Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-07-11


lshed. But now he was paying his ad
dresses to a young widow, who appeared
on public occasions dressed principally
IL bugles, ami leaning on his arm ia the
tenderest fashion
In fact worked hard for Frank sake
to keep other fellows away from Miss
Donald, and TO make her like me, and
feel that | was a friend, and> had Just
got myself firmly into her gasd graces,
when with horror which | have no
that had fallen in love with her myself.
les-ln love, and in what | had once
laughed at as the amanda Rosamanda
style 1t was not a joke, but serious
truth that felt that 1.-The world would
be a desert void without Jeanette
Donald. You see it was the first time 1
had been So much alone with a beautiful
girl, and she had been so sweet to. me,
and she was the realization of my ideal
of womanly beauty, with her golden
hair and heavenly eyes, and-a thousand
other things. However, l vas not a
false rascal. All that made no difference,
| had come to Washington to work for
Frank, and | would do my best for him.
Conscious as | was of my own feelings, 1
dared delay no longer, and that very
evening took my way to Mr.. Donad's
house, determined to plead for Frank as
though he were m Sself. She was alone
at the piano, playing softly when l
entered their private parlor.
She held out her hand to me. l took
it, and could not help holding it little
longer than | ought.
Miss Jeannette," said, s'I have a
confession to make. My acquaintance
with you seemed to come about almost
accidentally; but the truth IS, that |
came from New York on purpose to
know YOU.
as it possible?" said she, blushing like
a rose.
Eyes, indeed, Miss Donald" I said.
II asked you once if you knew my friend.
Frank Ludwig. He who used to talk
SO much about you. Oh, Miss Donald,
you ire SO sweet, SO fair, you look so
nenth. How can you be so cruel?"
Il cruel. | do not know what you
mean Mr. Leslie" Jeanette cried.
'When a woman has won a mans
heart, is it right to cast him away-to
doom him to despair" | said. "My pur-
pose in seeking you out was, from the
first, to o'ask you to put this ring on your
finger"
pup 7o!oA pnoI ql!M ueu seM
oH-pleuod 'lly p!ss {. 'smoo 'emoO,,
.om
lsp1cls aopInoVs SUI uodn drls Aalssq g
urtM '2lou oouo,, .rs o. ,noqp srM I
Scotch accent-"come, come. You've
been very sly, young folk, bat | was the
same myself in my time, and I'm not sure
I'll object
We've not been sly, papa. said
Jeanette. "Jack has never said a
word to me before
"rut it on, lad," said the old gentle
man; 'put it on her finger, and my
blessing on We both, "
What could do put the ring on
Jeanctte's finger.
Nothing else was possible The old
gentleman left is together, her head
sunk on my shoulder I have often
wondered since what she thought Of me,
for l never uttered another worl the
| whole evening.
As soon as l decently could | got
away. | adored her; knew that l
should be miserable WITHOUT her, but I
could not play the part of a rascal
Having stolen Franks diamond ring
and given it away might have been
rather bad, from detectives point of
/ view, olt | did not think Of that 1t
woald seem to him that had been false,
covarily. treacherous, and had won his
| Jennie after proulisingto make all right
! between them
could never tell Jennie the truth
| after all She said . me tha. night,
things that wouid have made me tie
happiest of men, II | had dared TO be,
[ and as walked homeward I decided to
shoot myself and end it all. | could
write letter Of adieu, explaining all 10
Frank, telling Jennie how loved her,
telling nv parents that without honor
life was vaiueiess had pistol IN my
yaI;sc ~ the hotel Well, the sooner il
was over the better.
/ sz%. -