Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-03-08

tale my tongue refused to utter? Hast
thou not guessed that my heart lay at
thy feet? Nay, cruel one, thou turnest
from me. Should [ ask thee to be mine
scorn would be my portion And yet,
how can l live without theel Alas
alas alas p'
"What do you think of it ?"
cts very touching" said Toddles,
"Do you know, should like to confde
in YOU"
Do it, do it, my dear, dear friend .
said Mr.. Sparkle.
Sparkle has it ever come into your
mind that | have a secret woe?" said
Toddles.
"Well, it has" replied Sparkle.
"Ive heard you groan.' .
''The VICE." said Toddles, els con-
nected with lady"
81 thought So" said Sparkle. "Is
she another's?"
"No, no." said Toddles, "no; but
there is a GOODNESS in her manner that
has prevented me from speaking. l
have known her for twenty-five years
she is about my own age-but |
have never dared address her, never
shall"
"Courage!" said Sparkle.
81 have none where Henrietta Maria
Evergreen is concerned" said Tod
dies.
"Do you ever see her p asked
Sparkle.
"Once a year," said Toddles. 81
have farm down there which | let. |
go to collect the rent. | always call
on Miss Evergreen. She asks me to
take tea. l. do. [ take her hand.
We part. That is ALL
"Do you never write!'' asked
Sparkle.
EYES," said Toddles. "She is very
charitable. She holds a fancy fair
every year on her grounds for the
benefit Of an old lady's home. send
a check. By the way, have just adj
dressed my envelope containing it. It's
there on the desk, | say, 4 trust you
are WE'LL etc, no more.
"Say more next time" said Sparkle
Toddles onl y groaned.
Just then the breakfast bell rang,
and Sparkle fastened away. AS for
Toddles, he gathered up some sheets of
paper on his desk, put them into an
envelope directed to Miss Henrietta
Maria Evergreen, added the usual
check for the fair of the old ladies'
home, and put it in his pocket to post
on his way down town. He reached
home again, as usual, before dinner
time, when Sparkle knocked at the
door.
"Only to ask if you saw a sheet of
my manuscript on your desk this
morning. 1t is the one | read to you
the soliloquy."
eyes; remember. But it is not
here" said Toddles, rummaging his
desk. "No, nothing here-nothing-
Why, what is this-what is this
What have l done-great heavens
what have | done?''
"What?' roared Sparkle, catching
the contagion of horror.
I've done what must cover me with
shame to my dying day. roarcd Tod
dies. 'Here is the letter | wrote to
Miss Henrietta Maria Evergreen-I
have left it out Of the envelope and put
your manuscript instead. Oh, I've
done it! And she will think | have
gone mad. Why I'd rather have died
than sent her that mass of stuff and
nonsense theeing and thouing her.
Oh, Lord?"
"You said you admired it, Toddles,
said the indignant author
"From literary point of view /
do" said the bachelor "iSee here, you
explained to me that age was consid
cred differently from a literary point
of view to what it was in real life; so
is love-making. What is charming,
I'm sure, in story is not suitable for
a serious business man in real life.
Oh, Pm disgraced forever, She will
think | don't know what-I'll shoot
myself"
"Toddles," said Mr.. Sparkle, gravely
"don't do that yet. Wait. Fate has
helped you out of your dilemma. The
fragment is somewhat disjointed, | am
aware, but it will 90 to that woman's
cold heart. 1t will win her, see if it
don't"
''She will never speak to me again"
said Toddles. "You don't know Miss
Evergreen"
"Oh, | know women in general"
said Sparkle.
Whether he did or not, twenty-four
hours Of frightful anxiety on Mr.. Tod
dies part ended in the receipt Of let
ter from Miss Evergreen, in which she
expressed surprise at the depth of his
attachment, which she had never even
suspected, and confessed that the
touching language in which he had
portrayed it had won her heart in fact
she accepted him.
They are married, and Sparkle was
best man at the wedding.
In standing an umbrella at The door