The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-12-06

iize his attention, would she not hate him II
he went away without some expression OF
| tendernessl
The longer he cucVeo1 his wits the more
Inactive they became. He resolved to call at
once and trust to chance, and perhaps a mer-
ciful Providence, to help him to a proper
| leave taking He wondered If she would 10
at home; he had heard her recapitulate sue
| cession of engagements which seemed to him
to dispose of a week of afternoons and even
ings. He would seek her father and ask him
when Lucia could be found at home.
He acted at once upon the impulse, but
| Tramlay was not at his office. AS the time
was about noon, Phil strolled to the restau-
rant to which the iron merchant had taken
him. Tramlay was not there, SO the young
man took seat and ordered luncheon. Just
as it was served, Marge passed him, without
seeing him, and a young man at a table be-
hind Phil said to his companions:
"That Marge is lucky dog Have you
heard that he's going to marry Tramlays
daughters She'll be rich; iron is looking up"
as that So" asked the other. "When did
it come outF'
81 don't know whether it's announced yet"
was the reply, "but one of the fellows at the
bank told me, and suppose he got it from
Marge; he knows him very we'll"
Pills appetite departed at once: it seemed
| to him his life would accompany it. His
mind was in a daze his heart was like lead.
His feelings reached his face, and, distracted
and stupid though he felt, he could not help
| seeing that he was attracting attention, so
he paid hisfoill, went out. and hurried along
the street. The first distinct impression of
| which he was conscious was that there need no
longer be any doubt about how to say good
by to Lucia formal courteous note would
| suffice; he would not trust himself to meet
her. Could he blame here No; he certainly
had no claim upon her heart, nor any reason
to really believe she had regarded him as
more than pleasant acquaintance. She
had let him kiss her hand; but had not she
herself taught him that this was merely an
old time form of salutation? She had the right
to marry whom she would; yet Marge-
The thought of that man-that lazy, list
less, cold, dry stick-being bound for life to
merry, sensitive soul like Lucia drove him
almost mad.
Well, the blow was n blessing in one way;
now he could go back to the farm without
any fears or hesitation. Go back?-yes, he
would hasten back; he could not too soon put
behind him the city and all its memories.
After all, it was not the city he had dreaded
| to leave; it was Lucia, and whatever through
her seemed necessary Now that she must be
forgotten, all else might go. He would go
back to the hotel, pack his clothes-how he
longed for the money they had cost him.
write line to Lucia, and take the first train
for home Homel How shamefully he had
forgotten it in the past fortnight Perhaps
this disappointment was his punishment; if
so, although severe, it was no more than just.
| l. - 4
more inside his. dirty oilskin fishing clothes
to obliterate the city man he had been aping
for fortnight Heaven had evidently in
tended him to be a drudge; well, heavens
will should be,done.
Thus reasoned the spirit; but the flesh did
not rapidly conform to its leaders will. Pills
teeth and lips were twitching; he felt it was
so; he noticed that people stared at him, just
as they did while he was in the restaurant.
| This at least he could escape, and he would;
so he turned into the first side street, to avoid
| the throng. Within moment he feared he
was losing his reason, for it seemed to him
| that people were pursuing him. There GER
tainly was an unusual clatter of hurrying
| feet behind him, but-pshawl-it was prob
ably crowd running to fire or q fight.
! The noise increased; several wilds yels arose,
and some one shouted, 'Stop theft" Then
Phils heart stopped beating, for heavy
hand fell on his shoulder He started vio-
lently aside, but there was no shaking off the
grasp of that heavy hand he looked wildly
around, and into the eyes of his father.
'Bless you, old boy, how-how fast you do
walk!" painted the old man. II was way up
--on the other side of the road when-when
1 saw you turnin' down here Sol Mantring
said l wouldn't know you-if 1 saw you.
| Why-I knowed you at first sight"
"Wot's he doneg" bleated small boy in
front, for the crowd had already surrounded
| the couple.
whats who doneg" asked the old man.
| angrily, after he had looked around and seen
the crowd ''Why, you tarnal loafers, can't
man run down the road to catch up with
his own son without you thinlsin' there's
somethin' wrong2 I've heerd that in New
York ev'ry man suspects ev'ry other man of
bein' a thief. Git Quit go about your bust
ness, if you've got any,"
The crowd, looking sadly disappointed and
disguised, slowly dispersed, one very red
faced man remarking that the entire proceed
ing had been "a burned skin"
The father and son walked along until COM
paratively alone; then the father said:
''Somethin's wrong, old boy. What is itr
Phil did not reply.
'Out of money an afraid to send me
wordg"
"No," Phil replied.
"Then it's her, ehl'
Phil nodded. His father squeezed his hand
and after a moment continued:
Proposed to her an been refusedg'
"No," said Phil; "another man has pro-
posed and been accepted"
'Dearl dearp sighed the old man. "An'
she's dead in love with him, sposer'
II never saw any sign of it" said Phil, his
face wrinkling. II don't see how she can;
hes a dry old stick"
"RichY'
"Um-m-I don't know" said Phil.
"Know him?"
"Yes, little. Mr.. Tramlay says he lives
on his income"
EASY enough for a bachelor to do that in
New York" said the old man, IAN still not
have much"
They walked in silence few minutes; then
the old man continued:
"Sure you weren't mistaken, bubG"
ga bout wbatyr