Allan crushed the fatal sheet in
hand and sank down in a chair will
| was hours before he could col
mand himself; but once he gained
mastery, he drew from his pockets
theater tickets, and, taking up sh
of elegant note paper, wrote as
lows:
sMY DEAR Miss LINDsEY:- Circu
stances compel me to recall my
vitation for Wednesday next.
close you the tickets. You have
many attendants that l am sure
will not want for an escort. HOP
you will enjoy the performance, |
yours truly.
ALLAN w EsTLoc
That was all!
She shall never know by word
act of mine, he said, as he drop
this note in the letter box on his
home to supper. That dream is
and my happiness at an end fore
but she shall not know 1t. will
1ny suffering from her if die for