Griggs courier., 1893-06-09

really, II you could SEQ Ella-hoA on.
believe I've got her picture somewher,
about me!''
Ho searched eagerly in his pockets
while Forrest repeated the soft nam,
over. a-
ELLA? Why that is the name of tn.
young lady whom I admire SO much
and by Jove," he added, as Thornby un
clasped 4 little velvet miniature case
and held it toward him, '.that is the very
face! You don't mean to say you are
engaged to that girl?''
ITO be sure am-what do you
mean? Surely there is some mistake.
can show you her last letter."
He drew out a very sentimental epis-
tie. Forrest glanced over it with be-
wildered eyes, and then, biting his
white lip until the blood started, took
from his own pocketboek prettily
worded note from Ella, which he had
received that morning.
THE handwriting Is precisely SINH
lar. Ralph. we are the dupes of an art
full, unprincipled woman. This same
Ella Wardlaw, while she is correspond
ing with you in this impassioned strain,
is doing her best tollre me on to a pro-
posal!'
''It cannotbe," gasped Ralph, feeling
rs if he were in q dream.
'But know it to be so! Heavens!
what narrow escape have had! And
You, also, Thornby, should rejoice at
your escape from the wilcs of q false
hearted coquette!'
Still Ralph Thornby repeated, be-
tween his clenched teeth:
II will not believe it-Ella is truth
ITSELF"
''Shall we put it to the test?" asked
Forrest, rather Indignantly.
''Do what you please. will stake
my life on her single-mindedntss!"
Thornby took out pencil and dashed
of hurried proposal in form.
''There-I will send this tomorrow
morning, with a request for an immedi.
ate answer. When that answer comes,
will you believe it's. testimony"
Thornby nodded; but the hand which
lay upon Charles Forests was cold as
marble.
"Good night, then, my poor fellow"
said Forrest, as he rose to take leave.
II am sorry for you from the very bot
tom of my heart, for you feel this more
deeply than l can do!''
But Thornby did not answ,r-he was
gazing absently into the fire.
Head and heart both ached sadly
that night; but the WEAKNESS of travel
was nothing to the sick sensation of
distrust and apprehension that had
taken possession of his mind. There
fore, it happened that he was still
lounging over his almost untasted
breakfast when Charles Forrest was an
nounced by waiter.
"Well," was his greeting. Forrest
replied: 81 have dispatched my missive
and here is the answer. See, the seal
is yet unbroken-we will peruse it to-
gether."
It was a skillfullyA written note of
glad acceptance. Ella wrote that ''she
had long loved Mr.. Forrest-that her
greatest happiness through life would
be to secure his contentment," with q
variety of charming little addenda,
such as, yesterday, would have filled
Charles Forests heart with rapture.
Now, they were false, idle rhapsodiesl
'Arc you convinced?" was Forests
simple question. as the letter dropped
from his companions trembling hand.
Il am. 1t has been a pleasant dream;
but I am effectually aroused at last.
Charley, have been fool-a dupe!"
"And SO have I, Ralph; just give me
that enthusiastic love letter you showed
me last night"
::'What for?"
Charles made no reply; but he took
the letter from Thornby's unresisting
hand, and folding it with the note of
acceptance he had just received, wrote
one pencil line on the margin: ''The
compliments of Messrs. Thornby and
Forrest" and inclosed both in one en-.
velope, directed to Miss Wardlaw.
Ella Wardlaw was practicing diff
cult italian sonata as the eventful note
was handed her. She tore it hrrriedly
open. and gazed with wide-open, be-
wildering eyes upon the Enclosures.
The next instant they fell from her
nerveless fingers.
Years have passed since then. Ralph
Thornby is married; Charles Forrest
has blooming wife, and two rosy little
girls; but Ella Wardlaw is hopeless
old maid, with not the faintest chance
of q husband.-N. Y. News.
As the Yankee Pronounced It.
Cunning in the use of language to
give false impression is Yankee trick
celebrated in song and story. Manv in.