Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-10
A SINGULAR EPISODE.

A MEMBER OF STOCKINGS MENDs HER FOR
TUSEs-THE NEAREST cRoss-RoAD TO A
MANS GOOD GRACEs.
Frank glanced over the story, then be-
gan at the beginning. He found it q
vivid pen-and-ink picture of himself and
his Surroundings. There could be no
mistake. The description of his rooms
were minute, from the couchant lions on
the andirons to the clock on the mantel-
piece, with Boadicea driving in her char
lot, ono of tho wheels of which was the
dial plate. Even the pattern Of the car
pet and the inoffensive necktie he had
maltreated were mentioned.
The hero of the story was named
Oliver Langley. He was peculiar
character. His personal description tai
lied with Franks exactly. The fine
lights and shades of character, the things
bad and good which lie knew about him
self, but supposed them unknown to any
one else, were described on paper with a
minuteness that was startling.
The hero of tho story was good
looking bachelor, who had been angled
for and fattercd by women until, us q
natural consequence, he rated them as
about the easiest procurable luxuries on
the footstool, and made up his mind that
marriage in his case would be rendered u
failure by its cloying sweetness.
But something unexpected happened.
A professional repairer of clothing came
to his rooms during his absence to put
his wardrobe in order. She was q young
woman, with plain face, too thin by far
for good looks, nose long and unclassical
and pale, gray eyes. But her mouth,
that was expressive and seemed made to
invite the kisses out of which the upper
part of her face was likely 10 cheat her.
Then her voice was full of sweet vibra-
tons and her figure was good, though no
one ever noticed il, because her dresses
were ill-fitting. She had no accomplish
ments, unless her genius for mending
might be accounted one. She was de-
lighted to Get hold of garments suffering
for the stitch in time" and she was
elected to put Oliver Langley's wardrobe
in high state of repair.
One day this fastidious gentleman,
VINO woufd nave turned up ms nose aat tEre
Queen of Sheba, said his lady friends,
came home unexpectedly in the middle
of the afternoon to find the member
seated on low stool with one of his
stockings stretched over her hand, darn
ing leisurely and smiling as she darned,
as if pleasant thoughts kept her COM
pany.
He stool few minutes unobserved by
her, wondering how she could look so
happy over such commonplace work, for
tho smile lighted her face wonderfully.
When she did look up she neither started
nor blushed, but met his eyes with level
glance as if he were the most ordinary of
men instead of an appalling heart
breaker. When she spoke her voice
charmed him; he, the fastidious, grew
interested in her, found sho was alone in
the world, liked hcr better OH that nc
count and finally married her quietly and
took her abroad Her possibilities un-
folded. Woll-fitting garments defined
her exquisite form. Her face seemed to
undergo Transformation. She became
a woman who, ii not strictly beautiful,
was striking and fascinating.
All would have been well had she been
less demonstrative. Her first reserve
wore off. She had no eyes nor cars for
tho admiration of others. She conferred
her whole life upon him. Being gem
tleman he concealed his bored feelings
from her, and her own affection might
have blinded her permanently had she
not overheard him express his dissatis-
faction in confidence TO n male friend
His words fairly paralyzed her for q mo-
ment.
IL am cloyed, disgusted with so much
sweetness. want IL wife who will starve
me into hot pursuit of her. Eloise is too
devoted. She fairly stiles me-"
That and more she hoard made up her
mind on the instant. She left the house
secretly within an hour, aud when he
sought her he found instead brief note
quoting the words she had overheard while
it tried to conceal the singing wound to
her pride.
The story ran that for long time no
could find no clue TO her whereabouts.
At length bright particular star" rose
upon the literary world. He sought an
introduction and found that the brilliant
writer was his wife, who had fought her
way, to success against terrible odds.
But she was cold and unnpproaohable
and he sued for pardon only to be re-
pulsed. Whether she ever unbcnt tho
reader was left TO guess as in the case Of
the Lady and tho Tiger"
Frank was taken aback by tho peculiar
mingIing of fact and fancy in the story.
The writer had her finger upon chapter
Of his life. Only enc woman could have
written IL. He must find her, and that
without Dolby. For two years she had