The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-01-07

NO uuo hONCA 1huIlINh AOub haS hO ApA
gotten it all, or does he, as l do, think
of the old. happy times with regret?
But | am brought back to sense of
the present by Jane pronouncing new
name with special emphasis. While |
have been lost i'll the past she has been
plllng up my iniquities IN the shape of
every man with whom l have been ON
friendly terms during the last ten years,
including the poor unfortunate who ran
away from his bride In vain | declare
that | Was not to blame. Jane calmly
informs me that encouraged him and
that people talked
OF course people Will talk but have
no qualms of conscience. Still Jane goes
on, and at last she has reached Mr.
Carson. [ vince at the name, for here |
have a guilty feeling that am not quite
free from blame.
My pride had been piqued by his evil
dent indifference, and l had laid myself
out to be agreeable, with the result that
we are now vary good friends.
But Jane comes in again with her
merciless common sense and sums it up
thus:
He Is your last chance How l
hate the wordD He is not bad looking,
Is clever, sensible and in comfortable
position. Besides, he is only two months
younger than yourself, which is practi-
cally no difference
Poor Mr. Carsonr r. | ventured to
put in is he 80 too?n But nothing
would stop Jane or turn her from her
purpose
lyon have only to give him a little
encouragement, she went ON, and if
you don't the widow will marry him.
Remember, You are no longer young.
(Ye gods, here 1t is againD Your
beauty is going off, and in another year
you will be quite stout. Encourage him
little, just as | used to do with Ned.
With your experience
But at this stage the worm turns
can bear no more, and with the refrain,
Your last chance, ringing in my ears,
the door is closed and | am left alone.
What am [ to do? Ought | to take
Mr.. Carson, my last chance Or shall
| go ON making fool of myself over a
man Nhoiii i1tNt ilob ElIph'iI W III Alit
last 2 years? Poor Harry Why was
so obdurate?
Next afternoon, with James candid,
even cruel, expression, last chance. =
still ringing IL my ears, | went out to
make few purchases. AT the corner of
our street | stepped into a car when,
oh, horror, whom should | sit down be-
side but Harry Summers
He looked at me very hard, but |
stared straight out at the opposite win
dow, Unluckily, my umbrella dropped
on the floor. Instantly he picked it up,
saying, "Allow me-, Miss Watson. :"
| thanked him and stole IA glance at
his face
Charming weather. he remarked.
Its dreadfully wet, | returned.
Il mean it's delghtfulr' gasped in
horror at my mistake, for the day was
lovely My veil was down, fortunately,
and might hide my bushes, but | had
no time to recover myself, when he said,
with the utmost audacity:
eve have not met so much of late,
Miss Watson? Can You tell me if that
is your fault or mine?'
| was quite taken aback by his ques-
ton, but managed to articulatr the only
word | could think of-"Nol'
AT this moment the car stopped, and
then | thought of Jane, and with q
smile and IL pleasant Good morning"
hurried out. Scarcely had Preached the
pavement when Harry was at my side
with the words:
"Your umbrella, Miss Watson"
which | had most unfortunately left in
the car.
Again thought of Jane, the merci-
less, and smiled and thanked him in
quite friendly way, expecting that he
would hurry after his car. Instead of
that he walked on at my side and began
talking as if we had been meeting every
day for months back. / must admit,
even if Jane We're here, that ! forgot
everything and became quite happy.
AT a jeweler' S window | stopped to
admire lovely diamond bracelet, when
Harry said. Il never pass this shop
without remembering something that
happened iong ago
glanced up in his face, the hot blood
mounting to my cheeks, for | felt the
crisis had come
Twelve years ago l bought "a ring in
that shop. Would you like to see it,
Miss Watson?' he asked
thought of the horrid words "last
chance, . and looking mp i'll his face an
swered with very faint Eyes. -
Taking small case from his pocket,
he opened it and held it before my eyes.
l could not but admire the ring, for
it was lovely. Then Harry said Bar
bara, it was meant for you Try if it
will fit you now.
Eyes, Harry. | managed to reply. l
am certain that Jane herself did not
give Ned moro encouragement than |
did Harry, for pulled off my glove and
allowed him 70 slip the ring on my fin
ger, and that was all
After httle Harry said quietly, I'VE
have been "a pan of fools "
"No, was my answer, Il have been
the fool you the victim of my follyW
The same afternoon. just as had tin
ishcd cup Of tea, Jane bounced into
the room
"Aunt Barbara, she said Mr.. Car
BON has come T. spend the evening with
us, and want YOU 10 meet him.
could not hclp smiling at James
eageruess, and. leaning back in my
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