The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-02
she had 10 explain her non suc

whom she had TO explain hcr non sue
cess. <, EF 4,
"Just what I expected, Miss Barbara
said he, cheerfully. "0ne is never sure
Of q chance OF that kind till n actually
has it. l wouldn't build upon 1t in your
| place. q 7
"You don't scom to have had a fortu.
nate experience in that way" retorted
Barbara, ungratcfully. at Is only de-
ferred in this case, and I ain in nc hur.
ry for a few days"
"Days!" echoed John. "a man in our
office has waited years, and is likely to
wait, as far as ! can see"
Ton days later came tho much. looked.
for communication from Dodd & Son.
ave arc in receipt of Miss Reeds
paper, and would assure her. tho matter
shall have our best attention" &c.
Barbara flung 1t into her desk with
a disappointed face. 1t was tedious to
DO Obliged to wait in suspense like this.
| She would scarcely know how to got
through tho timc but for Lawrcnce's
attention and warm interest in tho up
shot.
John Grants Indifference, not to say
skepticism, on the subject, threw up
his rivals superior qualities IN, full re.
lief; and there were times when Barba-
RI felt just q little puzzled that Mr..
Lawrence wont no further. With all
his solicitude and looks that meant
more than words, he never absolutely
committed himself to anything moro
! binding than tho mcrcst friendship.
II can't ask him. sle said one day
nnder her breath, rs she walked slowly
homo after ono OF these "accidental''
meetings. "But / do wish no would
say straight out what he means or else
stay away altogether. 1t makes ono
feel unsettled"
Poor Barbara felt moro unsettled
still before she reached home. 1t was
a lovely summer evening, and fifty
yards further on she was joined by an
other cavalier, John Grant this time.
She shrank back ut first, half afraid OF
some jesting remark about the legacy,
she soon discovered that he had quito
forgotten the matter. There was some.
thing else on his mind, and he lost no
time in saying very straight out what
1t was.
"Imay not be able to offer you a fine
house and luxuries,' he said, "but l
have saved plenty to begin in comfort,
and l think VIC might be very happy to.
gethcr if you would only try. l have
thought about it for the last two years,
and worked hard to DO able to tell
you So"
Barbara looked up at him with gcnu.
inc tears in her eyes.
II am SO sorry" she said. II never
thought OF such n thing-at least, not
in earnest" as she remembered sundry
remarks OF Mrs. Stewards. Besides,
there's lots Of other better girls you
might find"
THAT is not to the point" he inter-
rupted; "it's you, not other girls, I
want. Try and think Of it, Barbara. !
don't want to hurry you, but lot me
have aline as soon as you can. It means
a good deal to me-"
at last on Saturday morning, as she
was setting out for Mrs. Stewards, she
met the postman, who gave her a blue,
oficial-looking envelope. Barbara stood
still on the step, holding her breath as
she opened it.
"Messrs. Dodd & Sons compliments
to Miss Reed, and beg to inform her
that Mrs. Elizabeth Drake has been
proved the nearest of kip, and conse-
quently h~eir-at-law to the $500 left by
the late Mr.. James landlord"
Miss Reed folded up the letter and
put it soberly into her jacket pocket.
She had scarcely realized before how
much she had been counting upon it.
There was nothing left but to put on a
brave face and make the best of it.
As Barbara crossed the. hall to the
school room that afternoon she encoun-
tered Mr.. Lawrence. He was standing
at the table b%uttoning his light gloves.
She saw mt the first glance that Mrs.
Stewart hod told him OF her disappoint-
ment. She hesitatei one instant, then
went straight up to him. N
"You see I am not comeinto afortune
after ALL" she said quietly.
$50 it seems" he said coldly, not look
ing up from refractory button. "But
it was not much Of q fortune, anyway. I
thought it was to be five or'six times
that amount"
Il wish l had never heard: OF lit"
spoke Barbara, looking at himinscorn-
full surprise. ut has been nothing but
an upset and annoyance from the first"
eyes, rather q pity, disappointing
and waste Of time, too. Well, l am 60
ing into the country for q few weeks,
Miss Reed, SO good afternoon if I don't
chance to see you again." ts @l2 = ?
GOOD afternoon" returned Barbara,
with q frigid bow, as she opened the
school-room door.
A tiny note was dropped into the let
ter-box that same evening, addressed to
Mr.. John Grant.
"Dear JOHN" it ran, "Im not half
good enough for you, but if you wish it
-"Ill try"
That Tired Feeling
Is often the forerunner nj serious i'll.