The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-01-01

acquired polish and prevarication; haC
learned to say pleasant things to young
ladies, and was considered quite an adep
in this respect. Besides, did not SCOTT
to practice petty impositions, to hatte-
them to gain their favor.
I soon became tired Of society, which
was unfortunate for my mother and sis
tiers, for whom l was the only availabl
escort. Still, was occasionally dragged
by them into the gay whirl. One night
had been unwillingly appropriated tc
escort my sisters to dancing party. II
was Christmas night, 1851. had given
up dancing, and stood looking on with
my arms folded.
''Tom," said my sister Mary, coming
up to me with her cheeks all aglow-
she had just finished dance-"you look
too blase for anything. want TO intro
duce you to young lady,"
tried 20 beg off.
''She's a beauty, and so unusual a
beauty" Mary urged. She put her arm
through mine and led me to the girl IN
question. After introducing me she
slipped away.
If ever there was a case Of love at first
sight, it came to me at that moment. The
girl was indeed beauty; a graceful fig
ure, fair complexion, eyes a dark liquid
brown, hair a soft shade of Titien.
Her first remark startled me.
'It's long while since we met, Mr..
Irwin"
cit is indeed" I scrutinized her fea-
lures; 1 didn't remember to have ever
seen her before.
''That was noble act of yours"
Twas not only surprised, 1 was amazed.
I remembered no act of my life that
could be called ''noble."
''You don't know what Tn talking
about or who l am at all" She laughed
with keen enjoyment, while I was no
more enlightened than before.
BLOW do you like the shade of my
bair?' she asked.
ITS very beautiful" I spoke IN a
digni1e1 tone. was becoming vexed
with all this quizzing.
Il wonder if you would know me by
my old name" she said.
TRY me and see."
freddie"
"Upon my world"
looked at the beautiful creature be-
/ fore me with Ill concealed astonish-
ment.
you seem surprised"
"Yes-at-at the singular fate that
brings this meeting"
at nothing else?" she asked, archly.
found no words to reply, so l re-
manned silent.
"You don't remember my singed doh,
supposed"
Il have reason to especially remember
that doll 1t makes me quite sore to
think of it.
"You behaved very chivalrously. And
the book mark I gave you. You have
treasured it, of course?"
'Of course.
She looked at me searchingly. 1t was
evident that she knew was prevaricat-
ing.
'In that whole school there was but
one who was kind to me, she said, i'm
pressively.
'Perkaps some of them would be glad
to show you some attention now"
"Only one was kind. And that one
whom do you Think"
81 can't tell"
You"
"For heavens sake, Red"-I stopped
short.
"You fought for me-"
blushed. / had never considered
! that had fought for her, but that was
obliged to fight.
81 got thrashed."
1.-THE kindness was all the more ac-
ceptable."
"Iwas not especially appreciative when
you offered me your gift"
"You fought for me"
There was no one near. We were
standing close together. felt for her
hand and gave it a quick pressure, then
dropped it. In another moment she was
wLirled away in a waltz by a handsome
fellow with tawny mustacbs and blue
eyes.
After the last dance and we were GO
ing home, saw her again in her wraps
in the hall
"May 1 go to see your" I asked.
"Yes." Then, with her eyes swapping,
she added: '.Come and bring the book
mark. Let me see; I'm engaged every
night for a week. Come New Years
eve"
''And not without the book mark"
She had just time before the door
closed behind her to give me a mischiey-
Gus look, and say, "No."
My position was embarrassing. had
permission to call with book mark and
no book mark to call with.
had no intention whatever of fore
going my call for want of a souvenir.
Nothing would be more easy than to
duplicate the book mark, and as to prac-
ticing the deception of offering it as
the original, had no qualms of con-
science whatever, having perpetrateG
many such sins Of FAR greater enormity.
asked my sister to make a book mark
for me, and warned her not to DO the
work too carefully, initiating the stitches
Of child.