Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-22

nonset.sieal tAatI should be jealous
that I laughed aloud, and started at
the sound Of my own voice.
had started out that evening per-
fcotly self-satisticd, and feeling that
my presence was something most de-
vet As l walked home two
words kept ringing In my ears-de
trop. de trop. For the first time had
felt out of place. When reached my
walked straight to the
mirror. Agingp yes; there were lines
in my face l had never seen before;
and the longer looked. the lower fell
the mecury of my spirits. I dropped
into my armchair in front of the dy-
ing embsrs. Long I sat there think
ing: My cozy apartment struck me
as cold and cheerless; it needed some-
thing-the woman's hand probably;
and yet I had never missed
it before When at last I rose
and went into my bedroom,
it was as another man; my self-con-
ceit was falling away, and was learn
ing to know John Graham as he really
was, not the man my fancy had pict-
ured him to me for so many years.
The fultilmont of my fathers wish did
not seem so easy; and instead of
writing to him Immediately, as l had
intended. put it off from day to
day. not because had given up the in
tention of gratifying him-far from 1t.
Marriage had never seemed so desira-
bic to me; but as the desirability adj
vanccd my qualifications for it dimin-
ished in my own eyes.
:There is no fool like an old fool"
How often had quoted the old say
ing! but l had never thought of ap-
plying it to myself 1t came home to
me now. and rang in my ears as if I
could never get rid of it. l suppose /
was an old fool to all outward appear
ance, for never had found Jim Ran
dolph attractive before, yet now
hardly day passed but managed in
one way or another 10 meet him. In
due course of time was invited to the
house; I called; I dinel there; I
dropped in of an evening, gen.
orally choosing those which Jim spent
at the club or in visiting the widow,
to whom he was now very devoted.
Sometimes I saw Alice alone. but
more frequently there were other Wis.,
itors. and never could / t1atter myself
that she treated me more kindly than
the others. She was cordial and
pleasant ia all. She often referred to
our first meeting, and insisted upon
regarding me as a friend Of her
fathers. At least it was as such that
she invariably introduced me to her
friends; but once or twice thought I
detected a spice of mischief in her eyes
on such OCCASIONS. One day l had
dropped in early in the afternoon, and
after delightful chat with her, in
which felt that I had made greater
progress than ever before, asked her
if she would 60 skating with me.
"Oh yes. with pleasure. she an
swercd; then dropping her eyes de-
murely, she added: Il know papa will
not object, though he rarely allows me
TO 60 out alone; but he said he always
felt as if were we'll chaperoned when
you were with me. being such an old
friend of his, you know"
The long lashes hid her eyes, but I
felt that she was laughing at me as I
replied:
"Oh, of course an old house-dog who
has lost all his teeth is perfectly safe
for the children to play with.'
''Ycs. exactly was the reply. And
this time she raised her laughing eyes
to mine, and with '.Au revoir' and q
low courtesy, she ran up stairs. while
depal ted, in most uncomfortable
state of mind, to fetch my skates. A
few minutes before, would have been
willing to stake my fortune that she
cared a little for me, but her last
speech undid it all.
In half an hour I was back again.
Some one left the house as I ran up
the steps. and as the door stood open,
I walked in without ringing. My hand
was on the portiere of the drawing
room to push it aside. when heard
voice within say: Il love you, Alice.
Will you be my wifep''
My heart stood still, and turning
fsom the door, I beat a hasty retreat
to the reception-room.
l had recognized the voice as that of
one of the young fellows who had
been most devoted in his attentions to
Alice. He was wealthy; indeed that
hardly expressed it, for he was worth
at least a million in his own right,
with the prospect of inheriting several
more from his father. Compared with
that. my little fortune was a
mere pittance. The front door
shut, and I looked from
the window to make sure that my ears
had not deceived me. No; there he
was, tall and handsome, just such a
young fellow as any woman would be
proud to call her husband. Then I
turned to the mirror over the mantol.
What chance would an old hOuse-dOp