St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-08-31

voice of the speaker was harsh and
rasping as if it came from his throat
with pain, and he clinched his hands
systematically. HE has literary
aspirations-that is, he had in the
beginning-of the-story."
ut is quite natural for young
writers to want to write about au-
thors," said the novelist; and he
smiled encouragingly. "Well, 60
on"
This young fellow meets a beau
tiful woman. He-he loves her with
his whole soul. He thinks she is an
angel. He never doubts her love
never for one instant"
Leecraft paused. and taking a
soiled handkerchief from his pocket
he wiped his brow. He drifts off in
to forgetfulness even while his old
friend is looking in his face.
"Well, he never doubts her, you
were saying"
mo-" with a start of recollection.
pardon me, he never doubts her
till one day when he goes to call on
her he sees her writing desk on the
divan where she had forgotten it..
He sees few lines in her handwrit-
ing. He could not help reading
them; they were right before his
eyes when he sat down on the divan.
He reads these Words
The young mans voice died in his
throat. He removed his right leg
from its strained position across his
LETT, and then catching the novelist S
eye he went on:
1.-THE words were 4 do not love
him in the least; in fact, he tires me
sometimes; but he is rich and the fash
ion, and he thinks | do desperately.
Other words are on the sheets be.
meath, but he does not glance at
them. He is too honorable"
81 see, that would be plain enough
toto the reader" The old man
rubbed his eyes and yawned affected
ly; but his eyes glistened with mois
ture. We'll, 60 on"
"The lover is sitting there as colo
as a stone when she runs in with ar
exclamation of delight and throw:
herself into his arms. forget what
I-what | intended her to say; but
it was like all her affectionate greet
ings that had so often thrilled him t.
the core Of his soul. But this tim,
he can not fold her to him; he car
only stare at her pale as death. Sh,
draws herself away and says;
"'Why, what is the NATTER Their
her eyes follow his to the letter on {
divan. She snatches it up and see,
the words he has read. She turns
very white and will not look at him
Presently she laughs and smiles
but her cheeks do not rid themselves
OF their pallor
II see you have read what | wrot
to my old school friend, Maggi
Wade; we girls are awfully sill,
nowadays She turned the shee
over and hurriedly studied the preced
ing pages of the letter. i know
you will think it mean of me t.
betray girls confidence; but l wa
writing her what Hattie Lynn tolt
me about the young Englishman sh'
is to marry Does this not sount
heartless:
81 do not love him in the least il
fact he tires me sometimes; but he il
rich and the fashion, and he thinks
do desperately"
II never could respect Hattie after
that. | can't see how a woman car
be so bad as actually to sell hersel
for money when there is so much
happiness in love like ours"
The heart of the young fellow
am telling about bounded with joy
He fell on his knees before her anc
begged her pardon, contessing what
he had thought. She laughed, still
with the cold, half-frightened look in
her eyes. She went to the CRATE and
burned the letter. 1 shall not sent
it., she said, for it came near caus
ing a misunderstanding between US,
and she was so gentle and forgiving
that he went away more desperately
in love than ever.
THAT night at Mrs. well, no mat
ter the name-at reception giver
by lady friend, he saw Miss Lynn
with her intended husband. My
hero could not enjoy the entertain
ment because his betrothed was not
present, and because he could moi
keep from feeling for the poor English
man who seemed to be so much il
love, and with such a deceitful crea
ture as Miss Lynn. Later he talked
with the younglad mother. Mrs
Lynn had always liked him anc
treated him as confidential friend. Sh'
spoke of her daughters engagement
"'She' svery much in love with him,
she said. 1 have never seen any
thing to equal it in my experience
Only yesterday the news came that
Mr.. Metcalfs father had failed II
London. The young man is abso
lutely penniless and Immediately Of
fered to release Hattie from the en-
gagement, but she only smiled wher
he told her thatit might be wiser to
give him up, and said that she loved