The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-12-22

eight, she threw herself on the bed
and gave way to a perfect tempest
of passionate tears.
She cried until she was completely
exhausted. And when Jeremy
thinking that patience had ceased to |
be virtue-came up and tapped at |
the door, che was quite tinpresent- |
able and had to answer through the |
key-hole, al it were. She said now
and then d telltale falter in her voice
that she had d dreadful headache,
that the lightning made her nervous,
and that, though she was very, very
sorry to disappoint him, she couldn't
Jeremy was puzzled. The unstead-
mess of his sisters voice; and, the
sight of the cfunipled ribbon, which
he took to be a blue one, on the floor,
made him guess that something was
wrong; but in apparent good faith
he recommended tea, camphor,
ammonia, &C., and proposed to call
up Inga.
His sister peremtorily vetoed this.
Il shall just 60 to bed,' she de-
clared through the door, "and you
mustn't lose any more time. You
can make my excuses toto any one
who inquiries"
"Oh, hang excuses! There, didn't
mean that; but you know | hate par
ties. won't go at all. shall be a
deal more comfortable at home"
Jeremy meant what he said. Lou
protested, entreated, insisted, quite
in vain. He preferred cigar and a
novel to any kind of a trout" and
was so frankly relieved at the pros
pect of "cozy" evening at home
that the point was abandoned. AS
no service nor remedy that he could
think of was looked upon with favor,
Jeremy Invested himself of his finery.
went down stairs, established himself
in an easy-chair in the sitting-room,
and strayed into the regions OF
romance.
Meanwhile Lou, whose headache
was no fiction, sat in the dark by her
chamber window, resting her throb-
bling temples on her arms crossed on
the sill. 1t was still oppressively hot.
The scent of pinks and mignonette
came up from the little garden, min
gled with the faint odor of Jeremy's
cigar. She could occasionally hear
the murmur of voices in the kitchen.
Happy Inga, who had only one lover!
Oh, let lovers and the future take
care ofthemselyes! Miss Jennings was
tired to death OF the problem that
had vexed her all day. What was
the use of thinking about it? Both
young men would go away the next
day, and would notreturn for a week
at least; so there was further respite.
The heavy eyelids dropped. Worn out
with worry and crying, my heroine
drifted from actual to imaginary
troubles, and dreamed that crowd
| of maskers all in crimson were dane
ing around her, led by one in blue,
who threw aside her disguise, and
disclosed the face and figure ofMephis-
topheles. Toward this masker ran
Carl, Inga's "man." He was dressed
in green. He approached her, lead
ing the demon, who grinned horribly.
while the crimson maskers pressed
close with boots and jeers. Carl
seized her as she strove to escape
and Mephistopheles grasped her hand
A voice like Mr.. Batchelders said,
triumphantly, "She wanted blue; now
let her have it," A response from
Inga seemed to follow, "Yess, she hal
say blue" Then bells began to ring
and the dreamer suddenly sat up
right. 1t was the door bell that hao
driven her nightmare away. Some
one was speaking on the piazza be
low. "Perhaps it might be-"
81 beg pardon for this intrusion,
Mr.. Jennings. II had hoped te
meet your sister at the dance to
night. As she was not there, and as
cannot come tomorrow, Iventuree
to commit this breach of etiquette
Nav see her for moment or two?
Jeremy was heard explaining TIT
cause of absence, and regretting that
his sister was too i'll to see any on
that evening. Lou drew back from
the window with the sudden sense o
disappointment. 1t was Roger Mar
ston who had spoken.
"But come in and have cigar,
proposed good-natured Jeremy, wht
usually found "the comets" styl
rather overpowering, but noticing I
certain anxiety and perturbation il
the latter's manner tonight, felt in
clined to be cordial.
Thanks, no. 1 have promised tt
return to the Vances. Excuse me
but-you are quite sure cannot Sc
Miss Jennings?"
Jeremy, remembered that his siste
had particularly desired not to b.
disturbed, was very sorry, but wa
quite sure. He really was sorry, see
ing the trouble in the petitioner
face, although he had many a tim
wished for the comets discontinue
Twill you tell her, then, for me, hoy
much regret her illness, and Civ
her these roses, which had hoped t.
present to her in person?"
"Oh, these women?" Jeremy solio
uuized, as he turned back into tn
sitting-room with magnificent clust
er of roses in his hand. "Td hav
sworn she favored Marston, and ye
she sent Bob for blue ribbon. An
now she's thrown the blue rlbbo
away. Well, it's too much OF a rio
die for me. Asleep, sis?' he inquire
in cautious tones at his sisters dool
"No."
"Feeling better?"
"Not yet"
Here are some splendid Jacqu
roses with the comets compliment
Will you have them now?"
"Not tonight. Just get lnga t
put them in water, please"
"Not encouraging" Jeremy reflect
ed. He left the roses in the kitche
and returned to his book. BIZ
scarcely had he read three chapter
more before another ring at the be
interrupted. "Why, Walter, old fe
. low" was his hearty greeting, "ha,
YOU stolen away from the revels!
; SYou too?" he had almost sal
"Came to see why | wasn't there