The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-12-22

which l had determined to fathom
and so | proceeded about it in anything
but diplomatic manner, for | was
young and thoughless. My whole soul
had become wrapped up in Grace. She
was the ideal woman l had pictured
in my dreams. and l had determined
that she must be mine at any cost.
| look back to those days with
wonderment, more perhaps at my own
tcmcrity under the circumstances, for
| did not even know that l was loved
in return.
Gene | remarked, one morning,
after | had lain awake all night plan.
ming and hoping, 81 want to talk with
you about a matter that concerns mt
nparly-concerns us both"
He looked at me in some little
amazcment. Then putting his arm
through mine, laughingly pushed me
along, saying, well l should judge
from your long face, it's something
serious. Drive it away, old man, don't
conSort with your cares during the
holidays. Never worry in December.
January is an awful good month fol
broken vows, worriments and all that
sort o. thing"
Gene, I'm going to blurt 1t out and
have it over with. I'm head over
heels in love with your sister"
"Walterr'
If l haven't mentioned it before
will say the above is my given name,
although it really has nothing to do
with the story.
There was that in Eugenes face
which fairly dazed me. He seemed
terror-stricken at my abrupt but
simple announcement. All the acts
Of my life passed before me, for !
was in vain endeavoring to find a
cause for his CONSERVATION, and then
poured out my soul.
"Truly, Gene, there can be nothing
against me. 1 have some wealth, ex
cellent prospects, am not roue-"
Hush, my boy" cried Eugene. st
isn't that! why my sister has been en-.
gagged for a year, and do you think
my mother would ever forego a cor.
onet! It's impossibler'
Engaged! A coronet! What do
you mean" | cried.
Il mean simply this" he replied.
putting his hands ON my shoulders,
Grace was abroad with mother,
year ago as you know. At that time
but please remember that this is all
confidential, it's a family secret-Lord
Deerland fell madly inlove with Grace
and proposed for her hand. Mother
accepted the young man with alacrity,
and | thi..k Grace likes him. The for.
NAL announcement is to be made after
the holidays and they are to be mar.
ried in the spring. That's all there is
to the story, my boy, and now don't
make fuss over It, but just accept
the inevitable
| presume | looked crestfallen after
this disclosure and for twenty-fom
hours kept to my room, determined
to get over my chagrin and not 10
spoil the Christmas party by any
hasty departure.
On the following day, the day before
Christmas, | summoned all my cour
ace and went down stairs. into the
midst of the gayety. The expression
on Mrs. Kerr's face had undergone 9
delightful change. She fairly beameG
on me, and a lurking suspicion filled
my mind. Gene had undoubtedly
told his mother and sister ALL for il
no other way could explain the rhap
sodic expression on the mothers face
and the sadness that seemed to have
come over the younger woman. Thai
of course was simply pity, l argued.
She was like all the others, ready tG
play the coQuette though she knew
she would break heart or two.
Bv n most fortunate chance l re
ceived a message late in the morning
which summoned me to the city for Il
few hours on a matter of business
Eugene had arranged a sleighine
party for the afternoon, and this
was forced to forego. My train left
shortly after noon, and I was waiting
at the station scanning a paper, my
| thoughts on sweet face In the Kerr
n rage 81