Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-03-19

! lived, prospered and was comfortable.
He felt, however, that a void existed
in his life; he knew not its nature, nor
how to fill it. Then came woman,
/ pure and beautiful as the dawn, and
he knew that it was she who was to
I fill that void. So he married her and
lived happily ever after.
/ By in the morning he had finished
the story, He went to rest, feeling
that it was the best and the noblest
work he had ever done; although it
was the unvalnished tale of an ordi-
nary mans life.
! When Miss Ramsay next appeared
her pretty eyes were red and swollen
with weeping. Raymond was horror
struck. Tenderly he babe her be
seated and inquired the cause of her
I grief.
The tale was soon told; brother"
had suddenly and unexpectedly lost
his employment, through no fault of
his own. His firm had coalesced with
another and his services would no
longer be required. He was to be
paid ESQ for his compensation and sent
about his business
You must let me help YOU ex-
claimed Raymond Rose sympathetic
cally. Then on sudden an idea
flashed into his mind, flooding it with
joy For the first time in his life he
blessed that brother Would not the
catastrophe make that task easier?
The girl was at this moment threat
ened with restitution. He gave not a
thought to the ungenerous side of the
question
No" said he eagerly. as Miss RAM
say YEARLY began her typewriting. II
don't wish you to do that today. You
are in trouble Here is a new story.
| wrote it last night | want YOU to
read it and give me your opinion as
you always do. II want to know
whether you consider the ending is
good"
Mechanically she took the manu-
script from his hand She read It at
first vaguely and without understand
ing it's particular import. Then she
suddenly became aware that his eyes
were fixed upon her face with a burn
ing. passionate gaze.
You think it good?' he quered, as
she finished. 1T ends well, does it
not? Miss Ramsay, you are reading
the story of my life, for love you"
And he came towards her with eyes
aglow, never doubling that his own
passion would carry all before it. He
caught her slender waist and kissed
the small hand again and again.
But she shrank away from him,
while her face grew crimson.
Give me time to think, Mr.. Rose"
cried she, piteously. Il did not know
indeed, l did not know You are good
and kind"
Then Raymond lost his head. He
stopped and kissed her lips.
you need no time" he muttered,
tiercely. You are poor, destitute
and | love you"
Let me go now, please.
Raymond started at her tone. Then,
seeing that she was in earnest, he
opened the door for her and stood
meekly by while she passed out.
Whereupon he sat down on a chair
with an indistinct sense of having
done something very foolish.
( Il have made a mistake" he said.
YEARLY to himself. but she will
come round. A sensible woman such
as she will not refuse an offer of that
sort"
! But although Raymond had written
of women, and had made capital out
of his writings. he had quite failed to
grasp the fact that the sex is
strangely delicate organism. liable to
be thrown out Of gear by the faintest
discordant movement.
Three days after there came let
ter:
! Dear Mr.. Rose--I have come to the
conclusion that the end of your story
was, so far as | am concerned, incor-
rect Owing to the kindness of an old
friend my brother has obtained lit
1 tie work, which will suffice to keep us
i from starvation. This and other con-
siderations, which you will doubtless
understand induce me to decline your
no doubt kindly-mcant offer of three
DAYS since. Yours sincerely
Grace Ramsay"
Raymond Rose cast the letter upon
the floor and said bad words, 2ursing
in turn the various classes of typists,
brothers, and "old friends" Then he
packed a pormanteau and went to
Switzerland for his long-contemplated
change of air. He climbed the
Matterhorn and sailed down Lake Lu-
cerne, coming back after one months
travelling to his old rooms and to his
old comfortable ways also to some
old friends. who declared that he
never looked so we'll in his life.-lllus-
trated Bits.