The National tribune., 1893-11-23

business man as i always prlded
myself was ! had bsen changed
and altered to romantic. nonsensicai lover,
and | have not the least doubt that was
eoualIy as silly Ito the disnterestcd Ohserver)
as any boy of 90 Then, too. there came the
little moments of hope fear, doubt or jeRl-
ousy. and passions such as j never dreamed
formed part of my nature. In TACT bad be-
come different being. Ennui and apathy van
ished and in their sreHds arose energy and am
biiion The old delight of the club bored me
now: poker was eaEoXious; cards, stupid
nool and billiards. tiresQme; bowling, foolish
bsse ball-had | ever Eeen crank enough to
20 20 see n gene? Even the theater and the
german were useless and empty. except with
Mabel By my side. On, love, what power Is
thine! To what msyst thou not actuate even
the duliest mnnH
AurlPs rainy days were fast drawing to
close. Ii was Saturday afterEson and | had
not seen Mabel since Wednesday! Ali because
OF that veXaIious "iHdlspssition On Friday
evening In fact these tTOqueat Illnesses oe-
CURING so often si late. were beriBriEg to
alarm me- and ! intended TO insist that the
doctors advice be asked. Strange enough these
short spells Of sickness usually came the Same
day each week. had noticed that-and
though they lasted but short tiRse. barely
day in fact. they were enough to cause me not
little anxiety.
1t was so nearly perfect day could not re-
all work for the day bong over. ] einsed the
Office and turned my face toward Nerta Charles
street. Mabel may he feeling better, Thought,
and promenade the sveRue will do her
good short, brisk walk up the fse street, and
stood before my 6aHce's hsme. The servant
who opened the door appeared to hesitate when
asked if Mabel WAS fseins better, and, after
moments awkward pause, answered: Miss
Mattel is perfectly well. Walk into the psrlor.
sirD
Perfectly welli" I echoed to myself.
Spm glad of that. Then turAing to the serv.
ant, who had seen me often before. / said:
You need not announce me; will surprise
her,"
Carefully depositing my hat upon the rack,
and after q hssty elHnoe at the glass (leve even
makes a mau vaini tiptoed softly across the
hall and gently placed my hand uPeR the kneb
of the parlor door. ] was on the point of enter
ing the room whsa fauced l heard talking.
] stopped and listened. Yes, Nasel WAS con-
versipg with some one. Possibly seme girl
friend aud my presence would be an intrusion
or an embarrassment. 1t seemed Strange!
Mabel entertaining q visitor with all the parior
doors closed! There she was speak ing again,
but so low and soft couid net understand a
word For fully a minute / stood thus in
eusndary. not knowing how TO act, when sud-
denly Mabel RAISED her voice and in bewilder-
ment distinctly heard:
And you will always be truef No matter
what comes. what fortune may bringf"
"Ah dearest. can you doubt mef" came the
astounding answer. "Can yoa question the
depth of my lovsp"
Twas dumIouRded. THE depth Off What
did it all meaBH IL WAS no woman's voice that
heard for the words had been spoken hy a man
man. for whom IN thst oae instant ! con-
ceived violent hatred. Nv God Could it
be possible that n sri. my dear, loving Mabel.
had dece- Mol" | cried in my heart,
checking the awfai thought. ~ must have
heard wrongly"
The voices had subsidized once more and for
. few minutes, though I pressed close to the
door and strained every nerve. / could not dis
tinguish q solitary word. Presently The sounds
became mors audible and the words clearer.
With caution pressed aa1ieusly forward.
Bot ] wanted TO surprise you, love-" said
Mabel sfectiOHatsy.
We'll, dear. yoa have done so most effect
usliy." came the equally snectienste response.
Good heavens! Ky hssa had dropped to my
side and staggered the hall as IL had
been shot. ] Was stunned
Utterly beWildersd, | stood as one In dream.
Ny entire life seemed In that ono minute to
pass ia frighifal yisieH before my gaze. Was
this the retrIhztion of ju-t fate, that ], who
had always been hGteF o. WomaH kind. a sesffer
81 ali things feminine, should fall deeply ia
love, dTeam--sAa arezm-th4l love reciprOcated
and then suddenly learn that the woman l
Cherished and sSleVed true aud faaltless. for
whom no sacrifice bad been or Was too great
this woman had tri6ea with me, this fckle
fsithiess woman had deceived mel
How long the painful Feverie continued
have no idea IL may have heen a few seconds,
IL may have been zH h"ur; ! cannot tell. was
DEAD TO all feeling that of my humila-
lion and shame. 11Puise led me to seize my
hat aud leave the kouse, hide my head from
the sight Of mes, and ever after cut society.
Still tnusinR. tHrncd TO take my hat, when
loud, merry laugh from the parlor woke me
70 my senses. Laughing They were laugh
Ing over H. | could stsHd il no longer. Pzia
and sorrow fed aud only tue wound TO my
honor remained.
Surprise aud establishment gave way to re-
eehiment sIid a gsr. Anger became hatred.
Dashine my poOE hat upon the floor, rushed
to The door. Ny biood seemed To boil within
pe Uneonsci0usly i cliGehed ny fists.