The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-11-26

over him, and if he only had herl
AT least he ought TO write and
congratulate her on her engagement.
He wondered witha mean exultation
what she would feel like-if she
would turn white when she read OF
his success. So he sat down to write
but, remembering that all eggs did
not turn out chicks, he deferred il
until he had seen the publishers.
After the interview he was mad
with himself because he had not
written, for Irvine q Irvine paid
him 81, 800 down for all the rights
of his hook. How he walked home
from the office he never knew, and
he wondered why he had not cabbed
it. He remembered changing his
check at the bank, buying a quarter
cigar, which he enjoyed with great
gusto, and visiting his tailor's,
where he purchased a ready made
suit and was measured for various
others. OF course he would have to
change his lodgings now. He could
not entertain interviewers in his
present garrett.
Arrived home, he desired to wipe
off his debts with the landlady at
once, showering carelessly upon the
table in her best parlor handful of
gold, which took all the breath from
the old lady's body. She was in no
hurry, however. There was a visitor
up stairs waiting for him.
"a MANI" gasped Bandon, with a
sinking heart, as his mind flew to
interviewers. But it was a lady, as
he quickly discovered, and that lady
Minnie. His heart beat rapidly, his
breath came quickly, his eyes CLEAN
ed brightly, and he was about to
catch her in his arms when he re-
membered that she belonged to an
other, and the memory crushed him.
He attempted to speak, but sud
den attack of aphasia stilled his
tongue, and he sank into chair and
covered his face with his hands,
while the lump that had risen in his
throat almost choked him.
Aren't you we'll, Brandon?"
Minnie inquired, alarmed at his APP
pearance. She placed her small
hand lovingly upon his burning
forehead, but he WINGED at the touch
as though it was something that
hurt him. Are you i'll, dear?"
And she sank on her knees and
strove to pull his hands from his
face.
1T was only a joke, darling, only
a joke" she cried piteously, her
eyes wet with tears. II am not go.
ing to marry Olcott. "
Brandon sat upright suddenly, his
face very white.
You are not?" as he caught her
wrists in Il frantic grasp.
mo, mol Forgive me, dearest. l
thought if I told you that you would
fancy I was happy and so be able to
work. You said so"
Brandon sighed deeply, bent and
kissed her.
Il might have killed myself" he
remarked presently.
You had too much pride" She
was smiling now,
But why have you come here
again?"
You never wrote to me, Bran
don, and l thought T.
You feared should do what you
knew / would not That's like a
woman" and he laughed lightly.
But it's all over now, Minnie. /
have completed my book and sold it
to the Irvines for 81, 300 The an
nouncement of your engagement
kicked my pride so hard that l had
to do something desperate"
Minnie was a splendid actress.
"What?" craning forward, with
one hand on her lovers shoulde !
"Thirteen hundred dollars. You
darlingm And she kissed him eager
ly.
eyes, and there's more to follow.
They are certain it will be success,
and they claim the refusal of all my
other works. God bless you, MINI
But for you-you've got to share
this with me-.
He threw the gold and notes upon
the table, but the girl shrank back.
"No, no, Brandon, your brains
earned it. 1t is all yours. Yes. We
will share it and all that is to come. !
No refusal, You proposed it."
They were married within a
month, but "A Fin lie Steele Fool"
was not a success. Indeed it was an
utter failure, and one paper remark
ed that Messrs. Irvine q Irvine had
better close up if that was the best
rubbish they could secure.
How Minnie laughed at the great
unknown scribe who penned those