The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-14
A MODERN JOHN ALDEN.
Aaron PennePs Ruse Worked Like
a Charm.

eff in all our lives you need me-ii
there should be any thing that can dc
for you-I swear to do it," said Julian
Hicks ''You can ask me nothing which.
at any personal sacrifice, | will not en-
deavor to accomplish. l mean that when
say it. ! beg of you to remember it
You are rich-I am poor. You are some
body-I am nobody. But the time may
come when the promise is worth some
thing, and, on the honor of a gentle
man, will keep it."
An hour before this speech was made
Aaron Pennel had saved Julian Hicks
sister from watery grave and brought
her safe in his strong arms to the very
spot upon the beach of Northtown where
the two men now stood together And
Ada Hicks was in very truth pearl OF
great price to her brother Julian-the
only one of his near kin still living,
younger than himself by ten good years.
and from her birth a pet and plaything.
So he made this VOW to the man beside
him, hitherto a mere acquaintance, in
the fullness of his gratitude to one that
had done all that one could do for an
other.
There were never two men so utterly
unlike as Julian Hicks and Aaron Pen
mel The first, Woodworking profess
sional man, who had struggled for such
little success as Fate had melted out to
him, unaided save by his own hands and
brain; not handsome, not snowy; his
greatest charm certain gentle sweet
ness, peculiarly manifested to women.
The other, man who had had Fortune for
his friend from his birth; who neither
toiled nor spun; who was very hand
some, very elegant, very charming,
man of society, and one with whom fine
women might easily fall in love.
But from that day they were friends,
not only as the world goes, but in very
truth. And so it came to pass that walk
ing one day, arm in arm latter their re-
turn from the seaside to town. they met
Amy Atkins, that Aaron introduced her
to Julian, and that, a few evenings aft
erwards Aaron took Julian to call upon
her.
She was an heiress. She was beauti-
full or had the name of being so. Her
eyes were black and velvety; her hair
natures own bright gold. All the en-
amel in the chemists shops could not
make complexion like hers. But that
tells you nothing about the woman-the
frank, sweet, sparkling, womanly wom-
an with whom Julian fell in love before
he had known her month, though it
seemed to him that he must in some
mysterious way have known her ever
since he began to guess what love was
since she did not seem so much like d
new friend as one long loved and hoped
for.
Wrapt UP in his profession as al
architect, engrossed by struggles 70
bread and butter, which, while they
seldom prevent man from doing grea
things, always unfit him for society
Julian had known few women of Miss
Atkins position. He had no experience
by which to guide himself. or by which
to measure his own feelings. For while
he did not suspect he was in love, and
so was drawn nearer and nearer to the
whirlpool, until, when the truth at last
dawned upon him, there was no retreat
lie whose means were insufficient fol
any thought of matrimony had lost his
heart to the heiress. He who, in his
alteration of human beauty, had some
times almost hated himself for being Sc
very plain, loved and wOrshipped the
lOvelieSt woman the sun shOne on!
1t was out of the question that she
should like him. 1t was impossible fol
| h To 70, 10 H.
happy without her-to leave her anG
see her no more! AS the moth which
has fiuttered about flame until it!
wings are singed, is still tempted to it:
doom, SO he felt he must linger near thu
woman who had his heart in her keeping
That she could care for him never en-
tered his mind; that she did would have
been an abSurdity too prepOSterOus tt
dream of. But it was true neverthe
less. Amy Atkins, though too brigh
, not to keep the fact secret, had grown
fonder of Julian Hicks than she ha(
thought that she could be of any man.
So now the play began in earnest;
drama Oftener acted than most people
guess. Two hearts afire, while ONT
would think, from look and speech anG
; manner, that they were ice to eac}
other-love guarding itself with shield
of calm good breeding!
} Amy said ''lf he care ever so little
for me will make very sure that h,
does not perceive l care one whit fo
him.
, Julian said: ''She shall never laugh
: at me though she does not love me. Sh,
4 shall respect me and never guess he
power. whatever pain l may have t,
bear"
And so they met and parted, day afte
day, and no one fancied that any thins
+ troubled the heiress but Aaron Pennel
r and only twO-the same Aaron Penne
r and Julian's sister-saw how pale Julia1
grew-how sad his sweet mouth came t,
? below at times hopeless look was il
his eyes, Poor Ada. who in her terro
E asked Aaron Pennel one day if h,
. thought that her brother Julian was i'll
J HE is so unlike himself" she said
with tears in her blue eyes, "He pace
] the floor of his room at night; he sigh
bitterly; he works as hard as ever, blu
ne does not care to play at ALL I an
= frightened, Mr.. Pennel."
p And Aaron had said: 81 think tina
your brother can not be very ill, Mis-
Ada; and if any thing troubles him, tina
;. the time must come very soon whe1
that trouble will pass away and b,
i changed for happiness"
; but do you know of any thing tina
can trouble Julian?' asked Ada.
And Aaron answered: ''Perhaps
guess at something, Miss Ada but an
. not certain of it. Time will take car,
r of it. l am very sure"
r They were together good deal now
2 ! Aaron and Ada. 1t had entered JUL