Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-08-02

exclaimed Mr.. Locke ruefully. "One hates
TO change ones mind, you know"
Il don't. | always change my mind
Sometimes once-sometimeS twice-and
about everything. 1t is divine right"
You would break the engagement
THAT is not for me to say" But the at
titude of the nose is all that is necessary.
Josephine has not such Classic one, and
could only succeed in appearing ridiculous
in such mood.
You would have been happy with her
if you had not met mei" the voice con.
tinues.
Happy? Ipresume so. Happy enough.
We men don't expect much of that sort of
thing in marriage nowadays"
"You-loved herr"
Certainly"
"You didf"
"Er-it isn't easy to explain. But she is
very sweet and pleasant and well connect
ed-and-er-all that sort of thing"
as she pretty"
"Awfully"
Between its two high points he sees her
face at last. The eyes are curious.
You love us both?'
III d SOTI vi way, MT. lAoChe TellldrkS
hesitatingly.
Can man love two women?"
II knew man who loved three. He
wasn't half bad, though the women called
him wretch." Mr.. Locke feels guilty
and is thinking hard, though it is evident
that his wits are panic stricken
Good night" comes in muflled tones
| from the red coat collar.
Don't go! Mrs. Boutor will come after
you in a moment. Give me that mo
ment!'
Il have given you too many already"
"I4isten!" He holds her hands, detain
ing her tenderly, but firmly.
"Well--if must"
"Listen | was-am-engaged to nice
girl | respected her-was fond of her
loved her-by Jove, | do stillr'
Here struggle ensues, during which
Miss Haversey's hands fail to free them.
selves
But until now," he continues, ~ did
not know what it was TO love with abso-
lutte unreason-to love girl because she
was what she was, yet to know that if she
were to change completely tomorrow |
should love her still-as long us she was
herself. To love, in fact, like an idiot-or
godr'
The hands struggle no longer, and the
two face each other with rapturous gaze.
"That's different2 Isn't it," added he.
"And you will write her that you have
changed your mind?"
Yes" he promised gravely.
"And you don't think it wrong to change
your mindW
"N-n-or'
But he did not write, as upon the follow
ing morning the steamer was allowed to
go to her dock. AS Mrs. Clavering Boutor
appeared upon the deck the fumes OF
camphor and carbolic acid became more
defined than usual as they were in heI
case combating the perfume of iris She
was cheerful and chatty, but was heard tc
murmur something about somebody being
sued for something or other.
As Mr.. Collingson Locke left them in
order to take the first train for Philadel
phia, he exchanged glances with Miss
Olive Haversey.
You will hear from me soon" said he
| meaningly.
And she did.
In his letter he said:
Il have told Josephine all. She has for
given iie lor ChdlSlnB my ullllu. al
free now. At last can say, with the ten
derest feeling any man ever felt for any
woman:
my love-my little love-will you marry
me?
Dear, don't write; the mail is SLOW
thing. Wire me. Say Yes and tell mi
when can come to you"
Not so many hours after mailing his let
ter-a day perhaps-he received tele
graphic despatch from Miss Haversey. Ii
it he read these words:
81 have made other arrangements"
= And he recalled the fact that she hat
told him when in quarantine that she oftel
changed her mind.-Johanna Stats il
New York Truth.