Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-06-23

don was sim In his lodgings His land
lady had Informed him Immediately af-
ter Minnie's visit that someone had set
tied a long-standlng debt; so he need
not worry over his little account. lie
blessed her; she passed the blessing ON
to Minnie Horton.
He sat at tho table endeavorlng TO
think out his novel, but he could not
compose single sentence. for on the
news-sheet Rnrend out before him there
danced in the blacklist OF type para
graph which had paralyzed all the en-
/ ergy within him. Minnie was to be
married! She had taken him at his
word. and would wed young Percy OIL
colt in three months time,
| Well, that ended 1t. The ono ray OF
hope that had made his existence bear
able had been flashed from his life, and
| death was the only panacea. Poison.
hanging, drowning. or bullet-ony-
thing TO get ont OF the world quickly.
And he had loved her so much. OF
course IL was his own choice; " he
could only have cOnventionally muir
dered his pride and laughed IN the
worlds face he might have been happy
with the woman he loved, but he could
not, and now he could not live,
Thus ran his reflections, when the
landlady brought him n letter. writ
ten on perfumed yellow paper. He
recognized the handwriting at once.
IL was from Minnie, and confirmed the
newspaper Item. She retained his ring
as keepsake.
sIon.' she advised him. and his face
hardened as he read the words again
Not hel Why should hcp Must his
life be suddenly extlngmshcd, his hopes
dlspellcd. because he had lost the love
OF one woman There were scores OF
others--all beautiful, all loving. all
good-so some good; and when he was
famous All, that was it--when he
was famous! He had struck the right
chord. and his whole being sprang Into
a furious blaze Of ambition-a desire
to cheat the woman whom he thought
had Tilted him. and laugh at her in
mockery and triumph,
He walked his room feverishly, his
hands clcnched and his lips set tight
while the FIRE OF ambition forged his d.
termination and wlthered his love, ny
heavens, he would be famousl Day
and night he would toll at that book
until It was finished, and then-thcn his
triumph,
Yes. that was It; work. work. and
forget her, and he pitched the dainty
note into the fire and commenced. lie
unfroze, all his energy returned. all
, his thoughts rushed back upon him
and fell over each other as his pen
raced across the paper, In few days
his book was ready for the publishers
Brandon received a reply from irvine
! & Irvine within two days. This was a
? revelation that astounded him, But wnii
e surprised him stu more was the fact
. that the publishers wished to see him
e. 1t was a pity Minnie had been sf
, hasty Brandon thought as he con
G sumed Irvinc's note, time after time
e. Fortune and fame We're written al
over him; and II he only had her,
@ At least, he ought to write and con
r graduate her on her engagement liz
g wondered with mean eNultauon
what she would feel like; N she woulf
turn white when she read Of his sue
n cess. So he sat down to write, but
n remembering that all eggs dld no
u turn out chicks, he deferred II until h'
q had seen the publishers.
a After the Interview he was mnt
y with himself because he had no
u written. for Irvine Il Irvine paid hin
=, 1890 down Tor all the rights OF hit
q book How he walked home from thel
q Office he never knew, and he won
dered why he had not eabbed H. IL
y remembered changing his check "A
the bank, buying a quarter cigar whit'
he enjoyed with. great gusto, and WISH
8 ing his tailor's, swhere he purchased
!, rcady-madc suit. and was measure
u for various others. or course, h
would have to change his lodging
VI now. lie could not entertain intor
). viewers In his present garet.
u Arrived home, he desired to wipe OF
his debts with tho landlady nj once
showerng cnrclcssly upon the table \
her beat parlor handful OF gold
d. which took all the breath from the oil
le lady's body. She was In no hurry, how
q ever. There was a visitor upstair
al waiting FOR him.
"a man" gasped brandon, with
sinking heart, as his mind few To In
v reviewers But II was lady, q
p ne quickly discovered. and this
10 lady, Minnie, His heart beat rapid,
A. his breath came quctly his eye
1t CLEANED brightly, and he was nbou
5e to catch her In his arms when he II
mcmbcred that she belonged TO anothe
O. and the memory crushed him,
ly He endeavored 20 speak, but SUI
TX den attack OF nphasia stilled hi
es tongue. and he snnk into a chair an
is covered hlR face with his hands, viii
lg the lump that had risen In his thros
e. almost choked him,
es Aren't you well, Brandon? MINI
er Inquired. alarmed at his appearance
he She placed her small hand loving
rs upon his burning forehead. but !
WINGED at the touch az though II We
lis something that hurt him. Are va
nj IN, denr?" and she sank on her knc,
and strove to pull his hands from h
:" face.
&c joke" she cried, plteously. her eyes W
nd with tears. II am not going to mari
Olcott'
III, Brandon sat upright suddenly. h
lr- face very white
in "You are not?" as he caught h
Id wrists In n frantic grasp.
ne mo. mol Forgive me. dearest.
thought Il | told you that. you won
ed fancy / was happy, and 50 be able
We work You said So"
in Brandon sighed deeply, bent al
he: kissed her.
~ II might have killed myself" he :
marked. presently
"You had too much pride" She W
smiling now.
nd ''Butw why have you come here again
nd "You never wrote to me. Brnndo
III and 1 thought. -
. . ''You feared ! should do what ~
e., knew / would not That's like a woi
y" am and he laughed lightly But q
Il, all over now, Minnie. l have col
~, pleted my book and sold II to lrvln'
ny for $500, The announcement OF 20
q. engagement kicked my pride 80 Ia
~ that 1 had to do something desperate
,eu Minnie was a splendid actress.
,,st ''What?" craning forward, with o
ith hand on her lovers shoulder; "{l3
-, You darling" and she kissed HI
- eagerly.
ny They are certain II VIII be a Hucce
ne and they claim the refusal OF all ;
"a other works. God bless you Mimi y
nd, for you--you've got to share this WI
me met
the table. but the girl shrank back
an mo. no, Brandon, your brai
ly- earned II; Il is all yours. Yesl
will share Il, and all that is 10 con
ing ..f,,.at. tfnk uropDded II