The Portland daily press., 1895-09-02

my pile in my pocket, and we settiou LII
London.
Besides Amy and her people, who re-
garded me as perfect hero and gave me
keepsakes to think of them by in the dis
tant land, the only person to whom 1t was
necessary to announce my intention was
maiden aunt Of mine, who lived in Dorh-
ing She told me frankly that l was a
fool. AS she looked at me with certain
admiration, however, I was inclined 10
think that in her heart of hearts she was
not without a sentiment of approval lor
nv action, and was firm once more ana
reiterated the arguments with which haa
favored Amy.
My relative gave me an excellent lunch
and bottle of burgundy than which l
never wish to drink a better, and aftef
wishing her an affcctionate farewell-for
she had always been very nice to me-
went back to town and commenced my
preparations.
My furniture, consisting of desk, an
armchair and q few dilapidated articles
which I forget disposed of Eat a sacrl-
fice" ordered couple OF suits OF CLONES
clothes I had understood were dear IN
America--and I booked a passage by the
Germania.
Having put my affairs in order and hav-
ing received to my surprise, letter from
Dorking repeating that I was fool, ana
inolosing check for $50, paid a last
visit to Threegates, folded Amy in my
arms and sailed.
I enjoyed the voyage immensely. We
had fine weather, sociable people on board,
and was exhilarated by consciousness
that was doing noble and resolute thing
I smoked my pipe with satisfaction and
looked at the ocean in the moonlight and
Amy's photograph with pleasurable SEN
timentality. So much for the trip.
I arrived in New York with the best part
of e10O in my purse, thanks to my aunt's
liberality, and went to hotel and Themes
removed to comfortable boarding house
in order to give myself time to look
around.
No Immediate prospect of making very
large fortune presented Itself, and my
money dwindled rapidly. When l had been
in New York few months, I was glad to
forget my anxiety in reading.
I mention this because it led to an I'm
portant event.
I learned that there was an admirable
public library near blythe public libraries
of America are better than ours-and one
day strolled in there to see what OF the
newest fiction l could procure
1t was huge building, and in the UP
stairs room to which I was directed l
found the attendants were all young
women.
The book I had asked for was s'out, !"
but was supplied with another I read
it and returned it the following afternoon,
when the book I most desired was out
again. This went on for q week-I always
missed it-and expressed my annoyance
at last rather enphatically.
AS I was doing so my eyes fell on ore OF
the girls behind the counter, who rlveted
my attention in the most extraordinary
manner for an engaged man. This girl
cannot find proper adjective to describe
her-well, she was peerlessi Her hair was
positively of the most glorious color had
ever seen on q woman, there was just
sour,con of red in it-only soupcon,
though-and it lad natural ripple in it
all over, fro. tie whiteness of her brow
down tho maze CT her divine neck. Under
this imagine blue eyes, and you will have
an idea Of what she looked nke-a verita-
Bile goddess!
She had heard my exclamation and
moved forward with a smile.
"What is it you are asking for?" she
asked.
told her.
"Oh," she said, "you SEQ it is a new
book, and of course there is d demand for
it. I'll tell you what I'll d3--the next
time it comes in will save it for you"
I thanked her cordially, and she proved
as good as her word, for the following aft
ernoon when presented myself she nod.
ded directly she saw me and held it up.
s'I am awfully obliged, said. "That
was really kind of you. Have you had it
yourself?'
eyes"
Somebody claimed her, and I went
away 1t does not sound stable in fance;
but I must confess that read the work
hurrie.ily in order to have an opportunity
Of seeing my goddess soon again.
changed my books every day now, al.
ways going to that part of the long counter
where she was standing and always adj
miring her more fervidly than before I
Toasted my eyes on the girl. If I saw her
full face or in profile, or if she had her
back to me, she was still conspicuous,
stately and entirely adorable. l thought
about her when was at my home. I
could not Danish her from my memory.
How this might have ended who shall
say? Did Amy's dynasty totter in the bal
ance? I fear, sorely and tremendously 1
fear, that it did, but it was restored in a
bewildering and even disparaging fash
ion.
Who can conceive my establishment
when on entering the library one morning
saw my divinity with her hair cut short
cropped like q boys! I was staggered,
breathless. Momentarily had failed to
recognize her, she was SO painfully changed
Gone those Intoxicating ripples! Gone
even the richness Of colorl Gone the queen
illness of carriage. why" I gasped-1
could not suppress the question" my dear
young lady, why have you had your hair
cut since yesterday"
"I haven't" she said. "It was cut six
months ago when was i'll. What I have
been wearing till it grew on again was a
wig"
No, did not break down. Ieven STAN
mered a suitable commonplace, but tho
shock was horrible. 1 never returned to
the library.
And I married Amy-yes. I did not
make fortune in New York, but my aunt
died very shortly afterward and 1t was
+bo+ ba bod mo tho