The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-12
A SINGLE THOUGHT


lie had no heart for further conversation
aud his remarks to me during the rest q
the trip were in monosyllables. His dis
tress was painful to see when the steamboat
butted against her pier at Van Buren, street
He rushed forward, then back again, ther
to the center, where he stood, hopeless and
helpless, staring at the retreating crowd
Where are theyF he entreated. / had
caught glimpse of Miss Silvey's brown
curls on the gangplank minute before
They'll be along presently, said consol
ingly. Wait He did wait. We were the
last people to leave the steamer. He stood
on the pier gazing up the flight of steps with
a lost expression.
Damn it' he said.
ut was my intention to 20 to the theateI
that night, and as l started out / looked
around for the lovers party Spinks was
standing near the register a picture of de
lection and gloom. l touched him on the
shoulder.
Hello, Spinks, are you going out to
night"
'lfe looked at me darlily.
les, I'm going to the theater.'
"'What theaters'" "
"He turned to the ticket scalper in the
corner.
Didn't You sell some tickets to fat
young man with brown mustache and Q
western accent tonight?" he asked.
| "I did,
".What theater2
'Schiller's.'"
| "Spinks turned to me-
Is I am going to Schiller's,' lie said.
"The theater was crowded; but, being on
time, we got good seats. The play was THE
Girl Left Behind Me- drama full oil
stirring situations. But Spnks was not
stirred. He didn't even see the play His
eyes were turned 10 the right Following
the direction of bis gaze, recognized Miss
Silvey Seated beside her was Pcrcival
Blipp, his face flushed with delight. Just
behind them sat Mrs. Silvey. Miss Silvey
recognized us and smiled so sweetly that
| Spinks' gloom was lifted like II mist before
| the sun.
"He writhed in his chair and waited i'm
| patiently for the end of the act SO that he
could go to them. l saw that heroic meas
ures were necessary. Before the curtain had
swung half way down ] was on my way to
the box. took the one vacant seat From
where ! sat | could see Spinks, sitting
straight in his seat and looking straight in
| front, an unforgiving expression on his face
"Ihe next morning was not surprised
to see Spinks sitting in the hotel lobby
gloonily poring over a paper. 1t was as
late as 10 o'clock, and wondered if he was
waiting for Miss Silvcy. He was evidently
in q bad humor still. apologized for hav-
ing left him 50 abruptly the night before at
the theater, and to cement our re-cstab-
lisEed friendship asked him to drink with
me. He said he had already trottcd out
three pony cocktails that morning
| ~ decided that Blipp and the young lady
had gone or were going to the fair and to
preclude all chance OF meeting them pro.
| posed that we tukea jarnt to Lincoln park
| He sstOnished me with the alacrity with
| which he accepted the suggestion. | could
only explain his ready acceptance by men
tally deciding that lie had given up all hope
of being with Miss Silvey that day
After we had taken n turn or two about
the park | discovered the reason for his
coming. The reason was Miss Silvey. We
came upon her quite suddenly, strolling
along with her mother He evidently was
not surprised and stepped forward smiling
| Unconsciously | had done Blipp bad
turn, but | made the best of it, by one OF
| those graceful flank movements character
istic of myself | gained Miss Silvey's side,
and by the use of a little diplomacy led her
away. Spinks had nothing to do but 10
drop behind with the mother. | fancy she
was not fayorably impressed that morning
| by the conversation of the young man who
wanted to be her son-in-law. The Young
lady and got along swimmingly until an
unexpected interruption
| Just at bend iii tho walk II young gen
tleman stepped in front of us. He came 50
| suddenly into view from behind a little
summer house that ! was impressed with
the belief that he had been lurking there.
lie lifted his hat and made a fine show of
, pleased surprise. Why. Miss Silyey-Mr.
Hornady, this is unexpected, Pm sure, but
| delightful How you frightened met
said Miss Silvey. Where did you come
from, Mr.. BlippY'
Quite naturally he turned and walked
back with MS, casting II furtive glance be
hind at Spinks. Ii suddenly occurred to
me that | had seen enough OF the park, and
regretfully told them | had an engage
ment at noon. We waited until Spinks
and the mother came up. Spinks looked
doRgedly at his watch and spitefully at
Blipp and said he WAS sorry, but he had an
engagement too.
He walked along beside me, snllenly re-
fuSing to speak. After we were on the car
he suddenly looked up and asked, 'Horna-
dy, are you marrieaF
u put on sorrowful expression. 4 was
married once | said. He flushed mp bit
his thin mastache and seemed sorry for his
question.
81 see, he said at length; "A widower.'
"A week later WAS sitting in an obscure
end of the cafe with Spnks, who insisted
on my taking supper with him. A waiter
held delicately perfumed envelope over
my shoulder and asked II was Blake Hor-
nady. took the letter and held il up to
the light Spinks glanced at the snperserip-
tion and gave nervous start He had rec
ognizcd Miss Silvey's handwriting.
Il read the note. refolded it carefully, as
carefully replaced it in the envelope and
very tenderlyp put it in my pocket. Look
here blurted out Spinks, are you in love
with that young ladyis she in love with
youH looked at him very severely and
his gaze faltered. Then he continued:
'Non have come, between Miss Silvey and
myself ever since the first time we saw
you. It's always you or Blipp' He ut
t"9'ssi Z Nc Itst Ealne like an explosive /
20 fui o. - t"'t-lv, ard hrffrp rct!ld