The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-06-29

"Why is IL people must make fools OF them.
selves in this way? What is the use of try
ing to immortalize day that is sure to be
remembered any way? For my part wish
the Fourth of July -"
He was interrupted by n knock on his
door, and on answering 1t he found a maid
bearing square envelope.
when did this Gomez" he asked, with
out opening 1t
Yesterday, sir" answered the maid.
On breaking the seal Mr.. Jamison glanced
at the contents of the envelope and sank
back In a chair
Miss Talkative, the lapdlady of Mr..
Jamison, sat In her cozy parlor knitting.
Bhe was of n curious turn, and ever since
Mr.. Jamison had become an inmate of her
house, nearly year before, she had wished to
know more about him, but Mr.. Jamison was
of nature that would not brook any ques-
tions, and Miss Talkative had been obliged
to wonder in silence at his peculiarities.
She finally became convinced that he was
pining away from the effects OF some un-
fortunate love affair, and on the day before
the Fourth decided to test him. So she
wrote as follows:
George, 1 would like to see you at
once"
She thought if her estimate of him had
been correct she would be sure to discover
it in the conversation which must ensue on
Mr.. Jamison receiving the note. She was
one of the most gentle ladies on earth, and
was consequently terrified when she saw
the result of her experiment. She had in
tended to simply try him. and thought that
possibly her note might be the means of
effecting reconciliation between two low
ing but estranged hearts. So on the
morning of the Fourth she sat waiting re
suits, when Mr. Jamison's voice was heard,
angrfly summoning her.
Il suppose / must go up to him." said the
landlady to the maid
He's getting louder every minute" said
the girl, and Miss Talkative hurried up
stairs to her boarder's room. She found
that person strangely agitated, with look
of mingled wonder and anger on his face,
and she saw the unlucky envelope upon the
floor. Miss Talkative presented herself
with a face as pale as her boarder's, and
felt as though she had committed some
crime.
81 wanted to ask about this letter. When
and how did it Gomez"
Miss Talllative was on the point of max
ing a clean breast of it. and confessing that
she alone was responsible for the unlucky
missive, but while she was hesitating, from
awkwardness and diffidence, Mr. Jamison
shattered her nerves by exclaiming:
For heavens sake, woman, don't stand
there and stare. Answer me. When did
this comet"
Yesterday" grsped Miss Talkative, in
desperation.
who brought it?" questioned Mr. Jami-
son, growing more and more excited.
"A young lady" answered Miss Talka-
tive, hesitatingly.
What was sue like?"
81 can not tell. The fact is, 1 hardly-I
only"
"Was she tall and dark, and fashionably
dressed?" interrupted Mr.. Jamison.
Yes; believe So" answered Miss Talk
ative, her curiosity once more gaining the
supremacy.
1T must have been Alice. But how did
she know l was here?" muttered Mr.
Jamison, evidently speaking to himself
He put his hands into his pockets and |
stood staring out the window, ignoring
Miss Talkative's presence The landlady |
was recovering from her perturbation and |
was beginning to perceive that, after all, |
the letter had elucidated the mystery of |
Mr.. Jamison's conduct 1t was evident |
that some unluckly love affair was at the
bottom of his unhappiness.
Miss Talkative," he said suddenly,
speaking more in his usual tone, though
still laboring under strong excitement,