The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-01-29
OVERHEARD WHISPERS.
How They Spoiled a Schemer's
Wen-Laid Plans

A certain number of days ago my at
tention was directed toward young
man Of not altogether prepossessing ap-
pearan,e, who appeared to be waiting
nearly opposite to my window for the
coming Of some other person His
countenanoe was expressive of vacant
insipidity, his. gait irregular and his
manner confused His dress was non-
descript, very effective, no doubt, but
quite inappropriate either to business
occupation or to the pursuit of legiti-
mate pleasure
He paced backward and forward, from
corner to corner, with an air OF self-sat-
isfaction ludicrous to behold. Some
times he strolzed the corners of very
pale mustache, at others he bit the fin
gers Of his curiously-tinted gloves, and
after waiting some time, noticed that
his step quickened, sickly smile passed
over his face, and he advanced with an,
extended hand toward a young lady who
was approaching quietly.
sweet little creature she was, too.
Her innocent face wore pleased ex-
preston, and she blushed a little as she
recognized the man She was by no
means beautiful; but she was tastefully
appareled Her quiet dress contrasted
strangely with his dandy gaudiness, and
there was quiet attractiveness in her
bearing generally, which interested me
very much She could not have been
more than sixteen, think, and looked
from her TO her companion We're they
Loversf II 50, pitied her exceedingly.
She gave him her hand with confding
smile-a dainty little hand 1t was. He
raised it to his lips
This act OF gallantry convinced me Of
itself that there was something wrong.
No gentleman would have attempted
such breach Of etiquette IN the public
street.
They passed from my sight together,
and could not resist the notion that
their meeting was q secret one-that
her friends knew nothing of her ac-
quaintance with this Adonis, toward
whose face her eyes turned lovingly L
was sorry for her and wondered how it;
would all end Would she discover her,
error, or did she love him despite all OBJ;
stacless And was II In his power to
make her happy?
A few hours later they passed my
window again The same quiet conf
dence seemed to exist between them.
He had evidently exerted his utmost
power Of fascination Her hand rested
upon his arm, and she was listening IN
tently to his conversation. They parted
at the spot where they had met, and his
last words We're uttered in that peculiar
whisper which Is so much more easily
heard than an ordinary tone of voice- /
caught the following words: ''Remem-
ber, darling, Wednesday at eleven The
Southeastern station"
Was 1t an elopement he was plan,
ming? thought 50. She was con-.
fused, but saw that she assented to
his desire and was Loath to part from.
him then; but at last she tore herself
away and walked thoughtfully down
the street, turning once round and
b}ushing very much when she saw that
he was watching her retreating foot
steps
Wednesday at II! This was Monday
evening. But after all, why should the
designation interest me? What had
TO do with it, except that had much
sympathy with the girl when noticed
the gratiAed, selfish satisfaction with
which he passed rapidly in the opposite
direction
There Is q strange fatality about coin
cidence. The nextmorning being Tues,
day had an appointment at Holloways
and, as usually do on such occasions,
I took the tramway.
Having business on hand had quite
forgotten, for the first time, my interest
in the couple had seen the day before.
My thoughts. In fact, were very wan
dering ones. They always are during
these short Journeys, for the number Of
strange people, the variety of individual
taste expressed in their apparel, and the.
curious remarks apd snatches of broken
conversation (Which all the passengers
must opsshsas7. heip to create sort Of