Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-05-12

gust. He waited five minutes, then as
no one else came who appeared to be
more pleasing to his fancy he pulled
his collar tightly around his ears and
started out. He had stepped one foot
ON the sidewalk and was still holding
the knob of the half-open door, when
he noticed a woman who turned the
nearest corner and came rapidly to-
ward him. She brushed past him and
went into the drug store. Involuntar-
lily he turned and went in after her.
She had brown hair, blue eyes and a
good complexion: moreover, she was
dressed in black and wore a wrap with
ermine lining.
The anxious, searching glance with
which she regarded the occupants OF
the room finally rested on him and she
started back with little cry OF alarm.
He laid his hand on her arm and led
her to seat near the side entrance.
Now" he said, sitting down beside
her, what are you doing here?'
II came to meet some one,' she fal-
tered, meekly, land he isn't here.
What are you doing?"
II came here to meet some one. too
he retorted, sharply, land she isn't
here, either"
I'm late" she hazarded, for want OF
something better to say.
YES" he returned, so am l.
They sat there for few moments,
each maintaining an obduratc silence.
Presently one neatly gloved hand stole
out from under her ermine-lined wrap
and rested lightly against mis- sleeve.
Frank" she said, twisting herself
around so he could get half-view OF
her pretty face, I've been awfully TOOL
/ ish, and want to confess" There were
tears in her eyes, but they did not lead
! him to the stool of repentance. AFTER
we had our quarrel last week and de-
cided to separate, was so miserable
I can't tell you how miserable. You will
have to try to imagine. / have tried &c
bear it as though it were really mat
ter Of small import, and TO keep people
from learning just how much have
| grieyed | have avoided them as mucf
as possible. 1t sets me wild TO heal
them Jest and make merry when my
heart is literally breaking. In sunday
paper | read the advertisement OF
young man, a stranger in the city, wh'
wanted some one to accompany him u
the opera two evenings this week.
answered and we made an engagement
to meet here tonight at 1880. couldn'
get away from home on time and sup
pose he has left long ago. ! should no
have come at all, Frank, but, judgin
by the description he gave of himself
/ concluded he must look like you. Hi
name is Robert Lang. oh, Frank,
was so foolish and reckless. Pray fol
give me-"
The tears brimmed over then an
formed a little rivulet down eithe
cheek. The fingers on his coat sleev
perceptibly frightened their grip and b
laid his own right hand protectingl
over them.
II thought there must be somethin
like that in the wind" be said. "Tt
= fact of the matter is, Nellie, l was O
lust such a chase myself A lady, ais
a stranger in the city. advertised
j Sundays paper for an escort for or
evening this week, and offered to len
her my services. We agreed upon t
}, night at 1880 as the time and place
meeting. l couldn't get here any ear
Ter. Upon my word, / don't think
;, should have come at all, only l wi
y convinced she must look like you, ar
u if couldn't have the original / thoug
. l would try TO content myself with
passable substitute. Her name is Kat
crime Sutton. / wonder what BEGAN
. of herr"
= why should you carer was Il
pouting comment, when you ha
me?"
That's so,' he replied, "wl
% should II"
Six months later Mrs. Frank Ke
nan looked up from the morning p
per, choice paragraphs from which S
was sandwiching into her nimble mi
between the bites of buttered toa
and looked at her husband curiously
Frank" she asked, what was t
name of the lady you were to meet
. the drug store that night?"
Il Miss Sutton" he answered, cal
l lessly; katherine Sutton. Why, WI
made you think of herr"
"Oh. nothing. l learn by the mol
ing paper that marriage license
been issued to Robert Lang and Kat
crime Sutton, that's all You knc
Lang was the name of the gentlemaI
should have seen. i was just wond
ing II they didn't console themsel'
with each other and go to the opera
gether. It's strange we never thou,
at of that before. Such thing is pos
ra BILE, you know"
ooh. yes" he said. "it's possible"