The Lamar register., 1896-06-13

the course of his love affairs failed to
run smooth Sherwin was equal to the
emergency. 1t was a comparatively
simple arrangement Mrs. Marvin fa-
vored Sherwin and Elsie. the pretty.
little haEei-eyed sister. favored Heth-
erly.
The scheme by which Hetherly and
Elsie prohted everything and Sherwin
nothing was first put into execution
the night of fireman's ball. to which
Sherwin took Elsie. There was little
resemblance between the Sherwfn in
the tightly buttoned old overcoat and
SLOUGH hat and the Sherwin in dress
suit who called for Elsie that night at
Mrs. Marvfn's. While he waited for her
he sat in the back parior and talked
TO Mrs. Marvin with as much COM
posnre and good d-feilowship as II he had
not been plotting TO deceive her. Elsie
came downstairs in her hu1y white
gown and long white cloak. her dark
hair piled high on the top OF her head.
her eyes sparkling. her cheeks flushed.
and bringing with her the fragrance
Of the roses Sherwin had sent her.
And Sherwin. looking a. her as she
stood a moment in the doorway. did
not wonder at Hethesly's desperation.
They went to the ball and Sher~in
danced the FIRST dance with her and
Hetherly. but 10 walk home with him
after the ball.
Tha; was In the spring. and all sum
ner the little drama went on. SheF-
win took Elsie TO parties and Hetherly
ook her home. sherwin took Elsie TO
srive and they drove out OF town into
he spicy pine forests. where Hetberiy
was waiting for them. While Hctherly
and Elsie drove Sherwin lay on his
back on the pine needles and kinne-
kiniek and read the magazines he had
brought with him. until they returned
Then he drove the young lady home
and Hetheriy returned by another way.
After awhile sherwin seemed TO lose
interest in the stories and topics OF the
day. His magazines lay uneat on the
ground beside him while he watched
the disappearing carriage until it was
lost to sight on the farther slope Of the
hin. Then he would throw himself
down with his face toward the sky that
seemed scarcely higher than the tops
Of the pine trees and philosophizs on
life IN general As the summer wAned
his philosophy grew bitter
One day he reached out fer a little
cluster of the gray-bIue Oregon grapes
that grew close to his hand. hAlf-hid-
den under their rich crimson and dark
green foliage. He studied them for a
moment. noting their artistic beauty.
and then put them in his mouth. and
ing keen relish in their bitterness
They're like everything else in lie.
be mused- And Elsie found him cross
and unreasonable as they drove back
TO town. He had not sympathy with
her enthusiasrns and he expressed his
lack Of It sharply and abruptly. He
saw no beauty In the scarlet sumaeh
against the gray cliff; he saw nothing
remarkable In the rhipmunks that hur-
ried across the road and along the
fallen trees by the way; he had no de-
sire to get out and dig ferns when they
saw them. tall and luxuriant. by the
roadside. And the view OF the town
as they saw II FRS, from the top OF the
long road cut out OF the lime rock
the scattered little town encircled by
mountains. some in the shadow and
some glorious in the fast-yanishing
sunlight. stretching away till the far
OF peaks were blue and hazy against
the sky-he had seen it hundreds of
times. so had she. What was there to
rave about@