Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-10-19

under this roof is an unpleasant lnokipy
man, whom my father wishes ME To MARI,
on account Of his business prospects. and
suppose, his attachment for me. He has
annoyed ME so with his attentions thar
almost hate him, and he knows il He
Jealous and has a very mean disposition.
dare not go out at any time without his
knowing it and speaking of the fact in
such way that my father, who is dread
tully strict, hears him and gives me a lee.
ture. If he sees me walking home with a
young man, or sees me get letter or hand
one to the postman, he tells it; then. of
course, father wants to know all about IL
THE rest Of these delightful people are
forever spying too The consequences is |
am forever in hot water. Now on LehiCh
street, $50, there's man whom | like very
much. Robert Barring is his name. He
knows you quite well by sight | will
thank you exceedingly il you will give him
this note and stop there when you're on
your way here, so If he has any message
for me he will give it to you. You see.
father doesn't allow him TO visit me. so we
don't see each other very often-ouly when
| can slip out for an hour or so, when he
Joins me and we take a walk. II you'll IN,
our letter carrier We'll get along much
better. Then by being little careful
George Birch will be so nicely outwitted
When he has no more tales to tell | won.
der what he will do. Well. suppose YOU
are willing to be our mutual friend. aren't
your
''She was standing there and had laid her
hand in mine. promised to serve her, then
left her by the way I'd come. In the
months that followed | SAW her many
| times and carried to and fro many mes
sages between the sweetheartS had been
their mail carrier for six months and had
! given her start up the pole almost as
many times, when her father died. or
course her lover went to see her then as
often as he liked, so there was no more
need OF me. One morning about two
months after her fathers death she ran
down stairs and overlook me as | turned
the corner. She told me she was to be mar
ried that night at the minister's residence
and that she and Robert wanted me to be
one Of the witnesses
II consented, though wondered il she
didn't know what hard request she'd
made OF me- ! stood up there bravely,
I though II took ali my power TO DO SO, ana
saw Katie Allen give herselft to Robert Bar
ing, and wondered If he did then or ever
would love her us devotedly as did. Short.
| ly afterward doubted 1t very much. He
was not overly kind to her, staid out at
clubs late and was not rs considerate for
her feelings as he should have been. saw
her just often enough to know she was
very unhappy though only bride Of ten
months
George Birch became very sullen. He
never spoke to Barring except to tantalize,
and when he'd been married one year Birch
so grossly insulted him that there was an
alteration in which both were wounded.
Barring died within twenty -four hours, but
Birch lived to suffer awhile.
He had n alingering spell, then improved,
only to get worse later Katie had been a
widow for year, when she sent for me to
tell me that George was dying and wanted
to see her. She was very nervous and mis-.
erable; she dreaded going, yet had no wish
to refuse, advised her to go and went
also, at least rs far as the steps. wouldn't
go in the room. When she came out there
were tears in her eyes and she looked pale
and frightened. She told me in low voice,
almost in whisper that he was dead.
walked with her to her door, then left her
alone with her unhappy thoughts. Her
husband left her but little wealth, so she
went back to the northwest room Of the
red tenement, Che one in which I'd first
seen her, which she rented quite chcaply
and managed very well, with her baby
girl for company and a small hired girl
for help
81 visited her only occasionally until she
left off her garb of mourning, then went
there more frequently In time she prom.
ised to be my wife, but three years went by
without her setting our wedding day. She
told me that George Birch had said that II
she married me or any one else he'd give
her no peace, but haunt her day and night.
She did not want to believe that he could
but weeks before the day set for our mar
riage she was in terribly nervous state
and declared she'd seen George in her door
every night for month.
''The evening before we were to be mar
ried was sitting in the room holding her
child on my knee and thinking of the bright
morrow when the back door opened sud
denly and she screamed: Look mt George
Birch 1t Is not his ghost, but him, him
self. See how he looks ut mel My Godi |
can't stand i'll can't marry you, Simon
can't can't. Save my child; don't let
her see that facet She moaned, wrung her
hands and looked mad
81 went two blocks for physician, but
when | returned Katie was gone | locke
for her, and others, too, but we never found
her or heard any tidings bearing on the
subject. The general opinion was that in
her fright and excitement she had destroy
ed herself But how, without there being
some evidence afterward. am puzzled to
know.
81 sold my new home, or the place that
was to have been our home and taking her
child | took up my abode In my same old
lodging house and there I've lived ever
since for this child, who will be second
Katie Allen In beauty God grant her a
happier life,
81 gave up my position as lineman.
could not climb a pole without thinking OF
her. Since then I've been knocking
around, doing anything that came TO my
. hand, until today, when was called into
service through necessity
, ''The red tenement IL sold and Is TO be
taken down. Hearing this I've been com.
ing here now and then, each time think.
ing twas the last TO look at the house
, where | first met and loved my beauti
ful"-
Simon passed, looked fondly at little
. Katie, then gathered her In his arms
tucked her feet within the front Of his
coat, bowed silently, crossed the street and
walked slowly, with eyes full to the brim
and quivering lips, TO the room in which
he lived with every creylce Of his heart
! open to admit the light from baby eyes and
| the music Of childish prattle, hoping II
| would In time overcome the somber dreams
Of blasted hope. Virginia Payne Hen
richs In PHILADELPHIA Times