Arizona republican., 1892-11-03
A DILEMMA.


borough and idly swung his foot. Mr..
lamar was bored. An extended ac-
ouaintsnce with this young man forces
msto confess that he was not often af-
Acted in that way. We know that no
man can aspire to be of the highest
fashion without constantly experiencing
the pangs of this distinguished ailment,
and vet Mr.. Lamar was unquestionably
~ the highest fashion. The most cursory
glance would tell you this. Any one
conld see that he belonged to the best
neople, that he was used to the best
people, that only the best people would
be bearable TO him. But now he was
genuinely bored.
Ladies passed-old ones. who swept
nm the dust with trains, and who creaked
as they moved, as if they wanted oiling:
Young ones in light frocks and wide,
lowered hats cast shadow over the
,learest eyes. They kept banging open
IN. glass doors and going out into the
blaze of sun beyond, with a bursting
into bloom Of lace parasols, or coming
into the cool of the hall, with the rus
ting, silken sheathing of the parasols
suddenly furled and the tapping of little
heels ON the hard floor. He never
glanced at them. But they did at him
swiftly, obhquely-from under their
hat brim, out of the shadow. He looked
away, with raised chin and indolently
dropped eyelids.
There was one girl-she kept going to
and fro-and as he looked on the ground
be could see the hem Of her dress and
her feet. They were pretty feet in yell
low shoes, small and pointed. Mr..
Lamar found himself Illuminating. Sup
pose the head is as pretty as the feet.
But il never is. There's law of CON-
pensating which prevents that The
head which belongs to those feet lie
thirty-6ve." Aud he looked up. The
head matched the feet to perfection.
Mr.. Lamar felt that he didn't look bored
any longer. Rather, however, than
sacrifice this dearly bought and enviable
condition Of being, he turned his back
on that enchanting head, and sauntered
into an adjoining room. There wonld
be no one to look at there.
The room was empty, cool and dim. 1t
had oak chairs and tables and writing
desks, sea green walls and great win
dew opening on the balcony. Outside
there were ladies of embarrassing ages
sitting under forest Of parasols. Be-
yond were velvety sweeps Of close crop
ped turf, dsppled with short shadows
shrinking to the tree roots. Splinters Of
dusty sunlight crept down the boles of
the stately elms and trembled on the
white dresses of passing girls. Mr.. La
mar felt that he might gaze upon this
prospect for on infnitude of time and re-
main bored.
But fate willed otherwise. As he en-
tered the room he saw something on the
floor near the table. He picked it mp, 1t
was band about an inch and half
wide, covered with puckered yellow rib
bon, and with one end run through a
claspof dull silver showing a monogram
in small diamonds. There was bunch
OF narrower yellow ribbon besides the
clasp, each end finished with little
tongueless silver bell. 1t appeared 10
Lamar from some hanging filaments Of
thread that the two ends had once been
stitched together. He looked curiously
at his find.
"What can it be-" he unused, staring
at it.
We have said that he was young, and
came Of the best people, and with the
best people there is always doubt as to
whether they wear such vulgar things as
Stockings or possess such uncomfortable
taings as legs. wings, not legs and
feet, shall move them" as the poet grace
tully espresso it.
Lamar first thought he would take it
70 the Office, but curiosity compelled him
!" study it, 1t might be worn round the
neck; but no, it was not long enough.
lie drew the severed ends together and
neid 1t off from him, cycling il obviously
and Relatively pulling his small NOUS
'ache' Oh, yes, of course. Now he
saw How dense he'd beenl A bracelet.
holding it together he pushed his hands
through it it swung on his wrist.
i don't think l ever saw bracelet
Just like that before" he thought, NOV
ing 1t around and looking at it with his
mead on one side.
and then, as he looked at it, came a
sudden flash of Weakening light, and for
moment he stood staring at it IN
s'upehed horror as it hung over his
wrist, With the return Of conscious
ness he crumpled it up and crushed it
mtO his pocket. What should he do
win it' If he took it to the Office the
owner would never dare to claim it. II
ne found out who she was he would
never dare to offer it.
de could imagine the scene. A lovely
anu youthful lady is discovered walking
n tne corridors. To her appears Mr..
oertram Lamar in full evening dress,
WIN white pink in his buttonhole.