The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-02-09
Mr.. carslde's Angel.

Chicago Tribune.
Dimly burned the gas in the spa.
cious drawing room Of the Garside
mansion. With . deep and abiding
conviction that the faithful and in.
telligent meter in the basement would
60 on as usual attending to
the interests of its employ
ers. Marcellus Hankinscn had
turned tho gas low. and his
eyes cleaned In the semi-dark-
ness as 10 sat leaning forward
awaiting in breathless suspense the
reply Of Henrietta Garside. At length
she spoke.
''Mr. Hankinson," she said in a
voice slightly tremulous with catarrh,
shave you considered well the con.
sequence of this ster?''
Henrietta" exclaimed the excited
youth, as he swallowed with q con.
vulsive gasp an enormous balloon
that had arisen in his throat
and his frame shook with emo
ton, do you ask me If I have
considered this matter7 I have con.
sidered nothing else for the last three
years. The consideration of this
thing has robbed me of my sleep, filled
my waking hours with feverish unrest,
cost me thirty-four pounds of flesh
and brought me to the very verge OF
chronic neuralgia. Is it the hasty and
inconsiderate passion of mo ment,
do you think, Henrietta, that could
move me to wander about the streets
at night with the restless energy of q
policeman just before O. new city ad.
ministration has made it's appoint
ments? Is it fleeting fancy that i'm.
psls my steps in this direction hours
after the last saloon has closed, and
causes me to straggle along this street
in the Pickering glare Of the consump-
tive lamps, wearing the hunted and
uneasy look of an outlawed dog with
the unpaid tax of three years hanging
over his head? l can bear it
no longer, Henrietta; I can bear
it no longer without losing my situa-
ton. Tonight must end my sus.
pense. I-have spoken"
The night winds howled a. requiem
over the fair weather prediction of
the Signal Service Department., and
from remote room in the palatial
mansion came hoarse rum.
bling sound like the pulsing MUIR
muir of q distant quartz mill. Mr..
Garside was sleeping. The measured
cadence of the sound with which the
unconscious man was lulling the neigh
borhood to repose Indicated by its
rhythmic rise and fall that no mes
meric sympathy stirred his brain with
premonition of the drama whose in
tensity made eloqent even the silence
that followed the impassioned utter.
ance of Marcellus Hankinson.
II am not insensible of the homo:
you do me-" said the fair young girl.
II appreciate the wealth OF devotion
you have lavished upon me, and you
will believe me when I say, from the
depths of a true heart, that shall al.
ways be a sis"
"Henrietta," walled the despairing
young man, ''anythlng but that!
Be q distant relative! Be a Sec
ond cousin! Be the intimate friend OF
dear and cherished aunt! But when
l come to lay upon the altar the
tribute of hearts fondest affection
don't, for the sake of the pitying an.
gels, greet me with the sister racket!
Don t work off on ME that old
chest"
"Mr. Hankinson," interposed Miss
Garside with dignity, yet with visible
embarrassment, II was about to say
that I would always be sister to
your own lovely little sister Maudie.
I-I-Marcel!us-
"Forglve me, my angel" burst from.
the lips OF the rapturous youth, as
he bounded to his feet; and amid the
mournful plant Of the winter wind
and the smothered rumbling from the
distant apartment OF the slumbering
Mr.. Garside there slnote upon the air
of the dimly.lighted drawing-room a
sound resembling ladleful of mashed
potatoes impinging with emphasis
against q brick vail.