Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-03-31
A DILEMMA.

Mr.. Bertram Lamar sat ON the arm OF
chair In the hall Of the hotel at Scar
borough and idly swung his foot Mr..
Lamar was bored. An extended ac-
qnaintance with this young man forces
me 10 confess that he was not often af-
fiicted In that way. We know that no
man can aspire to be of the highest
fashion without constantly experiencing
the pangs Of this distinguished ailment,
and yet Mr.. Lamar was unquestionably
Of the highest fashion. The most cursory
glance would tell You this. ANY one
could see that he belonged to the best
people, that he was used TO the best
people, that only the best people would
Be boarable to him. But now he was
genuinely bored.
Ladies' passed-old ones. who swept
up the dust with trains, and who crealxed
as they moved, rs II they wanted oiling;
young ones in light frocks and wide,
lowered hats cast shadow over the
clearest eyes. They kept banging open
the glass doors and going out into the
blaze OF sun beyond. with bursting
into bloom Of lace parasols, or coming
into the cool Of the hall, with the rus
Ting, silken sheathing Of the parasols
suddenly furled and the tapping Of little
heels on the hard floor. He never
glanced at them. But they did at him
swiftly. obliquely--from under their
hat brim, out Of the shadow. He looked
away, with raised chin and indolently
dropped eyelids.
There was one girl--shs kept going to
and fro--and as he looked ON the ground
he could see the hem Of her dress and
her feet. They were pretty feet in yell
low shoes. small and pointed. Mr..
Lamar found himself Illuminating. ..Sup-
pose the head Is as pretty as the feet.
But 1t never Is. There's law Of COM
pensating which prevents that. The
head which belongs to those feet is
thirty-five." Aud he looked mp. The
head matched the feet to perfection.
MIR. Lamar felt that he didn't look bored
any longer. Rather. however. than
sacrifice this dearly bought and enviable
condition Of being. he turned his back
on that enchanting head. and sauntered
into an adjoining room. There would
be no one 10 look at there.
Tho room was empty. cool and dim. II
had oak chairs and tables and writing
desks. sea green walls and q great win
dow opening ON the balcony. Outside
there were ladies Of uninteresting ages
sitting under forest Of parasols. BE-
yond were veivety sweeps Of close crop
ped turf. dapplsd with short shadows
shrinking to the tree roots. Splintars of
dusty sunlight crept down the boles of
she stately elms and trembled on the
white dresses of passing girls. Mr.. La
mar felt that he might gaze upon this
prospect for ON infinitude Of time and re-
main bored.
But fate willed otherwise. As be en-
tered the room he saw something ON the
floor near the table. He picked II up. It
was band about an inch and q half
wide. covered with puckered yellow rib
bon, and with one end run through q
clasp Of duh silver showing a monogram.
In small diamonds. There was bunch
Of narrower yellow ribbon besides the
clasp. each end finished with . little
tongueless silver bell II appeared TO
Lamar from some hanging filaments Of
thread that the two ends had once been
stitched together. He looked curiously
At his find.
what can Il bey' he unused. staring
1t il.
We have said that he was young, and
came Of the best people, and with the
best people there is always doubt as to
whether they wear such vulgar things ~
stockings or possess such uncomfortable
tnings as legs. .wings, not legs and
feet, shall move them. rs the poet grace
fully EXPRESSES it,
Lamar first thought he would take 1t
TO the Office. but curiosity compelled him
Co study IL. IL might be worn round the
neck; but no. II was not long enough.
He drew the severed ends together and
held IL Oh from him, eyeing IL dubiously
and rHfiectisely pulling his small nous
tache. Oh, yes, Of course Now he
saw. How dense he'd beenl A bracelet.
Holding Il together he pushed his hands
through Il and 1t swung ON his wrist.
II don't think ever saw bracelet
just like that before" no thought. NOV
ing IL around and looking at il with his
head on one side.
And then. as he looked at II, came
sudden fash Of Weakening light, and for
moment he stood staring at IL In
stupefied horror as IL hung over his
wrist. With the return of conscious
ness be crumpled It mp and crushed it
INTO hn pocket. What should he do
with III u he took II 70 the Office the
owner would never dare TO claim it, II
no found out Who she was he would
never dare to offef.it.
He could imaginsthe scene. A lovely
and youthful lady IL discovered walking
In the corridors. To her appears Mr..
Bertram Lamar In fnil evening dresr.
with white Pink IN his butfonhole'
1a-.4a, u.aring package from MS
pocket, MT. Lamar presents Il 70 her.
murmnring. Yours, | believe and
vaystshcs through trap door.
The Lamars were famous for their
chiyalrons attitude toward tina sex.
What should be do to spare her feelings
and his own and be turned the cause
ct bis perturbation over in bis pocket.
Just then he heard . step ontside--a
feminine step. With q guilty start he
retreafed from the table, fen into q
chair and seized the morning paper. in
which be buried his head. ANY one
noting this fact would OF course imagine
that be siumbcrad, and feel themselves
pate from eapial.