Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-03-21

agree now. You've pledged yourself. Do
you-regret it," she asked, rising, and
drawing herself up to her full height.
L was by her side in a moment.
by heaven, mol" cried, Selling both
her hands, while L gazed into her e+es,
those unfath om8ble eyes, in whose
dusky depths I lOnged to hnd-I know
not what. But 1 discovered nothing.
The intense look vanished as quickly as
1t came, to be succeeded by one Of fun
and merriment.
You're undoubtedly very handsome
Jack!" she exclaimed.
Am II" I asked absently.
why, of course you are! If you had
not been, would II"
She said no more. Her hands were
closely locked in mine. Our lips met.
The opening and quick shutting Of the
door behind me startled both. George
pushed me from her.
1T was Edna. How annoyingl" she
cried. She saw-Im sure she saw.
Jack, if you ever dare do such thing
again I will not marry you. She'll tell
all over the place what she has just
seen"
She will, I say. Servants always talk
and gossip.
I'm sure she won't. She is the very
soul Of honor, asserted warmly.
ANY one would suppose you knew her
letter than 1 do to hsaryO speak so con-
fideutly. I will not have our engagement
known in place like this, where people
watch and pry and chatter. I'd rather
deny it-a thousand timesl But come,
let US forget this, she added lightly,
and seating herself at the piano she
poured out such a food of melody that
for the time all remembrance of the IN
fortunate cO7stretenlps was banished from
my mind.
At a late hour that night I went to
DR.. GascOigne's room. He had returned.
1t was more than week since we had met,
and we settled down for a comfortable
smoke.
He placed the whisky bottle before me,
and willing to forget for one night, at
least, the future abnegatiOn to which I
had uncOnsciOusly bound myself, poured
out probably rather more than my usual
moderate allowance. We had had very
good dinner in No. 20, but, as may be sup
posed, there was nothing in the shape of
wine. The Doctor and I had not been
sitting together long when out of the full
ness of my heart 1 spoke.
"Gascoigne, I said suddenly, Il want
you to be the first to congratulate me. 1t
is a profound secret at present. I am
sure you will keep it so, but am engaged
to marry the handsOmest and most charm
ing girl in England Wish me Joy"
HAS it already come to this? Haven't
you been rather precipitate, my friend?"
he asked, taking his pipe from his mouth
and shaking out some of the ashes on a
tray beside him.
There's an old Scotch proverb, Hap
py's the woOing tina, a short time a.
doing. We're very near Scotland, here,
Doctor" I answered, laughing. But
come, you have not CONGRATULATED me"
Are y9u sure the step you are taking
will add to your happiness?"
my dear fellow, it seems to me I never
knew the meaning Of the word. HapPi-
ness? I'm intoxicated with it. She is
Just the most adorable, bewitching, love-
provoking piece of wOmankind I ever en-
cOuntered. wish to God 1 could marry
her tomorrow. shall not have long to
wait, though, I added confidently.
There was a pause. 1t was very irri-
tating to me when I looked across to
Gascoigne, to see him still trifing with
the ashes fallen from his pipe, and ap-
parently absorbed in contemplation OF
them.
I wish you'd speak, 7 exclaimed, i'm
patiently.
He looked full at me. His face was
graver, paler, too, than usual. T con-
graduate no one on such Occas .Ons, he
said, letting his words fall slowly. In
my mind, marriage, which has more than
one attribute in common with death, re-
| sembles it especially in this, that no hui
man being can venture to predict what
manner of life is likely to succeed it.
Where was the old frank heartiness Oh
! look and manner-the geniality that first
! attracted me to him? I saw before me 6
| cold, stern face, from which all human
/ feeling seemed to have departed. Sud
! denly he started, shivered, then all al
! once appearing to rouse himself, he
/ smiled.
I'm turning cynical" he said; "for.
! give me. And, don't misunderstood me-
! Dudley, with all my heart 1 hope you
may be happy.
Even then I did not like his tone.
"By the way, I have not yet thanked
you for your share in bringing it about,
I said.
Thanked me?"
yes. Mrs. Hargreave asked what you
| knew of me. She told me so And the
information you gave her led"
shed better have left that unsaid,
| he muttered then with q short, forced
| laugh, remarked aloud: But there's ne
trusting woman, Dudley. Above all, the
the prOfessedly religious.
Il never trusted Mrs. Hargreave-'
| I said. and paused.
MOP"
We'll, I'm getting over my first i'm.
pressions, which were decidedly unfayOr-
able"
isn't there a saying about first i'm
pressions being truest?" he asked, mus
! ingly.
Mine regarding Miss Hargreave-
| George" began.
oh, it's no use talking to man il
love, he interrupted. You can't say
I've encouraged you in your hasty Leaf
into matrimOny, Jack; whatever comes o
it, you can't IeprOach me-that's som,
comfort May you be happy, my boy
4 Let's change the subject.
7 Here, thought L, was a disappointed
man, who could not bear to look on hap
piness through another mans eyes. re
sented both his words and manner.
felt that I should quarrel with him, or a
least say something afterwards regretta
BILE, if remained; so, finging my half
smoked cigar into the CRATE, got up