The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-13
N despair and had nearly concluded to cut

So sat one night meditating on the pros
and cons, trying to determine what 70 do; but
l was so much in love that l couldn't make up
my mind to Danish myself from Miss Stolla's
presence as long as she would have anything
at al to do with me.
| sat and thought and thought and thought
till | nearly went distracted, till was mad at
myself for being such an idiot, mad very mad
at VIII for getting me into such scrape, and
mad because | couldn't get out Of it.
In thiS state of mind | went to bed. woke
mp in the morning, not having remembered
dreaming anything in particular. 1t was late
riedy.
l felt very singular about the face, put my
hands up and felt to my intense surprise, my
face was perfectly smooth l rushed TO the
glass, clean-shaved face met my gave.
My hrSt thought was one OF JOY, that those
detestablc hairs were gone, but the thought
came rushing to my mind, how did they, when
did they go?
l tried the door, it was locked and boted
Just us L had left it the night before. Tho
windows were closed and fastened as the night
was bitterly cold and the rooms had been we'll
ventilated during the day.
How could they have disappeared?
All, had it! some one was concealed in the
room. | searched in vain for any trace.
Could it have been "a ghost? l laughed
at the foolish fear, but ii was rather a nervous
laugh.
The whiskers were certainly gone, my eyes
L
Suddenly a thought flashed upon me.
looked at my shaving-pad, there was lather
and those very shaggly hairs on it. l looked
at my shaving-cup, it was clean as l always
left it when through with it, and | knew then
that had used it in my sleep.
The mystery was now plain as day. l some
times walked in my sleep, | knew having been
caught on the roof in that condition, l had
gone to bed with my mind in a very wrought
up state, and had done i'll my sleep what had
lOnged to do in my waking hours,
But then the thought came, will / 30 held
responsible for Internationally breaking my
pledge? l thought of the man with whom l
had to deal, and ielt that it was las unchange-
able as the law of the Modes and Persians."
hen Went down to breakfast the next
morning many were the ordinations with
which was greeted, They were all well
pleased, OF course, which was the only salts
faction | had had in weeks, but it was short
lived / did not tell them tho way | had
shaved nor why l did not do so before.
AS i'll luck would have it, met VIII Evans
that very day. He also was surprised-and
pleased: "Why, hello, Joe! Given in after
having held out so long; what's the matter?"
leXplained everything to him. He would
not believe it, or said che didn't" He said:
There it was in black and white; if we shay
ed, it didn say anything about how"
torked out the thirty dollars with . very
good grace, considering my poverty: | was
willing to pay that to get rid of the whisllers,
but the other part, didn't like that. / tried
to beg Off, saying: "lt was foolish bargain,
foolishy made" He said "a bargain was a
bargain the world over, and your honor as a
gentleman, Mr.. Randall, will forbid your not
keeping 10 it," With that he left ne. What
could [ do? Just what l had promised; moth
ing more, nothing less.
And so day by day | was forced to see that
young upstart, as | mentally styled him,
take Miss Stella riding skating, to the theater
every place, in fact, that he could. One con-
ISOLATION, she smiled sweetly upon me at first;
so ! knew that she really liked me; but as
week alter week went by and |. though al
ways treating her well, very well, where acct
dcntally thrown i'll her presence, never asked
her to go to any place, who had formerly boon
so eager for her company, of course she knew
that something was the matter, and she grad
ually began to treat me coolly, until l could
endure it no longer, and, packing up, went off
on trip. When came back the first thing
heard was that Stella and Will were engaged,
and were to be married the first Of May.
81 thought you formerly had some inten-
tions in that direction" said Grace, looking at
me askance. | ground my teeth in rage, but
made no answer at first; but, then, like q
drowning man catching at straw, / asked
when did you say they were to be married?
fThe first of May" she answered.
/ Immediately became cheerful, almost
happy.
My lips were sealed only to the first of April,
I would have a month in which to WOO her
from him.
l kept my face shaved clean. and went about
my business.
The month sped by saw viii was look
inguneasy. l could hardly wait. But the first
of April came at last. The very first day, |
sent a note to Miss Stella, asking her TO let me
call in the evening. l received very polite
note, to the effect that l could come. | was
i'll ecstacies.
went early and stayed late.
She received me cordially. / confessed the
whole miserable business.
She laughed heartily at it, and at last / was
forced to join in.
When she chad had her laugh out" so TO
speak, told her of my love, and asked her if
my case was hopeless, even though she was TO
be married in q month?
She said "it was not and the next night we
ran away and got married.
Will Evans was sadly left.
AS finished my story Tom reused up and
asked me. chow | ever grew such fine whs-
kers afterwards" I answered, "Oh, thoy
came out all right two or three years after
wards, and never look at them but that 1
think of the lesson which | learned so well,
never make bet +"