McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-08-28
RALPH's MISTAKE.

"What a PITY" said Mrs. Dusen
bury's musical voice, and faint shrug
of the widows graceful shoulders con-
veyed the impression of an underlying
sheer.
What's that?" 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 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 l don't
suppose there are such things nova
days"
MOP 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 better mar
ket for her charms than bankrupt
merchant"
perhaps they were never engaged"
Entresol remarked dreamily.
Possibly. don't see that it makes
much difference, however. They were
always 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
certainly her doing. See, Mr.. Entire
SOL"
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 frewned
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 colored
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 fiirt, 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.
''He's an idiot though, if he marries
her after what told him."
And still the lawyer fingered and
watched, 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,''
Morals papa said, as he claimed his lit
tie 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-
fuses. They are altogether finer than
those we were looking at this evening""
Nora echoed, letting little velvet
palm linger an instant longer than was
necessary in Ralph Entresors hand at
parting.
81 suppose I am bewitched," the law
yer unused that night, as he lounged in
an easy chair and slippers, and dream
lily watched the ruby blaze in his piled
up CRATE, instead of retiring sleepily to
his couch. cat my time of life, too.
But I'd like to know if it isn't enough
to bewitch any man, the idea of bask-
ing ones life time in the sparkle and
glow of such pair of eyes as that.
Heigho."
And in due time he went to see Miss
Morals cactuses.
There is no calculating the move
ments of single gentlemen of certain,
or rather uncertain, age. A man may
traverse the blooming ranks of young
womanhood unmoved half his lifetime,
and as he turns the corner, go down
with splash over head and ears in the
sea of matrimony.
Ralph Entresol had known Nora
Payne half her pretty lifetime, at
least, without a tender thought in her
connection till that evening, when,
with Mrs Dusenbury's sneers at the
Girl in his care, he looked across at
her, standing among the geraniums
and cactus buds, herself fresher and
more blooming than any of them. Gu
pid transfixed the lawyers heart in
that moment, and, rash as your eau
tious people are upon occasions, he
asked Nora that evening to marry him