The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-21

He Proposed to the Girl and was
Rejected.
TESS that he did not know what to do.
He did not care TO return to London
and admit defeat even to himself.
One of his favorite boasts was that he
never knew defeat; for where-to use
his own language-he could not pull it
off himself, Providence seemed always
to step in and give him the necessary
aid. He began to fear that his GUS
tomary accuracy in detecting the in
terposition had for once failed him, for
he remembered he had looked on the
unexpected advent of Marsten as a
distinct manifestation that fortune still
favored him; but, as day after day
passed and no answer came to the let
ter he had sent, Barney began to
have doubts as to the genuineness of
the Intervention on this occasion. At
| last, in deep gloom, he came to the
conclusion that life under the present
circumstances was not worth living
If it had to be lived in Eastbourne
without knowing a soul. and reluctant
ly he determined to return to London.
He ordered out his tandem for final
exhibition, remembering that, even
though he took. no pleasure in it him
self, it would be cruel to deprive the
loungers along the parade of their
usual delight in watching the elegance
of the turnout and his own skill in
handling a team placed endwise.
After all, the innocent frequenters of
Eastbourne were not to blame for what
had happened. so why should they be
punished unnecessarily-sa the ever
just Barney to himself. They should
be allowed to feast their eyes for the
to-, ac-f
and heaven help them when he finally
departed. Barney mounted his chariot
with a sigh; for, aside from the fact
that this was in a measure last act
and last acts always carry a certain
amount of pathoS with them-it is de-
pressing to have it proven that one is
after all under no special protection,
and to have doubt cast on former in
stances which heretofore have stood
unchallenged.
Barney drove his spirited horses with
perhaps less than his customary dash.
a chastened dignity taking the place of
the exuberant confidence which gen.
orally distinguished him. The bracing
air. the rapid motion, the feeling of
controlling destiny that a man has
when ne is driving a tandem, all failed
to raise his spirits, as might have been
expected. for the very fact that he was
driving alone emphasized his disap-
pointment, and made this world the
hollow mockery it sometimes seems to
| the most cheerful of us. Yet how
often has it been said, in varying
forms, that the darkest hour is just be-
fore the dawni-and how often Will
men forget that simple nocturnal fact,
"a defect of memory the more remark
able in a person like Barney, who so
frequently had had opportunity. while
on his way home from a post-midnight
revel, of verifying the phenomenon.
Just when his despair was at it's black
est-on the fourth drive down the
parade-he was amazed and delighted
to see Edna Sartwell coming down one
of the side streets all alone. She had a
newspaper in her hand, and was look
ing anXiously, and, as Barney could not
fail to see furtively, up and down the
street, apparently expecting to meet
some one, yet fearing that her inten-
ton might be OWNED. Barney under
stood the whole situation in a flash;
she had been afraid TO write or had
been prevented from writing, and had
stolen alone from the school in the hope
of meeting him. Well, they all did it,
so far as Barney was concerned; and,
in the glow of eXultation that came
over him at this proof of success, and
the assurance that, after all, his luck
or whatever it waS-had not de-
I
noying tinge of regret that she was no
more proof against his destinations
than all the others had been. Man is
but an uncertain creature at best, and
never knows just what he does want.
a moment before it would have seemed
to him that nothing on earth could
have given him greater pleasure than
a sight of her, and yet now that he
saw her looking for him, he was
actually sorry she had not been walk
ing unconcernedly along the pavement
like those who were strangers to him.
However, it must be added in Bar
ney's favor, that this feeling of being
perhaps a trifle too much sought after
was but tranSitory, and that it did not
for a moment interfere with his action.
He pulled up his team with a sudden
ness that caused the front horse to
turn round and face its driver, threw
the reins to his groom, and jumped
down with a grace and CELEBRITY as
charming in its way as was his driv-
ing. The groom disentangled the horses
as Barney accosted Edna with that
urbanity which was perhaps his dis
tinguishing characteristic. The girl
seemed SURPRISED to see him, and was
plainly more than a little embarrassed.
Il am so glad to meet yOui" cried
Barney why the very sight of you
makes this dull old Eastbourne smile
like a rose. don't you know. 1 haven't
had a soul to speak to for ages. and l
began to fear I should lose the use of
language. 1 give you my word. It's the
truth, 1 do think-that is. did, until
l saw you-that Eastbourne is the dull
est SPOT on earth
Then WIZ did you come here?"
asked the girl.
oh, now, I say. Miss Sartwell that's
rather 100 bad 1t is, l assure you.
You know I said in my letter l came
solely for the pleasure of seeing you"
80 you did. had forgotten"
Yes; ard Won never even answered
my note. Miss Sartwell. l call that
rather hard, don't you know"
You see. Mr.. Hope, we are not al
lowed to write letters from the school;
that is one of the strictest rules
And are YOU so afraid of breaking
a rule as all that? When / was at
school the delight of being there was
the breaking of all rules-and of most