Arizona republican., 1898-10-17

(Continued From Yes.erday.)
 II can vary it with high tragedy" went down the steps, If that will suit you any better, my dear fellow. Au rcvoir!''
 And with delightful sense of uncer- tain:y as to whither he was tending, he started slowly down the street.
 He had not proceeded very far when he was arrested by the cOlonel's face tious exclamation:
 Il say. Mr. North, arc you walking in your sleep? Delaplaine street isn't down that way, you know!''
 North whirled around composedly and retraced his steps.
 Twill you be kind enough to tell me, then. my dear colonel" he said, ''where Dclaplaine street is? I give you my word that have not the faintest idea"
 North, whose eyes had by thls tune become accustomed to the dim twilight, rose at once with formal bow. To his surprise lie found that his nerves were 8 little unsteady, his pulses beating a little moro rapidly than usual. Could it be that he was excited? The critical moment had come. He knew that within tho next few seconds his decis- ion must be made. If he were to retreat from the reckless course that he had E1cditated, 1t must be in the very mo- ment of greeting Mrs. Maynard; but. granting that he made this choice, what acceptable excuse could he offer
 
 certain was not intended for his pc rusal, and accepting an invitation which it was equally certain had never been extended to him?
 Thi5 question which. strange to say, occurred to hin now quite for the first time, produced most paralyzing effect upon him. and for the moment deprived hirn of the power of speech Or action. It might almost be argued in his de fense that he was not responsible for what immediately followed, for as he stood there in this state of fascinated indccis;on Mrs. Maynard unconsciorsly turned tLe wcvcring scale, in which, nicely balanced, lis line Of action lay, by uetering his name ia tones of vel cor,c and holding out her hand to him cordially. It was . small white hand with solit2irc ring sparkling on one ingcr-he noticed that in Q vague sort of way-c:ld 1t rested in his hand. as lightly as snowflake.
 North realized then that in his no- nlent Of hesitation he was lost: he therefore gavc himself up to an interest i2g study of Mrs. Maynard and a panic stricken wonder how best to adapt his lcnncr and conversation to the pecul- far situation in which he had placed hinself
 The first consideration was easily dis posed Of. Accustomed to arriving swift Iy ct conclusions, he summed up Mrs. Maynard ;n one rapid glance. Age un- certain. something between twenty-five and thirty. height little above the medium: figure graceful and willowy; hair pale golden, cxluisitely fine and wavy; eyes large, dark and brilliant features regular and deliccteiy color less; manner viraciov,s and slightly inn porious. A little spoiled and willful, perhaps, but only delightfully."- so. Her gown was of black silk. with 2 profusion of fine white lace about the ccrsagc, which relieved the sombcr ef- ; feet and seemed to give peculiar bril- lianey to her eyes. Tcat faint exquisite . perfume like hot house roses, which he ! had noticed when he read her note, 1 hung about her like an intangible pres l cncc. There was an indcscribablo | daintiIess about her that gave & pecul- i jar charm to her beauty: yet with all i this softncss and beauty ono could not fail to perceive that she possessed some i strong end decided points of character. ! Invinciblc pride anu force of will , these two traits were plainly revealed ! beneath all the charm of sweet and | gracious exterior.
 Had North been very susceptible te | feminine attractions he might have | lost his heart to Mrs. Maynard at first 1 sight, as others had SD often done. But a certain cold. nippant cylicisin whict he had been cultivating for the past few years. with considerable success i saved him from this fate. He had once loved 6 beautiful girl with all the strength and fcrvor of his soul, had be