Smyrna times., 1895-10-02

ONoI Ou bu6 SpOIs
"What makes you so crusty ?" asked
Fred, suddenly, as one of his choicest
jokes was met by a gruff "H'mW
There's no fun in you, and why you
want this stuff beats me. Your sister
turn up their noses at secondhand
clothing, if it is pretty. But it isn't
worth fussing over, so take it along.
No doubt it would prove an elephant
on my hands sooner or later"
Not until the trunk was safely in his
room, could AL breathe freely; even
then it was no easy matter to keep it
out of his sisters sight. They made
both pet and confident of their one
brother, and had fashion of dropping
into his room at all hours to tell him of
their schemes or woes. He had pushed
the trunk under a mahogany table in
the corner, the Old-fashioned cover of
which reached almost to the floor.
The very next day Dora twitched at its
shawl-like fringe and said that it looked
like red countelpane. In alarm, he
declared that she mustn't touch tit
was the dearest thing in the room.
Which wasn't quite the truth, though
very near 1t, indeed.
When he told them he was going
away for little business "trip" they
beset him with questions and petitions
to be taken with him, finally declaring
they would clean house while be was
gone, and ''sOrt out his trash"
$50 behold him, in the dead of night,
carrying the elephant" up the narrow
attic stairs, humping his head on every
rafter, and getting cobwebs in his
mOustache. He covered it with old
clothing, pushed big box in front of
it, and then crept downstairs, feeling
as guilty as if he had been concealng
some crime. At breakfast the girls
both talked at once about the burglar
who tried to get in, and how they
pounded on Als door and could not
even get an answer.
At noon he was of, and, as the train
whirled onward, he became possessed
with fears. She might not be in Cleve-
land; she might not care for him after
these three years; she might even be
married or dead.
Arriving at his destination at last, he
only stopped to leave his valise at
hotel, and walked rapidly to a familiar
house in the suburbs. Ringing the bell
he inquired for Miss Burr in matter
Of-fact way, as if he had seen her the
day before. He watched the girls face
as he spoke, and saw no trace of sur
prise. She simply said:
miss Burr may not be able to see
you; but come in, and will ask"
Presently he was shown into a small,
sunny room, where, on couch, lay the
one girl ne had ever loved He meant
to explain at once the cause of his fool
ish going and eager coming, all of
which he had framed in frank, beauti-
ful sentences; but somehow they for.
sOok him, and he fell back on the com.
monplace. She received him with quiet
words of welcome, and then said:
Pardon my position, but ! am such
an invalid that it is trial TO sit up"
can invalid !" he echoed family.
YES" she answered. "Did you not
hear of my accident several months
ago? On coming home from the coast
l stopped for a day or so in a New
York hotel, The building caught fire
few hours after l entered it. The
horror of the scene is so slammed
branded would be more appropriate
wOrd-On my memory that | cannot
bear to talk of it. | lost everything
except the ulster which was wrapped
about me, and would have lost my life
but for the brave fireman who broke
my fall. Oh, no! l am not seriously
injured" she continued, in answer to
his half-spOken question, Though l
have been ill ever since. 1t was shock
you know"
By deft questioning he succeeded in
making her say:
Yes, lost my trunk. 1t was left
at the Il expected to 60 on in a day or
two), and the check was destroyed with
my pocket.book. The companies are
necessarily particular about identify.
ing baggage, and for weeks 1 was too
ill to even remember it. Besides, had
only gone for a short outing, and it
held nothing of much value-except
some keepsakes that were very dear to
me-"
A deep flush stole over her face at
these words; he watched it for one de-
licious moment, and then gathered her
up in his arms, exclaiming:
II will bring them back if you will
pay the reward want!"
Then-Or rather after he had tortured
her impatience merc;lessly-he told
her of Fred's bargain" bought at auc-
tion. She begged for it, ,coaxed pleaded
all in vain. He declared she could
only have the little leather trunk as a
wedding present. Such il was.