The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-02-27


Hugh! 1 thought it struck me pretty
suddenly, but pshaw! my case wasn't
a circumstance to this. I've heard of
love at first sight, but this is the in
Simultaneous photography kind. Why,
you couldn't have got more than
glimpse of her as they passed us!"
"I-we-that is 10 say-I'vc seen her
before" stammered Ringbrand.
"0ho! now | begin TO understand;
that's what broughtyo you to Tregarthen.
] Thought IIeen'@ prophetic soul didn't
mislcad her. Well, tell Inc the rest of
it; I've got your fate in my hands, and
you might as well make an ally of me at
the start"
Eingbrand told his small story frank
~, concluding with a plea for secrecy.
ia rather you wouldn't tell egen Mrs.
ludlow" he added. Its such piece
Of ridiculous absurdty i'll its present
stage, you- snow
"I'll promise not to tell her OF my
own accord" asscntcd Ludlow, but
that isn't saying much. It's only fair
toWarn you that she'll get it out of me
sooner or later. Best thing you can do
is to get the affair into presentable
shape as soon as possible; then you
won't mind"
."Presentable SHAPED" groaned Ring
brand, ''and | haven't even had an in
trOluction! Ludlow, believe / left
my wits behind me when came away
from New York. haven't been wholly
accountable since l crossed the Ohio
river"
"Oh, don't know about that" re-
joined Ludlow, refectively. you
might have gone farther and Jared a
good deal worse; Hester Latimer's
well worth any mans winning-only
I'll tell you beforehand that she has
all of her fathers prejudices, magni-
fed by the emotloral nature of an inn
pulsive young woman"
What sort of prejudiccs?"
southern, mostly; pride of race and
loyalty TO section, with a lingering
trace of bitterness us result Of the
war. Hut there are compromising vir-
tues that will warm the worry cookies
of your heart; such open handcd hos
pitality as You never dreamed of; a
loyalty TO !,ith and kin and friends that
takes YOU riyAt hac!: to thC DAYS Of chiv-
airy; and another pleasant thing about
them is that they reverse our social
rule, aud take II man for what he APP
,,oore tr, l,o until bo Drovoc Il itocCtf !, n.
worthy"
They walked along in silence for
awhile, and then Ringbrand said: II
don't know but | oyerstated it mo-
ment ago. after all. My first impulse
when l saw Miss Latimer was merely
q strong desire to study the type; its
unusual, and she is uncommouly beau
tiful. just where the artistic sense
merged into the erotic, | can't tel;
1 don't know enough of the symptoms
to he able to diagnose my own case
Ludlow laughed heartily: That's a
damaging admission for a story-writer
Why, you fellows are supposed to be
able to analyze the tender passion in all
{
you can't apply the first tests of you
art to your own case! I shouldn't
write any more love'tales, if l were
you"
81 fancy it's another case of the sick
doctor, Tom. You know q physician
never trusts himself to treat his own
malady."
Ringbrand was decidedly preoccu
pied at the supper table that evening
and Mrs. Ludlow did not fail to rally
him numerically. So many of The
sharp thrusts found the joints in his
armor that he pleaded the need of exer
else when they left the table, and wen
out for an evening stroll. When he
was outo of earshot, Mrs Ludlow prompt
" attacked her husband.
What is the matter with Mr.. Ring
brand this EVENING"" she inquired.
Nothing that know Of" REPLIED
Ludlow. dropping into veranda char
and burying himself, ostrich-likc, il
the newspaper,
But ! know there is" insisted thu
lady lie is distract and embarrassed
and he seems TO be afraid I'll find on
something. Where have you been to
day?'
Nowhere, except down to the fur
nace''
Mrs. Ludlow rocked gently in he
chGir. watching the figure of Ring
brand appearand disappeari in the wind
ipgs of thu read leading to the SUNNI
of the mountain She VIZ; silent ST
long that her husband had time to re
lax his Vigilance in the interest of III
newspaper, and her next question
caught him off his guard
What do you suppose he's goin!
away up Oh the mountain for at thi
time of day?" she asked
Ludlow heard the question with hi
outward ears and answered it mechar
ically: II don't know; perhaps he
going up to see if he can get sight o
her"
There was another interval of silence
and then Mrs. Ludlow rose and stoo
before her husband. Tom" she sane
impressively, please put that pape
down ard tell me all about it. wan
to know whom he's going to see.'
Ludlow dropped the paper and locke
up in ludicrous alarm. Whom he
going to ee?-what did l say jus
now?"
She repeated his answer word fo
word.
"Oh, Lord! I've let the cat out of til