The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-10-16


! shan't get my work done today. One
thing is sure, as Harmon Laigh.
stands today in true manliness and in
tellection, to a sensible woman he can
be nothing more nor less than bore"
And with this parting shot, the broom
was set in actual motion, and Bella, in
order to save her fair hair from the de-
Element of dust, was forced to retreat
ANONYMOUSLY. just at that moment,
Young gentleman, in white suit,
with face upon which CONSERVATION
and disappointment we're both written
might have been seen passing steal
thily out the hall door of the Harris
brown stone mansion, walking quickly
and shamefacedly away. This was
Harmon Laight. Finding the door
aiar, and being. on intimate terms
with the family, he had passed quietly
in, intending to surprise them; but
mp to this time the surprise had been
quite a one.sided affair.
"Ihis beats the Dutch |" he NUT
tered, after n corner or two had been
turned, and he felt himself in safe dis
tance from the enemy's camp. "This
is shower bath little expected; but
every word is as true as the Gospel /;
and the worst Of it is 1 have always
realized it. Jerusalem what is fell
low in such fix to do? / can never
look the girl in the face again until l
have resolved upon something.
Twenty-four years old, and never did
n days work in my life not because 1
was too lazy to work, but because my
lady mother considered all labor ig-
noble; and the consequence is, am n
laughing stock for sensible people as
fools. I'll go at something see if !
don't, Harmon Laight ii it is nothing
more exalted than carrying mortar.
There is one thing am thankful for
that she believed there was a spark of
good in me. THE essence of nobility
she called it. An essence now without
flavor! I'll give it an odor yet, if it
be as common as the odor of the es-
sence of peppermint" And more an
noyed than he ever dreamed it possible
he could become, Harmon Laight
locked himself in his room, and gave
himself up to earnest thought. One
result of this self-communion was
letter received by Marion the follow
ing day which ran after this style:
"Miss Marion-You have awakened
me to humiliating sense of my real
character. have always been aware
of my mental and moral deformity,
but until now have lacked the proper
incentive to healthy and honest action.
Bid me God speed my friend Ishall
never again enter your presence until
/ feel in some degree worthy your
notice and have rubbed ont, trust,
the singularly expressive and truthful
title of bore In all kindness,
HARMON LAIGHT."
"That accounts for the hall door
being open yesterday. He must have
overheard every word said" And
Marion re-read the little note, while
tear trembling among the brown
lashes, and a quiver of the archod lip,
almost gave the Ii eto Marion's declar-
alton of 'Tm glad of it"
81 should have said this to his face
and more kindly" she murmufed.
81 have heard q ,eer news of Har-
mon Laight today" said Mr.. Harris
to his daughter, as they sat at the tea
table alone, few days after the above
occurrence, the family having de-
parted for Saratoga. ''He starts for
California on Saturday. Going into
business his friends say. Going to
work, he says. The idea of associat-
lug labor with that hot house plant is
too ridiculous for anything" and the
old gentlemen laughed heartily. "His
uncle Ralph read me letter today he
had received from the foolish fellow,
which proves conclusively to me that
he has lost whatever little sense he
had, to begin with. He declined the
honor of being his uncle's heir, begged
him to do some good with his money
while he was living, suggested the plan
of establishing a training school for
girls. Very good letter; but, good
gracious, so confoundedly impractical |!
But what the dickens is the matter
with you?
Marion was sobbing.
"Oh, father, there is lots of good in