The rustler., 1891-12-11
4

n.
Several DAYS passed and one evening.
when be was unusually miserable. he
called on Miss iiiakemure. She met
him without = smiic-surely an uncon.
vcutional greeting and conducted him
b. the library.
How do you feel this evening"" she
asked, when she had given him a
chair.
Il have spenrthe day In thought and
have therefore arisen into the very sub
Unity Of wrctchedness. he answered.
''liow do you feci9"
Miserable"
lie nodded in approval aud said:
''Nuu are a wonderful woman"
''No am simply a woman who ma,
her ewes open"
''Bui," he quickly replied, "A wom-
an who has her eyes open il the most
wonderful Of att women. DO you
know that ! could not stay away from
you much longcr2 Let me explain:
find that ! am more miserable when I
am with you. and am therefore more
natural don't think that a man could
be fool enough 10 be happy while he is
with you."
Il don't object 10 reasonable compli.
mcnt Mr.. DismulSes but / do hope
that you will not attempt TO natter
me"
II win not do that, Miss Blakenore.
What are You reading now?"
1.-THE Conventional Lies OF Ciyiliza.
ton, she answered.
"a charming book, because Il Is
true, he said NO wonder that gov.
ernments have attempted 10 suppress
IL D."
They talked until a late hour, and
when he went away he felt that pos
session of her-to have her all his own
was necessary 10 his complete misery
Of life. lie brooded over her wretched.
~ as he sat in the Nest of Disappoint
ment,' smoking his obnoxious pipe.
suppose | should ask her to marry me
aud She should refuse, "he unused. "Ah,
but mightnt that make my misery
eomplcter than II she were TO agree?
believe it might, and | am almost
tempted TO hope that she viii refuse.
How ploriously devoid of foolish senti.
mcnt she is. | could not have believed
that such a woman existed. She is my
other self. An, and IL she is, why
shouldn't ! marry her TO perfect the
gloom OF my life? ] might fail to pro-
vide for her properly, and that would
Ia .fu .IJifi.uaI ,,fa.r,s aud ,,,..
quently, an advancement in true
thought Oh, the moclscry, the shal.
lowness Of this lifel"
The next day he received a note from
Miss Blakemore: Mother and | are
going TO the country for few days"
she said, 'and we should be greatly
pleased to have you go with us.
lie went The old lady was a queru-
lous creature, fussy with her headgear
and of general disagrecableness, in
that at times She attempted 10 be cheer
full. "The old woman IS in her do.
tage,n the lawyer mused, when Mrs.
Blakemore saw a prairie windmill, as
she sat looking through the train win.
dow, and exclaimed that it was so no.
mantle. 81 am afraid that she will be
in our way"
They stopped at farm house and
were, of course, miserable. The old
woman caclled over the charm of ma.
ture and was, therefore, annoying; but
one afternoon. when the mother was
asleep the lawyer and the daughter
went down TO n lake and stood under a
great tree. Miss BlalSemore gaaed for
a moment at the lake, and then at the
graceful shore, winding in and out
"Oh," she said, "lool;ing at this lake
foolish woman might be tempted to
cxclaim that it is a beautiful dimple in
the cheek of II charming landscape"
Yes he replied, but you are not a
foolish woman and, therefore, should
not-not-l was going 10 say, should
not even make foolish suggestion"
A strange expression came over his
face. Size stood looking far across the
lake.
II don't quite understand myself to-
day Miss Blackmore."
"Why?"
~ hat is what don't know, but ]
feet that | have lost some of my long.
cherished wisdom.
lie took her hand. She did not resist
him.
Your name is Grace, isn't it?n
"Yes Does it make you more miser.
BILE to hold my hand?"
81 don't know-I-Grace, am fool.
love you"
81 have lost my sense, too" she said
with an emotional whimper.
Il love you. Grace, and want you 10
be my wife. Let wise men go Let
MS be fools Let MS blend two miseries
and make one happiness. Something
within me teaches me that the man oi
simple faith is right, and If were the
| judge. his case would not be thrown
out of court. Kiss me, Grace. ."-0pit
Read, in Arkansaw Traveller.
The Right Spirit.
A Il. l.