The record-union., 1894-11-16

only served to complicate matters, and to
senu Bobby more deeply in love than
ever and cause him to think that his in
anorata was an abused and injured mar
tyr.
He would like to tell her his feelings
right away, and with that end in view
supplied himself with fresh stock of
chewing gum, and thus equipped started
Tor the office. But alas for human eX-
pectatlons, when Bobby arrived upon
The scene of action he found his place
usufped by another man, man with
pig red beard. who lolled back in his
chair and looked at the typewriter famil-
iarly. Bobby fairly burned to fight him
upon the spot, and his anger was in no
way assuaged when the typewriter
11ushed when she presented the stranger
as MY friend, Mr.. Innett.' Bobby
merely glared upon Innett as that worthy
looked upon him with patroniZing air.
And he wondered if the typewriter had
really placed a singular infection upon
friend" or If he had only imagined it.
Bobby cast beseeching glances III the di-
rection of his divinity, and hung around
in the vain hope of his rival leaving, but
that worthy was evidently very well
satisfied with his present position, and
showed no disposition TO move, so with
last look upon the typewriter and with
an inward anathema at the man Bobby
was forced to take his departure, and as
he LETT the office he wondered again If a
silvery peal Of laughter coupled with
mans deeper tone was not waited after
his departing figure
1t isn't pleasant to think you are being
laughed at, and Bobby was no exception
to the rule, and he inwardly cursed his
lll-luck. 1t was just about this time that
Bobby took to writing sentimental dog
gerel, which he was pleased to term poet
ry. 1t was redolent OF love and also bore
dark hints of the silent tomb, and from
poetry he commenced writing epitaphs
which were weirdly melancholy. He
took great pleasure in thus writing. He
showed the poetry and epitaphs 10 his
sister, and also limited to her OF the great
posi- bility of him having an early death.
lie spoke OF being found cold and stiff
some morning in his bed with leaden
bullet in his brain, or OF suffering the
slow agonies of poison. He wondered if
the typewriter would care-if she would
feel sorry if ne was found dead, and by
his own hand, and if she would even
shed one tear while he was being borne
to the dismal tomb. Bobby felt that could
such joy be his. that he would go forth at
once and willingly face death in any
manner, but ones relatives are so
unsympathetic; Miss Gaylark simply
laughed at Bobby and called him silly
boy" said he had Indigestion and recon-
mended him a dose of qulnlne. This
was too much, recommending quinine
for a shattered. broken heart.
He didn't dare to go away and leave the
other fellow in full possession. Even to
skulk around on the outside, and have
the privilege Of bestowing upon his hated
rival an occasional glare, Was some salts
faction. Finally, Bobby made desper-
ate resolve; but not without due con-
sideration beforehand, which was moth
ing more nor less than to wait until he
should find the typewriter alone, and
then lay bare his heart and risk all. lie
knew the odds against him; he could
easily picture his sisters wrath ana the
iibes and ieers of his friends: but the
thoughts of her and the discontinue Of
his hated rival goaded him on. The
waiting seemed to poor Bobby almost in
terminable. The man with the patroniz-
ing air was upon the scene every day, and
the worst Of it was, the pretty typewriter
didn't seem to object at all, But at last
there came day. when, as Bobby, more
from force of habit than from any
thing else, let his eyes wander
to the typewriUer's table. lie could
scarcely believe his senses; she was there
and alone. Bobby had been deceived SO
often that he wasn't going TO take his joy
too precipitately, SO he rubbed his eyes
as a preliminary to make sure he WASH
suffering from a hallucination, and when
he got through he looked carefully all
around the Office; there was really no
telling where the other fellow might
spring from, but there was no trace of
him to be found. So Bobby braced up,
sided up to the typewriter, cleared his
throat, and when these prelimlnaries had
bean gone through with he poured out
his long pent-up affections in one breath.
1t had been bottled up so long that when
| 10 IL int
which had held it in it got beyond his
control entirely, and by the time Bobby
had paused for want of breath the type
writer was in the same condition from
sheer establishment.
Then she told Bobby she was too sur
prised for words; that she had never
thought of him in that light at all-in
fact, she couldn't, being married already
and Bobby had just sense enough left
to grasp the meaning that his hated rival.
the patronizing man, was her husband,
before he lied precipitately.
All this time the women up stairs were
taking note of the proceedings, and when
the news of Bobby Gaylark's proposal
and its attendant consequences became
| known, as such news is bound to leak
out sooner or later, all the women wagged
| their heads and said Il told you so,n
which was anything but consoling to
| Bobby.
The obnoxious typewriter and her hus-
band left the city, aud then Miss Gaylark
| took compassion on poor Bobby and
| made much of him, but it was TOO late,
and Bobby didn't appreciate it bit, and
now he goes around looking melancholy
and deludes himself into thinking that he
is nursing broken, aching heart, and at
the same time he is paying devout atten-
! tiou to the small, stout woman with the
| rings who took up for the typewriter, and
| it wouldn't surprise any of Bobby's
| friends to hear the announcement of his
engagement soon; but Bobby says, Its
only platonic." BEsELENA.
Portland, Or, November s, 1894.