The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-01-08

.s'" atms snt mhftutI hcf up and
down the piazza hnmming gay air.
MeanSh within the windows The
young man sat motionless. his finger
siill between the pages that only 4 few
moments ago held him spcllbouni. al
though his world had fallen In ruin
around him since Florence began her
lecture" Outside the breeze rang
among the tree-tops and mflied the
shining bosom 81 the river. The
August sunshine lay mellow On the
grass. but he heard nothing. saw moth
ing.
The tea bell rang suddenly and
startled him out Of his mediiations.
The girls disappeared with much chat
ter and gay laughter. and he rose me-
chemically and walked like one in a
dream down through the garden and on
into little grove beyond. his one
thought 10 be alone where no human
eye could add 10 his torment with its
questioning glance. There. under the
trees. where he and Dora played in
childhood. he walked TO and fro. one
sentence ringing in his ears like a sent
cnce Of doom: :. We can all see she
doesn't love him" IL was hard to
come down from the pinnacle where
he had imagined himself crowned king
Of one heart.
When Dora. only fifteen. had given
him her hand so confiiingly a. they
walked together in this very grove
only Il WAS morning then, and spring
time. and the air was filed with the
scent Of wild crab-arp.e blooms. and
she wore them Al her throat: how
plainly he could see her now. all in
white. and the pink Of her cheek 80 ike
the dainty blossoms he had taken the
gift mnqucstionably. and no doubts had
ever assailed him. H. knew her dcvo-
ton 10 art and was proud Of her suc-
cess. but he had never dreamed that il
would BE- his rival in her affections
Have l been 50 blind?" he ques-
toned. 20. nv little Dora
Something must BE- done. and that al
once. Should he 90 10 Dora and ask IL
these things were true, That would be
like saying Have you been dcceiving
me all these years." He could not do
il. H. must wait. with what patience
he could. until he could decide for HIM
self. He was very thankful that Dora
had not quite decided TO BE- married in
the fall. as that would be one test be
could put her 70. II is something 70 have
an idea that can be acted upon at once.
and he retraced his steps toward the
house with this one purpose in view.
How shall he find a minute in which
to speak alone with Dora? He feels
that he can not bear the suspense until
another day shall come. and then NUT
tiers 10 himself: Fool. What IL il
must last . lifetime? What il am
never to know?''
A. he reached the piazza a girlish
voice cried out eagerly: %. Mr.. Long
where have you heen hiding YOURSELF
and in an instant he was surrounded
BY laughing group. who scoided and
questioned with such viyacity that their
victim found il unnecessary 70 say a
word: il was. in fact. quite impossible
Then Dora rose from the piano
Here. Dorar' cried Edith Stanly,
here is the descrter. What shall be
done 70 himr" And they led him be-
fore his bright-eyed Judge.
Dora had never before seemed "a
him Just As she did At that moment
80 far away. rs IL great gulf were
| fixed between them. lie could scarcely
believe in her bright looks. everything
| seemed so unreal his life was 50 shaken
| 10 its foundations II was only BY a
great effort that he aroused himself to
make some commonplac &C excuse.
Dora's first careless glance At his
| pallid face changed 70 one Of alarm.
| The light from an open window fell
upon il and she saw its deadly pallor.
| "Why. Fredr' she cried. you careless
boyi You will BE- sick again. Come
| and have some tea And she led the
| way to the dining-room How hi
longed 70 say: Come. Dora. l have
something to tell you.- and then. hav'
ing her all 70 himself. pour out these
miserable doubts and fears in her cal
and 50 be free from them. But no
here was this crowd of chattering girl.
l-besides. she must not know he hat
such doubts. Even II she said. II Low,
you. could he be sure she was not say
ing Il because she believed il TO be hel
duty And so he finished the evening
rs best he could. and all night long hi
heart tormented him with ceaseles
qucstionings-
Several days passed before he fcuns
an opportunity to speak alone will
Dora The house was filled with :
number Of young guests, and Dor'
must be everywhere.
| Fred Long was Just now taking
wcll-earned vacation. After years o
hard work and months Of illness he had
come back 70 the home Of his childhood
to regain lost health and strength. HI
had called this the happiest summer h
had known. but now an untimely fros
had spoiled it, beauty. Among tn
friends whom Dora was entertainin,
her cousin Florence Freeman was TIL
only one he had previously known
Naturally they drifted together durin,
these miserable days. With Dora h
was suddenly i'll at ease and restless
her quick eyes noted the change. and
looked about for q cause. Those SAM
quick eyes noticed the walks and talk
with cousin Florence. mo wonder sh'
admircs him. she said. with sharI
little pang at her heart. mentally con
trasting tall. handsome Florence will
her own little self.
| Presently the flock Of merry schoo
girls took flight. Only Florence. ans
Won. and I. said Dora. s.ju<t as II uscs