The Washington critic., 1886-10-12

ing in. think he did not stay more
than twenty minutes. But in that
number of moments my heart went
from me, Julia 1t did not so much rs
await my consent. 1t simply departed
without leave or license. | did not
wish 1t. | bad no more thought of
falling in love than have at this mo
mcnt of flying TO the moon. | had NJ
will in the matter. The fellow walked
into my heart and took possession of
1t. His handsome face, his dark
eyes his manly bearing, his abounding
vitality that carried me along involun.
taiily, his voice strong and melodious,
and his conversation free, interesting
audacious, showing man of brains,
experience and ori ginality. When he
arose TO go | found myself shaking
hands with him (after he had grasped
Toms hand and said cheering words
that made the poor fellows face
brighten and his voice grow stronger)
and meeting look from his eyes that
went down into my heart and stirred 1t
to the depths. | felt my face grow
warm, and what my eyes said dare
not think.
The unusual effort was too much
for Toms strength and he was soon In
pain again. So that nothing more was
said about the visitor.
When ] went down to tea. at the foot
of the stairs stood Jack Leonard.
1--WE are two lone mortals," he said,
looking into my eyes do not think
either of us saw anything but the
Others eyes. "And it is not good for
man to be alone. You know 1t isn't,
Miss Randall; you know that you have
somewhere read that 1t isn't. So why
shouldn't we sit at the same table aud
unitedly spread terror among the hosts,
so to speak, of the hotel by ordering
everything, or nearly everything, on
the bill of faic? Perhaps you think
1t quite improper to hint that young
lady has anything so unnccdful about
her as an appetite" he added, as we
walked along towards the dining.
| room.
"Apretites are fashionable nowadays
for women" | replied. "lf they were
not you may tc certain that would
accustom myself to living on air, | do
so love to be conventional.
He looked at me with his saucy eyes
Now, you are joking" he said
Hadn't you better label your jokes, as
| hitCbiuS w ulu ulu, MS io u JOhcj L
don't mean this 2 because you know
might applaud at the wrong place, and
| as n reward be left alone again. 4"
| dare say You will marvel at the ro.
mantle turn the conversation took on.
But you cant expect people always to
lie common place and mattGr.of-fact.
We fingered over our supper and
talked of Italy, where had spent the
winter, and where he had been within
the past year. don't know what we
said, though, except that he talked in
his musical voice, and that, most of
all, we looked into each others eyes.
Afterward / went back to Tom. The
next morning, at breakfast, he came in
after ] was seated And that was two
days ago
What will you think Of me? That
the Colorado air has made me insane
No, dear; don't think that. am only
in love with man out Of thousand.
Write quickly to me.
| With much love, your KATE.
EMERALD SPRINGS, COL, June 30.
My DEAR JULIA: Your letter has
reached me. The wisdom of what you
say to me have reason to know Is un-
doubted. What / have to say to you
will both pain you and amuse you.
So let it be.
Jack Leonard has been gone from
here more than two weeks. l shall
never see him again. / know about
him now what | did not know, and
what did not once enter my mind to be
the case until nearly week after
wrote you. Julia, he is married
| man.
Why was so dcrelict, why did not
talk TO Tom about him in the start,
why | should have thought him a
man free to beslow his affections where
he pleased, cannot tell. 1t simply
did not once enter my mind that such
was not the case. Not once, / declare
upon my honor, until the truth was
told me. He looked so young, he
seemed so frank.
The evening after wrote you we
found ourselves saunterlng down by
the springs in the sweet June air, with
the soft, rosy, odorous hush of twi-
light about us. The mountains and
the sky-you should have seen them
We were not saying much. There
was little to be said when we could
look into each others eyes. There
were robins singing and music at the
hotel. In the warm west there was a
bright new moon. 1t was beautiful,
beautiful. We walked slowly along
until we came to the end of the path
which looked off into deep ravinC
then full of dark shadows. A rustic
seat stood there. We were alone, SC
far as mortal company was concerned
There was nothing about us save the
mountains, the pure air, the flushing
sky, the thrilling music, the sound oil
rippling waters. We turned to &C
back. His eyes met mine and held my
glance. With passionate murmur he
caught my hand and drew me into his
arms. l had no thought but that he
had right to do so; for loved him
and / believed him pure and high
minded. Perhaps had no reasons for
thinking so. did not consider that.
only thought so without the trouble
of analysis or search for causes.
We remained there but few brief
moments, When | went in to Tom he
asked me how / had been amusing
myself, / told him that had been ou
walking with Jack Leonard.
Il wish | could go out walking Will
Jack Leonard" he said, wearily, and
before could speak again, he went on
"Leonard is jolly good fellow, Katie
l always thought, from the first time
met him, that he was just the man fol
you. What pity you did not see hin
five years ago before he was married.
remember how you used to talk abou
men. | haven't heard you say anything
about the poor creatures since you hay,
been here This time"
Well, Julia, If you will believe it o.
me, was blind, deaf, dumb and paral
wed for what seemed nm npp I coul,