The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-09-24

pears to have a heart. and a bis
one.
Dolly smiled, albeit somewhat sa
tirically.
It's the dollar, not the sentiment
with you, Fred, she astutely re
turned
Fred made no reply Possibly his
respect for gold was characteristic
admitting of no denial
But the young girl was again pc
rusing the report, and in the last
line she encountered four words
previously unnoticed, 'Mr With.
am badly injured "
Her face was slightly paler as she
looked up.
Hes given more than his dol
lars, Fred, " she said in a low tone.
Fred looked grave. At the same
time there was depicted in his ex-
preston a vague sense of relief.
"Well, that let's us ont" he re-
turned. $40 tell the truth. Dolly,
was beginning to wonder how we
could extricate ourselves grace
fully"
But Fred erred, and that gravely,
in believing he was to escape thus
easily from the correspondence
which he had begun. Three days
later he was again summoned into
Miss Halsted's presence, and that
young lady met him with a look of
blank dismay. She had received an
other letter from Mr.. Whitman and
of character vastly dissimilar to
! those of earlier date Moreover, a
small package accompanied the let
ter. Within reposed ring, whose
glistening stone was worthy to grace
even Dolly's taper fingers, and the
sender was following the ring.
"Herel" the young girl CALCULATED
almost tearfully. He's coming
herer"
Fred knit his brow. Manifestly he
was disconnected, and he took the
letter from her hand. But there was
no loophole for misconstruction
The writer was no longer an appeal
ing swain suing for favor. He had
met with an accident--had narrow
ly escaped death-and by it was
warned that delay frequently meant
disaster. At the closing statement,
however, Fred exhibited some
slight relief. Mr.. Witham did not
intend "roping a wife" as he would
a steer-unannounced He would
await Miss Weldon's pleasure at the
Palace hotel.
And we'll have to meet him
there" Fred declared in q tone of
desperation. "We?" the young girl
exclaimed. I'm not Miss Weldon, !"
well, will, then, Fred return
ed But what will / tell him-that
you're sick, dead or left the city,"
Miss Halsted shook her head.
"That would only mean procras-
tination, with an explanation still
to be made" she said obviously,
mo; if you are going to meet him
If you dare to meet him-tell him
the truth. "
Fred WINGED. 1t had not previous.
ly occurred to him that an encoun-
ter with Mr.. Witham might entail
bodily discomfort,
"Do-do you suppose he'll fight?".
he queried half absently.
II hope so. You deserve it, ;" was
the young girls reply. Then she
paused, and her eyes sparkled mis-
chievously as she noted her compan-
ions detection. mo, 1 don't mean
that, Fred" she added IT would
not like you to get hurt. But you
must see him. :"
"And I will, Dolly, twas Fred's
earnest rejoinder, his love for her
sex fast tending toward centraliza-
ton. For you I'd interview that
gentleman who buys his shoes at the
farrier's."
But words are not actions. The
following day was nearly at an end
when Fred entered the Palace hotel
and glanced over the register In
wardly he was praying that the
name of Witham should not appear
upon it's pages; that it's owner might
be reposing beneath wrecked train,
shot by express robbers, intoxicated
by the wayside - anything. But
there it was, and at sight of it he re-
paired to the barroom.
I That courage, however, which is
attributed to Holland appeared to
have lost its potency, and he soon
returned to the Office. His hand
trembled as he drew card from his
pocket, but'it had to be done, and
he. tenderedSit to the clerk
"Mr. Witham," he said tersely.
Five minutes later speaking tube
Yheezed, and watched the clerk.
| But the suspense, was of brief dura-