The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-10-09

m+
Charlie " lunch and paid for bottle Of
champagne IN the sxuborance Of my graf
ttude toward him. After thht went home
and wrote abort story--a story baeed on
the foregoing hots, but which ended bet
t1r than this one does In my reveries-
semember how young ] wasl-I already
exalted Miss Holt into 'Beatrioo,' o
Laura an inspiration. EAstbourne was
now Arcadia or Alexander Selkirk's Is
land, according to whether was with her
or not.
After three days Charlie went back to
town. I did not care. Ny footing with
the Holts was now established, and pro-
vided myself with the newest reviews and
magazines TO lend them whom we met.
The old lady always gave smile OF pieas-
uro whom approached. She liked me.
"Good morning, Mrs. Holt And how
are you todayf'
"Ah, Mr.. Grahame, how dye dor
Thank you, had good night. East-
bourne Is making mo quite WE'LL
"Have you seen this weeks illustrated
somethingS There are some capital
sketches from the war"
"Oh, you are very kind. I should like
to look at them." And she would peruse
the paper while her daughter and con-
versed. So for fortnight. As yet had
dropped no hint Of my profession. 1t
charmed me to reflect how much closer 1t
would bring me to Patricia when she
knew, but ! wished to delay the pleasure,
to play with It, 1t was silly, but the sup
preston had a fascination for me. could
| picture her big eyes opening when I cas-
ually mentioned the fact that 1 was lit
erary man, that had written "Eve's Di-
icmma." could hear her exclaim, "Oh,
| why did you not tell me beforep" and Soo
her start of interest and surprise In
Imagination told her In 80 ways. In ono
l came upon her crying-this was my fa-
vorite way-and l begged her to tell me
what was the matter. ''what is iti'' /
muEnured. Miss Holt, you have had
bad newsp'
She smiled and brushed her tears aside.
II nm very foolish" she said. t.Don't
laugh at mo, but this book has Affected mo
moro powerfully than anything of the
kind have read for years. You know it
of coursef" and she pointed to the familiar
cover of my fifth edition. 1 took 1t up
carelessly. you make me very proud"
/ answered.
"Proudf''
Il wrote it--that is why. am SO glad
It plcascs you"
"You are Eric Evershed?n
She put out her hand, and my own
olasped 1t. There was fervor in her face
that 1 had never Eeen there, a new mag
netism in her gaze. "Ohp' she gasped
and then
Yes, that was my favorite way, and
somehow she was In my arms, and was
imploring her to be my wife.
One morning lit cigar and went out
to commune with tho ocean.
tramped along the parade and thence
to the seawall and then as was on the
point of descending to the beach saw
Miss Holt sitting on one of the benches
with half closed eyes.
Fate was smiling on me indeedl For
the first time she was unaccompaniod, and
at such timei
"Aiiss Hsltl''
"Mr. Grahamei' She Welcomed me
with delicious little start. "How you
frightened mel
~ could scarcely believe 1t was you,"
said. II thought you never went out in
tho afternoonf'
~ do not often, but my mother was
asleep and the weather tempted me-"
She put her hand on book as she spoke
Was dreaming, or was my fancy picture
realizcd4 was not dreaming-the book
was Ewes Dilemma" My heart rose
into my throat.
There was momentary pause between
US. For tho lise Of mo was unable, even
then, to resist tho pleasure Of delaying the
announcement of my identity. First /
would tell her that loved her.
How glad 1 am that ] came this wayt'
/ said, "Do you know that was think
ing Of you and wishing 1t we're tomorrow
alreadyP',
The proposal scenes in my books have
always evoked encomiums, but somehow
by word Of mouth, in proprla persona, /
was unable to be equally happy. / drew
diagram with my walking stick on the
sand. fixed my eyes desperately on tho
futile waves. could not find the words
to go on, and my silence was becoming
ridiculous. The yellow cover Of Ewes
Dilemma" offered me o resource.
"Is 1t good-this bookf' asked
'.No; 1t Is intolerably stupid. Why do
people write such thingsf"
1t was hot day-a burning, breathloss
day but l do not think over experienced
more violent sensation of cold before or
since,
"Ahr said, and put r." volume slow
ly down.
No; l did not propose to her went
back to town the following morning, and
! never saw her, to speak to- again. But
/ never forgot her, never forgot the expert
ence, and Atherly Is bound by the most
solemn oath never to divulge to Miss Holt
that the author Of "Eye's Dilemma" and
Mr. Grahame were one and the same man.
st. Paui's.