Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-05-10
81 9Cote ~, eF1cwch.
BY ARTHUR c. GRIssoM.


Clarence Wellman was dumbfound-
ed. He went down the wide, white
steps with dazed look in his big
dark eyes and pallor creeping into
his handsome face.
What could have happened? What
was the cause of her strange and un-
precedented action? He had surely
done nothing to offend cher. All |
had she heard of that mild little fir
tation with Beatrice Palmer at the
beach? Pshaw his Jeanie was too
sensible to mind small matter like
that, knowing as she did that all his
love was hers. But what in the name
of the stars was the matter? And
she wouldn't condescend to explain.
The story of young Mr.. Wellman's
trouble was this: He was very,
very much in love with jeanne For
man, the beautiful and amiable daugh-
ter of one of the most prominent bus
mess men in the great city, and he
had every reason to suppose that she
loved him. That afternoon he had
sent her billet doux, in which he
had asked permission to call in the
evening, but no reply had been re-
turned whatever. Evening came,
and he called anyhow, thinking that
either his note or her reply had not
been delivered, or there was some
trifing mistake that could be in
stantly explained.
But what was his Amusement when
Miss Foreman sent word to the par
Tor that she would not see him
"Why not ~ he had asked. "Tell
him never to try to see me again."
was the answer.
No wonder the young man was
mystified and astounded as he went
down the wide steps of the mansion
to the street and hailed a cab. He
gave the address of his club, and
then he was rolled away over the
street he sunk back into the cushions
and gloomily pondered over his
sweetheart's remarkable conduct.
"There must be some mistake"
he muttered between his teeth "this
is not like Jeanie. After that note
this afternoon, too-the tenderest
ever sent herl She couldn't have
taken offense at that. No, by jove
she's in love with that simpering old
idiot, Canmann. She's ashamed to
see me, by Jovel"
All sorts of theories and conclu-
sions employed his mind during the
ride, and by the time the club was
reached he was no nearer satisfac-
tory explanation than when he clos
ed the door of the Foreman mansion.
BY this time, however, his aston
ishment and chagrin had been par
tally displaced by anger, and he felt
that Miss Foreman had been very
lnconsiderate and rude to him. He
would write to her for an explana-
ton, but he would be very cool and
dignified about it.
As he entered the club he was still
frowning, and he nodded to his ac-
quaintances with less cordiality than
usual. They noticed his unusual
expression, and laughed and chafGed
him until he was forced to smile in
return.
Wellman was favorite there, for
he was genial, handsome, and rich,
and had the rare faculty of making
and keeping friends.
He did not pause for conversation
with any of the good fellows, but
pushed on into the writing-room,
where he meant to indite note to
Miss Foreman. It was here that the
one earlier in the day had been pre-
pared.
The room was unoccupied but for
"the count"-Paul Marat-the ele-
giant Frenchman, who had been there
in the forenoon.
"Count,' said Wellman, after nod
ding as pleasantly as his state of
mind would permit, "your notes have
very bad effect, indeed He was
attempting to be jocose. evident
ly, the lady don't like your French.
You're sure it's good z"
Wellman's billet-doux had been
written in French. The count had
obligingly penned it for him at his
dictation. OF course he had looked
TO address himself, and had called no
names to the Frenchman, nor init
mated whom the letter was to.
Wellman had used French as q
precautionary measure against pos
sible compromise of Miss Foreman,
and alas for the humor of the thing.
The note was the tenderest he was