Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-11-25

HNu mIh OoAOutl OudHEuAty HdNc NAhIot
Essex no peace Of his life. Hemust ride
with her. He must escort her hithor
and yen. He must 20 with her to select
her new pony phaoton. In fact, she
found herself unable to transact the
commonest item Of business without
Major Essex.
SO IL happened that when she went
10 buy a set Of ermine furs Major Essex
was her unwilling companion.
''It's the last time. +" thought the ma
jor to himself; lit must DO the last
time or she will marry me before 1
know it,"
Mrs. Changhley was very hard TO suit
in the matter of furs, and when at last
she found n set which she liked it proved
TO be too small round the neck.
1--WE can have il altered in a minute,
ma'am.p said the polite salesman.
Zone of our young women can fix it
while you wait. Miss Cafson-here-
send Estelle to mel, :,
And a light, pretty little figure glid-
ed in, dressed in somewhat shabby
mourning. Major Essex sat by the win
dow, looking absently out into the
street, but as the work gill attempted
to remove the fur wrapping from Mrs.
Colonel Changhley's neck a pm at her
wrist caught In the widow lace collar.
"You awkward, clumsy thingi" al
most screamed Mrs. Colonel Cbanghley,
and then she checked herself abruptly,
remembering the presence Of Major Es-
sex.
~ am very sorry, mi 'Gm-indeed-
indeed / did not Intend il, faltered n
sweet, low voice, which mado Essex
start round as il a finger OF fire had
smitten his car.
"Estelle Daytonl'
"Oh. Major Essex, is 1t your"
Estellc colored and then grew pale
the snowy little circlet of fur dropped
from her fingers to the floor.
miss Dayton--if you plensei' began
Mr.. Mink of the firm of Mink & Fur
tail. And Estelle, catching up the err
mine collar, murmured q word or two
Of apology and escaped from the room.
$50 you're acquainted with the
young womanP' Eaid Mrs. Colonel
Chapghley n little sup~erciliously.
The young lady's father, . said Es-
Sex coldly, twas one of my Oldest
friends and enc Of the wealthiest citi-
zens of Florida before this unhappy war
desolated all ranks Of life. Mr.. Mink,
will you oblige me with Miss Dayton's
address,"
And Mrs. Changhley wished she had
not insisted on Major Essex's company
during the fur seeking expedition.
He went, as socn as he had reason to
suppose business hours were over, to the
place named by Mr.. Mink, bat lis expe-
dition was in vain. Miss Dayton was
not at home.
Home, " what,n contrast was this to
the cool veranda and wide halls Of Day
toms place. Essex's heart sank within
him as he looked round at the carpet
loss floors and rickety stairs of the
third rate boarding house.
Half-an hour later he was sitting in
his private parlor at the De L'Orms no.
tel smoking q meditative cigar. when the
waiter knocked at the door and ushered
in a slender figure in black. Essex funp
his cigar into the fire and sprang vi
with a glad corntenance.
"Estellel / have been to your house
to find you. but without success,
we worked late tonight, she saic
quietly, land the late hours aud con.
slant confinement are killing me. Major
Essex, ! have a favor to ask Of you fol
the sake of old times"
He had drawn forward q chair fol
her, into which she YEARLY sank.
sfIf 4 air.aly Oro,,fod Erfoila ~
81 wish to beg Of you to use your in.
f1uence to obtain me the. situation Ct
companion or seamstress-to-to your
wife"
ITO my wife, Estelle2 But 4 am moi
married"
The rosy scarlet suffused Estelle Day.
toms check.
"That lady in the black silk dress
was she not your wife?"
"No. nor likely TO be. Ibope," Esse1
answered, with a slight grimace. but
Estelie, though l do not happen to be
married. that's no reason why | should
not want a companion and a seamstress
Dear Estelle, will you come to me ant
be my wife?"
"But, Major Essex
81 know / am 10 years older thar
You, but l am not an old man yet, anC
/ believe l have loved you longer than
can remember"
at is not that-oh," sobbed Estelle
sit is not thatl But only am not gooC
enough for you, dear friend"
Mrs. Colonel Changhley was highly
scandalized It the whole affair an'
positively declined to attend the wed
ding or visit the bride, but Mrs. Majo,
Essex somehow has contrived to surviy,
her neglect aud has grown fairer thar
ever in the sunshine Of her husband
love, and the shadows through which
she has passed only added new bright
ness to her present ife.-Exchange.