The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-11-06
own preference hon her.

and marry her. Butif the truth should
ever come out good heavens, il
woud be terriblel"
BY which cogitation the measure OF
"H Ashleigh Kent, " as he signed him
self, may perhaps be taken.
When she met him on this particu-
lar evening, Willie looked up with
smile. He was SO tall, so handsome
had such a distinguished air and such
a beautiful mustache and beard. il
was hardly strange he should win
recognition, II not affection. Or so at
least that foolish little girl thought
I've heard OF your good fortune, "
she said, brightly. ''Let me congratu-
late you, Mr.. Kent.
They still addressed each other quite
formally. Though hc had expressed
his affection for her. she hadn't given
him TO understand she entertained any
feeling more than friendly for him.
He looked rather annoyed she fan.
cied.
What good fortuneT" he ques-
toned.
Why, that you have been appoint
ed European buyer for the firm, sine
answered.
Yes, the frown on his usually se-
rene forehead deepening. I've got it
lat last. ! suppose shall go abroad
commencing the duties Of the place
in the spring.
Willie was silent. She expected he
would say. ~Now, / am in position
to marry Or, Now you must come
with me, dear, as my wife"
But his conversation, while infer
ring devoson, was wholly non-com-
initial.
The next evening, when he emerged
from the employees exit, she discov-
cred that il was raining heavily. the
dull, chill, dreary rain Of early Octo-
ber
She drew back. Cora Brown-who.
to putt descriptively and alliterative-
ly, was freckled and friendly-rushed
up to Willie.
Take my gossamer Yes, you
must. I've only one block to walk
when ] get off the cars-you have
four. You must"
She thrust the little bag containing
the cloak into Willies protesting hand
and ran off.
Feeling very grateful the girl, re-
turning TO the vestibule, put on the
rain proof wrap, and then made a rush
for her car.
As i'll luck would have it, the first
one bound for her street was an open
car-one Of several continued in ser
vice on account of certain city con-
vention which made multiplicity Of
vehicles necessary,
The short autumn twilight was fall
ing as the car jolted on. In the first
seat above the three reserved for
smokers, sat Willie. She felt oddly
cold, tired, discouraged AS she sat
there thinking half remorsefully over
the act which had made her one of
those weary women, homeward bound
from i'll paid toll, she became con-
scious Of voices In the seat directly be-
hind her, One she recognized.
1T is good place, Tom. It will
pay me five thousand a year. /"
That's goodi' answered the other,
heartily. "Glad Of that, old boyi
Suppose you'll be egetting married soon
nowq'
"Well--no."
"Why notiv
"Yon see,r in a much lower tone,
its this way; I've kind Of got in with
Fielding
with Fielding2' in astonishment.
Yes. In personal sense. I've
met him and he--you know what an
erratic old chap he is--he has taken a
great shine TO me. He has actually
had me sent an invitation to his
daughters marriage
what in thunder" questioned the
other, "has that TO do with your get
| ting married.
"Oh, nothing much Y replied Harold
Ashlelgh Kent.
Then, in sudden burst Of conf
dence:
III tell you, Toni Yous Field
ing has another daughter"
"Wellar
well, when once | secure an entree
socially into their house, Ill try and
marry her."
Great Scott"
Kent laughed.
Cheek, you think it, don't your
II should--say --sol"
well, III bet you III do it, just the
same"
"How do you know she isn't en-
gagedl'
Il don't know, but feel pretty sure
she isn't. She is a philanthropist I've
heard, and all that sort Of thing one
Of those girls who put their life into
charitable work.
/ q ttVn,tftya naxar coat, hos thar ~