Dodge City times., 1890-10-17

deny it-a thousand timesi But come
let MS forget this, she added, lightly
and seating herself at the piano she
poured out such flood OF melody thai
for the time all remembrance of the un-
fortunate contretemps was bsnished from
my mind.
At late hour that night I went te
Dr.. Gascoigne's room. He had returned
1t was more than . week since We had met
and We settled down for q comfortable
smoke.
He placed the whisky bottle before me
and willing to forget for one night, al
least, the future abnegation to which
had unconsciously bound myself, poured
out probably rather more than my usua
moderate allowance. We had had very
good dinner in No. 20, but, IS 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 spoke.
~Gascoigne, said suddenly, 4 want
you to be the first to congratulate me. II
is profound secret at present. / am
sure you will keep it so, but I 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 Q
tray beside him.
There's An old Scotch proverb, Hap
py's the wooing ths. 8 short time a.
doing We're very near Scotland, here,
Doctor" l answered, laughing. But
come, YOU have not congratulated me-
Are you sure the step you are taking
will add to your happiness?'
My dear fellow, it seems to me 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 / ever en-
countered. l wish to God / 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 triding with
the ashes fallen from his pipe, and ap-
parently absorbed in contemplation of
them
I wish you'd speak, 3" I exclaimed, i'm
patiently.
He looked full at me. His face was
graver, paler, too, than usual. 1 con-
gratulate 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 hu-
man being can venture to predict what
manner of life is likely to succeed it.
Where was the old frank heartiness of
look and manner-the geniality that first
attracted me to him? l saw before me q
cold, stern face, from which all human
feeling seemed to have departed. Sud-
denly he started, shivered, then all at
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 l hope you
may be happy"
Even then I did not like his tone.
by the way, l have not yet thanked
you for your share in bringing it about, !"
l 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 a short, forced
laugh, remarked aloud: But there's no
trusting woman, Dudley. Above all, the
the prO1eSSodly rellSlOuS-
Il never trusted Mrs. Hargreave-"
l said. and paused.
MOP"
Well, I'm getting over my first i'm
pressions, which were decidedly unfavor-
able.
Isn't there a saying about first i'm
pressions being truest2" he asked, mus
ingly:
George began.
-Oh, it's no use talking to q man in
love-" he interrupted. You can't say
I've encouraged you in your hasty leap
into matrimony, Jack; whatever comes of
it, you can't Ieproach me-that's some
comfort! May you be happy, my boy.
Let's change the subject"
Here. thought I, was a disappointed
man, who could not bear to look on hap
piness through another mans eyes. re-
sented both his words and manner. I
felt that should quarrel with him, or at
least say something afterwards regretta-
BILE, if remained; so, finging my half
smoked cigar into the crate. I Rot-up,
said goodnight curtly, and left the
rOom