The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-06-23

OF Hatter1ng interest TO neF SHSHtcSC
word. The tongue Of Madame Rumor
is connecting their names together,
and all say it is match suitable in
every respect. Handsome, accom-
plished, wealthy; such complete con-
trast, too; in looks; for Alice is fair
and petite, her bright head barely reach
ing the dark Spanish-looking Gilbert
Framley's shoulder.
This suitor of Alice's and Percy Del
mar are friends; and the day after the
party, Gilbert calls, and finding that
Alice has gone to drive with Mrs. Del
mar, he asks for Percy, and is shown
at once to the library, the young heirs
favorite resort.
Percy rises, smotherlng amomentary
feeling which, for the first time, makes
the sight of that handsome smiling face
unwelcome.
"Good-morning, Delmar Poring
over your books as usualp 1t is evil
dent YOU have hardly thought be-
yond them. Well, you are happy
fellow! You escape many heart
ache
Percy looked at the young man keen
ly. Something in the tone OF his voice
spoke of unusual agitation. He an
swered him somewhat bitterly:
Emotions of the heart should be
alien to such as /, for should have but
a poor chance of success. You, tall,
and stately, not debarred OF your
natural proportions, need fear no re-
pulse from 'lady-fair. )"
"Do YOU think sop'' said Gilbert
teagerly, drawing an arm through Per-
cy's, and commencing to walk with
him up and down the spacious room.
Il am glad if that is your real opinion,
for YOU are sensible fellow, and
ought to know; and then, Delmar
an uninterested looker-on can see bet
ter than the parties themselves.
Percy's lips curved into bitter smile
as Gilbert said this, but he made no re-
ply, and his friend went on:
1.-The truth is, Percy, I'm head over
heels in love, and, for the life OF me,
can't summon courage to speak out.
She-you know who | mean-is so dlt-
ferent from most of the girls one
meets, that hardly know how to take
her. This I'm sure of-that she's
the most bewitching creature that ever
charmed mans heart out OF. his keep
ing. You are above this kind OF weak
ness, old fellow, and l want you to use
your influence with her. She sets you
up on pinnacle, and word from you
would do wonders
Little thought Gilbert, as he talked OF
his hopes and fears to his friend. OF the
tide of passion which ragged beneath
his calm exterior. AT last, however,
the torture was over, and Percy was
left alone, the guardian of a note to
Alice which was to bring matters to
climax
Percy rang the bell, and gave it to a
servant; then he mounted his favorlte
saddle-horse, and rode away, squirting
! the animal until its pace kept time to
its masters whirling disordered
thoughts.
Alice had been spending some time
as a guest of Mrs. Delmar. At first
she had wondered much at the change
in Percy's demeanor to her-his little
: friend of other days. He had seemed
so strangely cold and Indifferent
: Several times she made resolution
: to break down the barrier between
them; but one glance at Perey's face
handsome and noble, but as impassive
and emotionless apparently as that o.
Greek statue-would repress the I'M
pulsive words with which she hac
meant to greet him.
So the distance between them hac
widened, until. to see them together
! one would imagine them to be strang
ers, so strictly formal were they II
| their intercourse.
l Percy showed his ignorance of {
3 girls heart in thus abandoning thu
l field to a rival. Physical beauty
? counts as nothing beside talent to ;
, true woman. The first is OF the eartl
$ earthly; the other is-godlike! Bu
, Percy dreamed not of this, and let th
2 golden chances pass by.
His strong though self-repressed ma
3 ture rose in rebellion, however, ane
{ when he returned from his frantic nd
; he was i'll in body as well as mind.
| He thought of Alice as the promised
' wife of his friend, not thinking that sh
' might have refused him. At last on
, neyer-to-be-forgotten morning buncl
of fragrant violets was brought to hin
: from Alice, and amid the flowers tin.
q note was thrust He opened it an
read.
, "DEAR PERCY,-Let us be friends again a
!, in the good old days; May come IN aiiu , 80
II how sick you are? If your head aches, mayp
= | can soothe the pain by passing my hano
9 over your forehead, as l used to 40 when
was your little friend. Allie
t He laid the note down with sigh
2 and took up another which the servan
1 had lust brought in. Thus it ran:
e DEAR DELMAR,-Tm sorry you're sick,
n I'd like to have a parting shake OF the nan
y from you. I'm off to-anywhere-so can g
miles away Miss CraytOn has refused M
: She's noble girl. though; she dldn glory
h her conquest at all. The tears absolutely stoo
= in her ewes when she saw how cut up wa
0 God bless her! if she isn't for me.~Y ours ;,
!. The two notes acted like an elixi1
Within an hour Percy was dressed, an
l. on his way downstairs, Intending
J, take the family by surprise.
S AS he entered the library, the sol
e pile of the Persian carpet smothere
n his footballs, so that they were unhear
8 by Alice. She was standing by tn
window, holding miniature IN he
It hand.
J. Suddenly She raised it to her III
IT and murmured some tender words
is she kissed it.
: Percys heart gave sudden throb
d she turned, and with glad little CT.
1t sprang towards him, forgetting IN ht
n surprise to hide the picture.
Involuntarily, his eyes sought 1t, an
4. II was his own semblance he recognized
is s.Dear Percy, are you better? nay
4, been SO unhappy about you. ,..r