Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-06-22

DcllcVc I've got ncr picture somewhere
about mel"
lie searched eagerly in his pockets,
while Forrest repeated the soft name
over.
ELLA? Why that is the name of the
young lady whom ! admire so much,
and by Jove," he added, as Thornby UNI
clasped a 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 very sentimental epis.
tic. Forrest glanced over it with be.
wildered eyes, and then, biting his
white lip until the blood started, took
from his own poclsetbools 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 imprisoned strain,
Is doing her best to lure me on to pro.
posal!''
at cannot be-" gasped Ralph, feeling
as if he were in dream.
"Dut | know it to be sol Heavensl
what narrow escape have had. And
you, also, Thornby, should rejoice at
your escape from the wilcs of false
hearted coquette!"
Still Ralph Thornby repeated, be
tween his clenched teeth:
81 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 gle.mindedncss!
Thornby took out pencil and dashed
off hurried proposal in form.
''There-I will send this tomorrow
morning, with request for an immcdi.
ate answer. When that answer comes,
will you believe its 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.
81 am sorry for you from the very bot.
tom of my heart, for you feel this more
deeply than can do!'' 8
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.
t"Well,'' was his greeting. Forrest
replied: 81 have dispatched my missive
and here is the answer. See, the seal
isyet unbroken-we will peruse it to-
gether."
1t was a skillfully 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 a
variety of charming little addenda,
such as, yesterday, would have filled
Charles Forests heart with rapture.
Now, they were false, idle rhapsodiesl
"Are you convinced?" was Forests
simple question, as the letter dropped
from his companions trembling hand.
II am. 1t has been pleasant dream;
but / am effectually aroused at last.
Charley, have been fool--a duper'
Sand 50 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: 1.-The
compliments of Messrs. Thornby and
Forrest" and incloscd both in one en-
velope, directed to Miss Wardlaw.
Ella Wardlaw was practicing diff
cult Italian sonata as the evcntful note
was handed her. She tore it hrrriedly
open, and gazed with widc-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 a hopeless
old maid with not the faintest chance
of a husband.-N. Y. News.