The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-30

NeVerI Never Ou, WdSHO ile HduuSOIlel
And to compare him with the other!
Then she looked at the card in her hand
alphabetically took her eyes off her Wis
itor long enough to examine the card. The
name was William Burnett. That was the
name of her cousin whose portrait-but
who was this young Apollo?
Her Apollo broke the SPELL
81 see you have my card miss. l sent it
to Colonel Taylor. Is he not at home"
"Your card? This is William Burnett's
card" she said, turning it over in her hand.
II am William Burnett"
\ great light leaped into her face. She
advanced until she stood before him, de-
vouring Him with those great blue eyes.
"Yor-WiTliam Burnett? Indeed, are
you he?'
Indeed am-and your most humble
admirer," ventured Burnett, bowling low
to hide the blush his bold words forced to
his face.
"Oh, how nicer' gushed the young lady.
"You are not at all what expected you
would be-"
"Indeedp' was all the collegian could
gasp. Then he wondered if he was dream
ing after all, and this picture in blue was
only a vision of sleep.
"Oh, I'll like you. Papa didn't make q
mistake after all. haven't word to say
against the engagement, now I've met
you"
"But I'm not yet engaged. He'-
stammered Burnett
'Oh, yes you are" she interrupted, with
unsurpassed enthusiasm. "He told me
all about the preliminaries which were
arranged by correspondence"
with Mr.. Carter, l presume"
81 really don't know. But l shall be SO
happy with you. Why, you don't look one
bit like your picture"
Burnett's confusion grew, partly because
the bundle of human loneliness had edged
within reaching distance, so that the at
mosphere of her enchanting presence was
becoming Intoxicating, and partly because
he remembered a horrible newspaper pic
ture of himself, published the previous
summer after one of his great pitching
feats for the college nine. That "cut" had
been q sore spot in his life, and was the
source of much chatting by his friends. OF
course he thought his lovely tete-a-tete re-
ferred to that newspaper portrait, and he
hastily repled:
"Well, hope not. That picture made me
look like guy"
"That is what / thought, and I hated it.
made mp my mind I'd hate you, too, but
don't"
"Then you like me?" he ventured, grow
ing holder by infection.
"Oh, so much-more, a million times,
thanI thought should.
"But / may not suit your father"
ooh, yes, you will. He wouldn't have
any one else. Why, it was all arranged
when you were ten years DID,"
'She's crazy as loon, and yet beautiful
as an angel" he thought. Still he must
humor her.
maybe we will not agree upon terms"
he added.
"Terms?"
"Why, yes9 He can't expect me to enter
into an engagement without recompensc."
"Recompense?" she gasped
ITO be sure. am q poor man and'--
81 care not il you are penniless. But
papa said you were rich"
"He is mistaken"
"That makes no difference. I love you
,, all the more: But YOU do not love me as
| you should OPP
"Love YOU" he fairly shouted IT dol
dol l swear it. love you better than
my life"
| "Then kiss me-"
He forgot it was lunatic who con-
fronted him, and issued that maddening
challenge with words and defiant, up
| turned face. In q moment she was clasped
in his arms, and their souls met upon their
lips in loves first embrace.
| Crazy she undoubtedly was, but harm
less as babe and with method in her mad
ness which was wholly irresistible At that
moment he was willing to Join her for life
in any asylum to which she might be as
signed.
In short, the young collcgian was help
less victim of the sweetest and most unex-
pected, overwhelming influence which ever
assailed mortal man. He was in that reck-
less state OF mind and soul which made
him ready to do any act of madness in
which she would lead Therefore he did
not recoil when she took advantage of a
lull in the kissing and squeezing to hold
her head away long enough to say:
And, now, suppose we surprise papa
when he comes homer Let's go right Off
and get married Will your"
Would he? There was another tackle"
more becoming 20 u member of football
team than to ball pitcher.
Surprise papap he thought as he &C
companied her hastily down the street.
Papa will be paralyzed from astonish-
ment."
What troubled him most was fear that
marriage with lunatic would not hold In
law, and maybe, after all. they could take
her from him and lock her up in private
retreat"
$50 you are William Burnettf" beamed
the minister to whose residence Annie con-