Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-04

allied would place me in an unpleasant posi-
tion. By the time we had reached the salad
| his face had begun to brighten a Gt. If a man
In love- 1 reflected, can manage to preserve his
| appetite he is not likely to break his heart A
well-flled stomach seems to keep the organ OF
"Everything is going well with you in busi-
ness wayf" 1 asked toward the end Of the
dinner.
"Yes. / will be millionaire in three
months"
"You look tired. old man. Why don't you
run over to Europe for the winter?"
| "You know right well why don't 1t Is un-
kind of you to ask such a question"
But" returned, your affaire is at an
| end" There was lump in my throat, but /
boldly raised my glass of champagne toward
my lips and said impressively: Rodney. pro-
pose toast Let us drink to my betrothed.
| Margaret Durand."
He hurled his glass to the floor in rage.
| His face was gnastly, and his eyes met mine
with look which made me also turn pale.
Traitor" he exclaimed, You shall pay for
| this. Am a man to be trified with? Do you
| think shall permit you to marry the woman
love? Hereafter. sir, we are strangers"
He rose, drew himself up to his full height
| and stalked out of the room.
sat for a time at the table. wondering what
| would be the outcome of all this. was afraid
of the man, not for myself but because l
device upon Margaret. knew that my words
had destroyed his scruples regaring the appli-
cation of his scientific destinations to the OBJ
| ject of our mutual affection. 1t was evident
that Margaret harbored vague suspicion that
Rodney could overcome her will if he tried, and
it was this fear which had led her to take the
peculiar step she had in my case. He must not
see her again, argued. My only safety lies in
preventing meeting between them. must
60 to her at once.
"Mr. Rodney paid for the dinner, sir, as he
went out" was informed when stopped to
settle my score.
With bis words "you shall pay for this"
ringing in my ears had to laugh at the incon-
sistency of my rivals speech and deeds. was
annoyed, too. To have guest pay for meal
to which 1 had invited him proved that his
hostility would stop at nothing in its search for
revenge.
1 walked hastily up toward Margaret's home.
1t was COOL clear night and the bracing air
somewhat restored my equilibrium.
as Miss Durand in?' 1 asked nervously at
the door. -.
SIR"
This was strange. She had said nothing to-
me regarding such purpose. had pictured
her to myself talking bver her engagement to
her mother and. perhaps, taking her father
into the secret. Once in a while in these days
parents are informed of girls betrothal al
most as soon as her intimate friends How
ever, as had been invited to the Olney's.
decided to seek her there and ask for an ex-
PLANTATION.
stopped passing hanson and rolled up
misgivings. / held Margaret by such a slight
bond-for knew that she did not love me as
wished to be loved-that was not pleased at
the outlook Now that Rodney had taken the
warpath with his current-controlliDg apparatus
1 felt almost helpless All is fair in love, they
say, but this rather unprincipled dictum was
laid down before electricity was known to man.
My fevered brain employed itself in drafting a
measure to be introduced at the next session
of the Legislature making it a misdemeanor
for anyone to win the affections of a woman by
any machine device or contrivance not readily
obtainabIe by the public at large. Wen have
nickel-in-the-slot counting machine yet" l
muttered bitterly as the cab drew up in front
of the Olney's. The great house was crowded
and the cotillion had not yet begun. / said
few words to the hostess, and then began my
search for Margaret. A few moments later I
caught sight Of her leaning against door and
talking to a harmless youth of 20 who had al
ready become blase. At the same instant l saw
Marcus Rodney enter the front drawing room
and greet the hostess.
By some strange impulse, decided to defer
background and watch Marcus Rodney's
maneuvers.