Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-09-23
60 A PRACTICAL TEST. O.

| and had a future before him. also
tom Of hope, and we confided in each
| other concerning the cut and fit of our
coming laurel wreaths.
Lester was engaged to girl with the
ali and direct frankness of child, and
eyes fOrty-seven fathoms deep. l had
looked into them and always felt like
drawing back step or two when did
Her eyelashes looked to me like rushes
on a river bank that was likely to cave
in. She was devoted to Lester, and
he-well, whenever we met | had girl
served up in every possible style and
eyes for dessert. | envied him his
buoyant happiness, and encouraged
him in his belief that the earth was
made for her to inhabit.
There was no nonsense, and very lit
tie romance about Lester. He was in
tensely practical, and when he called
on the girl he talked about his busi-
ness and the architecture and drain
age of the house they were to build.
1t seemed to me, for safety's sake, he
should have talked more Of stars and
roses and affinity and those things. 1t
occurred to my mind that those eyes
were out after matter of that sort
The wedding day was set and a rush
OF engagements kept me too busy to
see much of Lester until three or four
days before the time. was to act as
best man, and one afternoon ran
down to his rooms to see him about
the arrangements. l overlook him on
the street and we walked down togeth-
er. He carried in his hand a bunch of
letters he had just received by mail
Lester opened his door and turned on
the light.
Tumble those things out of the rock
er," he said, land excuse my glancing
over this mail"
He quickly drew out of the bunch
the square white envelope | knew he
was most anxious to find They used
to write to each other every day. 1t
was so long from each night to the
next. at which time they were together.
l lit a cigar sat down, and waited.
heard the tearing of the envelope. and
the rustic of its contents as he unfold
ed it. Then there was such long 81
lence that l looked up. Lester was
staring at the letter in his hand with
Il face white as chalk and a look upon
1t like that of an animal when it dies.
| started up.
What - | began.
Lester tossed me the letter.
1t was from the girl.
made out of the scrawling, sloping
characters that she had married an
other man that afternoon. There were
a few vague excuses and regrets that
only accentuated the horror of the bare
fact.
tried to say something.
"Old man." said: "er-you must
you know-bear up-shes-you know
/"
Lester didn't hear me. He straight
ened up and held his hand high above
his head.
"False" he cried. "oh. God, false,
Infinite and all powerful Ruler of the
universe, is love but another name for
lies. and faith but mockeryw
Lester" | said, listen to me. It's
hard, know. but"
Eyes with heavens own light in
them," he went on, with his arm stilI
raised; lips that seemed the dwelling
place of truth-heart from which |
thought angels might have learned low
ATTY and love-soul that seemed winter
than the robes of honor is but
n rag and constancy devils lie"
Somebody knocked at the door and
| sprang toward it. Lester opened n
drawer TO his table and fumbled in If.
A man had brought a package for
Lester. 1t was the girls presents re-
turned. While was closing the door
Lester got his pistsl and put the bali
straight for his heart | knelt in thn
smoke and raised his head. A brief
CLEAN of his old quizzical, philosophical
humor came into his eye.
Frank" he said. with a faint smlln
did you hear me get off my stage
talk? You were Observation-Disclosures
that-after all.'-Detroit Free Press
Struggling the Shoulders.
Struggling the shoulders in cold