Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-06-21
ing into chair, and holding up nay

L
Don't say another word! You wi
set me wild. Ii you will not tell m
where to find Nellie" | went on, Il
desperation, will you please tell he
have been bad, wicked woman
and-and-and there is no such per
son as Ned Clnyborn. 1t started ii
fun, and-and and please let me g
to her. She will understand me S,
much better than you can explain it,
No such person as Ned Clayborn
MY dear woman, l must beg leave
to differ with you. That is the name
or the young man who, in three shor
weeks, is to marry Miss Merton. Sure
! ~, he is not dead?" he added, In con
sternation
"Oh, will you not understand? II
was all a joke at first. l thought it
would be great fun and so I--well, ]
am Ned Clayborn, and after time we
became engaged-all in fun, too;' here
laughed historically; II tried to
STOP but | was so wicked could not,
and now poor Nellie will break her
heart, nd-and-and- and broke
down and began to cry in misera BILE
way.
Unlike most men, my companion
was not in the least disconnected at
long. lleu iu -
Presently the laughter ceased; then
heard uneasy movements in the
chair occupied by my companion; then
he got up and paced about restlessly.
Pretty soon a light touch fell upon
my arm, and his voice, very gentle
and kind, said:
Nellie is here to receive your con
fession and render forgiveness"
l dried my eyes and looked up, but
saw no one but the tall young man
who was looking at me very earnestly.
Where is she"' l asked, ready to
cry again.
Here" he said, holding out his
hand.
Instinctively l put mine into it, and
1t closed over it firmly.
II also have confession to make"
he said, earnestly. 81 thought YOU
were another young fellow like nv
self, and, wishing to relieve the te-
dunn of these long, monotonous DAYS,
struck up Irritation. | intended some
lay to meet the young man and have |
{ out with him, when you came with
your strange confession. In short"
ne ended abruptly, II am Nellie Mer-
on. And you are Ned Clayborn?
come, dry your eyes, Ned; your Nellie
$ not broken-hearted at the turn of
lffairs."
After staring at him in silent amaze
nent for the space of five seconds the
ruth OF the whole matter began to
avn upon my confused brain My
ace grew hot with indignation. |
Matched my hand from his and sprang
0 my feet.
You are contemplate fellow. 1
ried
He did not reply, but stood looking t
own at me from his superior height. ,
1T was hundred times meaner in t
on, because your object was c
oman. | will never forgive you if /
We to be thousand" i
Isn't that rather paradoxical. CON c
Cering the fact that you thought /
as a woman, and you were enacting S
re role OF the sterner sex?' he asked.
You might have known" | an !.
yered severely. h
But | did not" he said. n
Here is my train" / said. shortly. ii
"Good-by," he replied, assisting me Y
to the train, despite my independ S,
ice, and lifting his hat as it nnlled t,
It. -.
Travelled back to Brandon a sadder m
1t wiser woman. NJ
You are fool" said I. to my re- m
ctlon in the little mirror as / re- al
owed my hat. ri
4 year rolled by. | had entirely re- ia
vered from my chagrin, and buried az
the darkest chamber of nv mann
was vivid recollection of the til
ice and manner and appearance of sh
tall young operator at Da1iMood. til
me morning | was arranging and so
oylng some night messages when n he
e shadow fell across NV naners Of
glance upward told me who it was ad
e door of that secret and darkeped he
TIMBER OF my memory flew open, and pl
new that the tall young man whom an
al met at Danvers was not as vet 90
re consigned to oblivion. Standing an
II nat In hand and without preface me
my kind, he said: "a,
over a year ago you asked mo to tol
Try you, and | consented. I have rec
Re today to ask will you come? an
shall | enter suit for breach of tn,
nise?'
hat could I do? And. after all +,
maps he would not have made mo | edi
1tter husband had l met him in the mo
conventional way and waited for no,
to propose to me- bee