Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-08-15

her pretty little throat in a very uncom.
Portable fashion and was trying to disin.
tangle 1t, with the only result of getting
i more inextricably knotted, when she,
very opportunely, as she believed, met
Mr.. Robinson.
In the most artless way imaginable
she had asked him to help her get II
loose; and he, radiant with good will,
had bent over her, and succeeded in a
few minutes in loosening the veil-but
not until Nellie had retired from her
window, however-and lifting his hat
In answer to Miss Danes thanks, had
gone on, never dreaming of the dilemma
in which he had involved himself
The next day he presented himself
promptly at NelIie's residence, going
over in anticipation of repetition of
the exceedingly pleasant occurrences
Of the previous night, but to his surprise
and dismay he was met with the chill
ing announcement that Miss Arson was
not at home.
She had gone out about half an hour
previous, leaving no word as to when
she might be expected back
Well, of course there was nothing
very remarkable in her going out, if she
wanted to, only she might have known
he would be along about that time, even
though he had not set any particular
hour, and he turned away, somewhat
crestfallen, and feeling very much in
need of s. mpathy.
On the very next corner whom should
he meet but Alice Dane, full of some
enterprise she had for getting up char
table entertainment, and She walked
along with him for several blocks chat
ting with great volubiity, neither of
them aware that they were followed at
distance by Nellie, who had spied them,
and from one or two chance, words that
she overheard and construed to suit her
own jealous fancy, was convinced that
they were flirting, and then went home
and proceeded to make herself misera-
Bile for the rest Of the afternoon.
By the time Joe called in the eve.
ming, she had genuine headache, and
was not able to sit up, and so Joe was
content to leave bnnch of lovely, long
stemmed roses with his regrets at her
indispositlon, and go away, while Mel
lie cried herself sick over the roses, and
then with feminine Inconsistency tossed
them into corner.
But the game of hide-and seek could
not go on very long, and when Joe
called the following day, Nellie decided
to 60 down and meet him, and make
herself mistress of the situation, by de-
claring that their engagement was a
mistake which She desired to cancel and
retract. This she did with GOODNESS
and self possession that surprised even
herself and brought poor Joe to the
brink of despair.
He was sharp enough to see that some
thing was the matter, but what it was
he could not form the slightest idea of,
and Nellie refused to enlighten him fur
ther than to say that She had made up
her mind that they were not adapted to
each other and to lay the pretty little
ring on the table, from which Joe took
it and put it in his pocket, feeling very
much as if he had been to funeral.
He had, moreover, in the first exuber-
ance of his good fortune, confded the
fact to one or two of his trusted friends,
under pledge of secrecy, with the in
evitable result of course that 1t was by
this time pretty generally known through
the place, and as he returned home that
night, several who CHANGED to meet him
congratulated him.
Joe was too miserable to contradict
them-he just went on TO his home and
shut himself up, wondering f re had
been really drunk or crazy on the night
in question, or what had happened to
bring the beautiful air castle that had
been reared 50 promisingly tumbing
about his ears.
By the next day, however, all Bliss
vile was talking about the matter, for
of courseit had leaked out that there
was quarrel between the lovers, and
everybody had a theory that each de-
clared was the correct one.
Meantime the comedy of errors wont
on, Joe met Alice frequently and almost
each time he was called upon to render
her some little service help her over
a muddy street, to offer her half of his
umbrella in sudden shower, To button
a refractory glove, or pick up fallen
bundle, and on almost every occasion,
Nellie, who seemed to be ubiquitous,
came upon them just in time to see the
finale, which of course only tended 10
confirm her suspicious and increse her
unhappiness.
Joe had made few attempts to regain
her favor, but unfortunately such eff.
forts, coming on the top of of some adj
ditional but unconscious dereliction,
had been repulsed with fine scorn, so at
st he gave it up in despair.
But he was not an adept at eoncealing
his feelings, and ere long Alice, with her
quick wits perceived that something was
the matter.
She had heard the rumor of the en-
easement aud of course Vyae IuII,,