The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-16
=. -. &C.
kind enough to take my place while
run around To hnr honsa -

oAdo OaAOu6h " bSAA6 lily DltfS6 WQll0 Il
run around to her house
His GOODNESS nearly distracted me.
II must see herr' I exclaimed excit.
eddy.
but you cannot" he said ooolly.
II have strict orders not to lot any one
know her whereabouts for day or two
until these extensive preparations are
we'll under way"
was on the verge Of tears, and with
q choke in my voice I cried out, sinking
into chair and holding up my hands
deprecatingly:
Don't say another word You will
set me wild If you will not tell me
whore to find Nellie" went on in des-
peration, will you please toll her this
Il have been bad, wicked girl. and.
and-and-there is no such person as
Ned Clayborn? 1t started In fun. and
and-and-ploase let me go TO her. She
will understand me so much better than
you Gun explain it.
No such person as Ned Clayborni
My dear young lady, must beg leave
to differ with you That Is the name of
the young man who In three short weeks
Is to marry Miss Merton Surely he Is
not dead2'' he added in CONSERVATION.
"Oh, will you not understand 1t
was all joke at first I thought it
would be great fun. and so well, I
am Ned Clayborn, and after time we
became engaged-an in fun. too" Here
I laughed Historically. IT triod to stop.
but was 80 wicked could not, and
now poor Nellie will break hes heart,
-and-and"- And I broke down
and began to cry in q miserable way
Unlike most men. my companion was
not in the least disooncerted at sight of
my tears, but simply laughed. loud and
long.
Presently the laughter ceased Then
heard uneasy movements in the chair
occupied by my companion. Then be got
up and paced about restiessly Pretty
coon light touch fell upon my arm.
and his voice, very gentle and kind,
said. Nellie is here to receive your
confession and forgiveness " dried my
eyes and looked up. but saw no one but
the tall young man, who was looking
aS me- very earnestly.
Where is she?' / asked. ready tc
cry again.
Here" he said, holding out his
hand Instinctively put mine into It,
and it closed over it firmly.
also have q confession to make, -
no said earnestly. II thought you were
another young fellow like myself, and
wishing to relieve tho todium of these
long monotonous days struck up fir
tation. intended some day to meet the
young man and have it out with him,
txyhaY, "a
fession In short, " he ended abruptly,
Il am Nellio Merton. And you nre Ned
Clayborn? Come, dry your eyes, Ned
Your Nellie is not heartbroken at the
turn about of affairs. -
After staring ut him in silent amaze
ment for tho space of five seconds the
truth of tho whole matter began tc
dawn upon my confused brain. My face
grew hot with Indignation l snatched
my hand from his and sprang to my
feet
You are contempdble fellow!"
cried He did not reply, but stood look
Ing down at mo from his superior height.
1t was hundred times meaner i'll
Pou because your object was a woman.
will never forgive You If live to be
thousand. -
Isn't that rather paradoxioal, con.
stdertng tho fact that you thought was
a woman and you were enacting the
role of the sterner sex?' he asked
"You might have known" I an
swered severely.
but did not, F" he replied.
Here is my train. said shortly.
"Goodby, he replied, assisting me
ON to tho train despite my independence
and lifting his hat as it pulled out.
I travelled back to "B" % sadder bat
wiser woman.
"You are a fool, !" said 1 to my refeo-
ton in the little mirror as I removed
my hat.
a year rolled by. had entirely re
covered from my chagrin. and buried
In the darkest chamber of my memory
was every thought Of the tall young
operator at I'D station
One morning 1 was arranging and
copying some night messages when q
long shadow fell across my papers A
glance upward told who it was The
door of that secret and darkened cham
Der Of my memory flew open, and
knew that the tall young man at sd
station" was not as yet quite consigned
to oblivion. Standing with hat in hand
and without any preface of any kind he
said:
Over year ago you asked me to
marry You, and / consented have
come to ask: Will you come? Or shall
I enter suit for breach Of promise?'
What could do? And. after all. per.
haps he would not have made me O bet
ter husband had l met him in the old