The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-12-26

do YOU REALLY MEAN II, DIR. MASONf'
being once more so near the little homo circle
which held my happiness, rushed up to her
and held out both my hands, saying; ~ am
SO glad to see you. shall be grateful IL you
are half as glad to see me-"
Her eyes opened wide, with look that was
part pleasure and part astonishment, blended
with depreciation. She had the appealing
eyes which so often belong TO the young who
are afflicted with deafness. Something in
her look told me that she had not really I'M
derstood my words, but was honestly glad to
see me. So ratified on telling her how much
had thought of all Of them while he'd been
away, still holding both her hands in a
hearty clasp.
II wish you Happy New Year and many
Happy New Years." said finally. "Your
welcome makes me very, very happy. Now,
let us go and find Alma"
"Do you really mean it, DR.. MasonY" and
she looked up at me with q strange, yearn-
ing expression on her plain face, W hich was
flushing with red, like an early morning sky.
"Mean it, Mean 1t every word, with all
my heart, and held her hands tighter than
ever In my enthusiasm. "Now let us find
Alma, for whom have what hope may be
glad tidings."
She smiled, and her smile was very sweet,
although she was so plain. / noticed, too,
that her eyes had a strange light in them
which made them resemble the eyes we some
times see In dreams, which speak so much
more meaningly than do those we see IN our
waking hours. This light was the light of
Joy and nothing else. Ono does not see 1t
often In woman's eyes. Sometimes only
once in life timo.
She slipped her arm In mine and we walked
into tho house down the wide, old fashioned
hall to the sitting room.
"Alma, dear,n said Laura, as we opened
the door and the tall, dark eyed goddess of
my heart arose and came towards us, "Dr.
Mason says have made him very happy,
and he wants to tell you Of 1t at once, and SO
do In
The goddess glanced at both Of us, faint
pink color coming into her white ch&k, and
smiled at us as she would have smiled at two
children, while was longing to take her In
my arms and tell her that 1 adored her. In
stead of greeting me, or giving me chance
to greet her, she bent and kissed Laura, and
then turned to me- saying;
"You have won the sweetest heart In the
world, Dr. Mason. l congratulate you.
know that you will return an equal amount
Of good wishes when tell you that have
promised to marry Mr.. Carey. We will be
married next month and go 70 New York to
live at once"
I stood, as the novelists say, ''rooted to the
spot.n The whole scene seemed unreal. /,
who few moments before was full of joyful
anticipation, now found myself engaged to
marry woman whom did not love, and
hearing the woman did love tell me that she
was soon to marry one of my rivals. At first
could not understand what Alma meant l
thought that she and Laura were enjoying
some joke too obscure for me. At last the
beaming look In Lauras eyes enlightened me.
She, being somewhat deaf, had mistaken my
warm greeting for declaration Of love, and
responded afiirmRtively.
With Lauras arm still within mine l
walked to a sofa and sat down, she by my
side. had not uttered word since met
Alma. Speech had utterly forsaken me- And,
indeed what could say9 Could tell the
trusting creature by my side that it was all
mistake; that she had misunderstood me;
that did not love her; that ! loved her
beautiful cousins No. was too shocked and
dazed to do anything but sit there In silence,
with the perspiration standing in cold drops
on my face and my eyes staring vacantly
ahead of me. think could have
spoken had 1t not been that Alma stood
before me looking placid and even happy in
telling of her engagement to Mr.. Carey l
accepted the situation In desperation. The
whole face of life had been suddenly changed
for me and saw nothing but gloom ahead.
l thought myself strong man, but is IL
any wonder that wept like any child on my
pillow that nightl What a New Years that
wasi Whittier had my expected good luck
comet
put the best possible face on my misery
and went on In the dismal path fate had