Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-02-23

bowed over Il. but said nothing - HI
turned 20 go "Stay one moment" said
Helen. taking up one of tho dozen bou
qucts that had been thrown 10 her. II
WAS of rcd russ; they were not % CON
mon then NJ they arc today. wesl
Hastings had sent II. iie always seni
tho same. for he liked 20 hear people
say. - it fell upon tho stage. THAT !.
from West Hastings; he always send'
tho-s big red roses."
"Mr. llurlstone. don't you want q
rosey' And. choosing tho finest ons
from tho bunch. she fastened 10 In hi
buttonholc.
"Thank you.- no Mid. rather stifiiy. u
he bowed himself out. ile would have
felt bsttsr In his mind N he had seen the
expression of annoyance that passed
over West Hastings face and known tho
CAUSE Hut he didn't. and he went oui
acro-s tho dimly lighted stage In mos,
unenviable frame of mind.
"Am ] tame Cat, after allf' he asked
himself. bitterly. "shall ! allow her to
kick tho out Of her way. and then como
purring hack and 10 happy again 10 rut
up against her garncntsi What an idio,
ami This sort Of thing viii dnve al
the manhood out Of me- ] had betteI
take 10 tho wilds and chop WOOD 20 thu
end of my days That at least would bs
q manly vocation III never so hei
again. I'll forget all that has been %
pleasant and buckle down to work. Ill
win fame and fortune, and then sho will
80 what sho has Iost.-
And he pictured scenes of future great.
ncs.. where no stood conspicuousiy In
the foreground receiving the homage Of
tho crowd lfor what. he had not quite
made up his mind. whilc In the back.
ground Helen Knowlton looked on and
sighed. and said 20 herself; "Ah. the!
what might have b-cn!~ lie found him.
self gazing with his minds eyel more
in,enily at tho background, where be
pictured Helen. than at tho foreground.
where he pscturci himself. Poor hoy'
he really suffered torturc.. Just at that
moment life did not seem worth living
lie had tsen walking aimlessly along a.
thc-. thoughts had been hyiag through
his brain. and hc did not notice where
he was until the awning scross the sids-
~aik 90 vas cloudy night reminded
him that be was In front of Dclmonico'A
lie almost rvooiled. III she saw me
,hc would think I was following her,
he muitsrcd. The thought hardly pss~~i
through his mind when be heard his
name called. and. turning. he saw Bessie
Archer. her father and Archie Tilling.
hast alighiing from carriage drawn up
az the curb.
I'VE are Just going into Dcrs 20 have
bird. won't YOU come with uS I'm
or. Uncle Archer and Cousin Bessie
sill bs delighted said Archie. pullins
him gently by the arm. Mr. and Miss
Archer added that nothing would give
them greater pleasure, AMI they aid u
with ~ much sincerity that Rush ac-
ccpied the invitation. Their oordiaiiiy
was no, his only reason for accepting.
Tie hopci. poor hoy. that Helen would
10 him there. and With another wotnan'
II was quite late and there were not more
than half dozen people In the rcsian.
rant. The biris, however. had barely
t-.n served whsn q feminine ristiing
was heard In the doorway. and voice
that brought th. blccl to Rush's checks
and 1T his heart to l-ating like q trip
hammer aid. II feel too tired to climb q
fight % stairs. let Ne have supper In
here. IL Is late. and every one has gone.
She didn't see the little party. 10 was
Just cut ~ her range from the door 50
they cam. and wcr. waved to their seais
by the dignihei Francois, whom Rush
hal mistaken for Dclmonico the hst
time he visited the place
"why. there u Bessie Archer aid
Helen. bowing and smiling. and lowing
and smiling again ne shc rcoognihed
Rush and the others Rush had hit upon
a plan ~ action. lie vas going 10 make
Helen scc iha, he oouli ts happy with
another woman lshe had never for q mo
ment doab,cd iil. and he laid himself cut
Ia b. agreeable 20 B.~sic. For her part,
B.-sie was very much prcdisposcd In his
favor. and was not nj all avcre 10 his
attentions When her health was pro-
I.-.d by Archie. Rush drank Ia her with
his eyes as well as with his lips, and he
took q sly glance TO sce II Helen was
hooking. She wasn't, as u hapIsned.
she was listening very aitentively TO
spmething that West Hastings was say
Ing. At last Rush felt her eyes turned
In l,is direction. and he played his ace of
trimTs: he took the rose she had given
him from his hotton hole and presented
Il a. IL--sic IN his most impressive man.
ner. and Bessie tucked II In the folds of
her hair. Helen saw all this, and she
sail 10 herself. "Why. tho dear hoy is
In love with Bessie Archer. iio couldn't
do better. for she Is great catch and .
very lovely girl But down In her heart
she felt little pang at losing 10 devoted
AMI pleasant friend as Rush had teen;
for u he lccamc engaged TO Bessie their
liiile evenings would come To an end.
However. sho would no, 10 selfish. and
he nigh, count on her asa friend 10
further his suit