The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-09-19
W-ONE PURPOSE ANDTWO ENDS
By ALAN DALE illustrated by WAL
TER h. MDOUGALL

By ALAN DALE illustrated by WAL
TER II. MD0UGALL
Copyright. All rights reserved.]
Lena Hartman. the bankers daughter,
was one Of those matter of fact maidens
who seem to have been created as a USE
ful foil to the sentimental gushfulness
Of the romantic damsel.
Miss Hartman was more than deli
cately plump. Her appearance suggest
ed an intense regard for meals. Like
the German fraulein, who is not at all
didnclined to talk love over q steaming
dish Of Frankfurter sausages, supple
mented by sauerkraut, Miss Hartman
was eminently healthy.
A. for her amiability, 1t was simply
without limit. Miss Hartman was i'm
pesvious to the petty worries of life.
One Of her friends always declared that
nothing less than IN earthquake would
ever cause her the least agitation.
Henry Henshall called upon this portly
maiden in due time, and her appearance
filed him with a vague alright.
His artistic instincts told him at once
that he need never expect from her either
sympathy or even interest in his plans
and his aspirations.
But his promise to his father dwelt in
his mind sacredly intact. He would be
in that. Most men do.
It il well to reflect that one is martyr,
even though too late to be included in
Fox's book.
The face of his unknown ideal blotted
from his mind the large, immobile feat
ures of Miss Hartman the instant he left
her, and he felt that as q reward for his
sacrifice he could at least indulge in the
luxury Of thinking of this strangely met,
strangely lost woman.
Lena Hartman was motherless, and had
recently engaged as companion a woman
whom Henshall regarded with underlined
mistrust. She was q light haired, blue
eyed woman, who years ago must have
been extremely handsome, but her feat
1ases were now ivid with care. Her
movements were furtive and catlike, and
she seemed to regard the life she was
living as unreal.
"What induced you to engage her.
LenaT' asked Henshall one day, with the
privilege Of newly made fiancee. He
had glided into this position in such an
unutterably commonplace manner that
the chains 90 easily forged were hardly
CALLING.
because she interests me-" declared
Miss Hartman. II feel that she has
history. You always tell me, Harry.
that I am the most unromantic being on
earth. ! know it. I can, however, an
preciate romance in others, though am
aware that you think even that impossi-
ble."
Mr.. Henshall sighed. He wondered
stupidity il Lena would feel interested in
his own brief, pointlees romance.
He dimly saw the jealous demon rap
ping for admittance ut the smooth doors
ct Miss Hartman's placidity. He saw
the bafaed retreat of this demon. He
declined to admit even the possibility of
Miss Hartman's jealousy.
His acquaintance with women was
very slight. He imagined that the pes
sionless affection evinced for him by his
promised wife was one of those airv
trides, the presence or absence of which
was but Of slight significance to the well
fare Of the woman.
One morning Mr.. Henshall called ut
Mr.. Hartman's house, more with the Oh
ject Of reporting for duty" rs h. styled
It in mental irony, than with any well
defined object in view.
Mr.. and Miss Hartman were out, he
was informed. Mrs. Smith, the chaperon,
was at present the only member Of the
family now at home. She was in the
drawing room. ventured the domestic,
discreetly.
Henshall never knew afterward what
It was that prompted him to enter in.
stead Of leaving the conventional card
to indicate his unsatisfied visit.
He told the servant he would stay for
. time and wait the arrival of the father
and daughter. Then leaving his hat and
cane in the hall he walked to the door
OF the drawing room. and with u slight.
premonitory knock entered.
The room was unlighted save by q
full, red shaded lamp that cast pink
e6ulgence on objects in its immediate
The young man saw seated on low
chair close to the lamp the apathetic
form of Mrs. Smith, the chaperon. She
had not heard his knock and remained
seated. her hands folded listlessly in
front Of her, her head bent slightly for.
ward, until the sound of his light foot
fall reached her cur. Then with a start
she rose and placed her hand upon the
region of her heart.