Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-01-20

scheme that have got up after long
and careful thinking"
"Are we to toss a penny?" I asked.
"No. This afternoon I shall write
two notes, one an acceptance, the other
a refusal. They will be put in plain
envelopes, mixed up, directed and
mailed. The one of you who receives
the refusal shall"
Commit suicide"
Brooks gloomy countenance gave
credence to suspicion that in event of
his receiving the wrong note he would
resort to self-destruction. The girl,
however, speedily crushed all hopes of
such escape from suffering.
''You shall not!" she cried. eft
you do shall never speak to either
Of you again"
There was long silence, and then
Maria looked from one to the other of
us and said, earnestly: 'You'll agree
to my plan, won't you?"
"There is nothing else that we can
do" said I.
IN Nothing" repeated Brooks.
In fact the scheme rather appealed
to me, for of late things had not been
going so smoothly as could have de-
sired. 1t had seemed at times as
though Brooks was drawing away
from me in the race. Now chance
had been offered. Once for all the
question would be settled. Then, my
luck was usually good The plan was
not SO agreeable to my rival. Doubt
less he felt that he had the advantage
of me and in entering into such a game
was gambling to obtain what was al
ready almost his own. He had no
other course but to assent, though,
and he did it with rather bad grace.
''It seems hard" he said to Maria,
''but you will it, and I obey"
cit is agreed, then" said she.
Brooks and bowed. The three Of
us walked back to the house.
was up early next morning at my
rooms in town. l had calculated
everything to nicely. The postman
would reach the house at $40 o'clock.
The train for Elmwood left at 8
o'clock Provided the contents of
the note that expected were satisfac-
tory, l would just have time to break
fast and reach the ferry. Should the
note prove to be the wrong one, cer-
tainly would not need any breakfast
and much less to catch train. I had
been awake at dawn; excitement had
driven sleep from my eyes, and the
! dragging hours gave me more than
ample opportunity to figure ont my
chances. / revolved over and over
again in my mind the history of my
acquaintance with Maria Torrilgton.
1 reviewed my own life and picked
out incidents in it in which luck had
played part, and I found such bal
ance in my favor that / was almost
convinced that it was useless for me
to worry over the outcome of the game
of chance L was playing. Having
brought myself to state of compare
tive confidence, 1 began to pack a
couple of bags full of clothes, for l had
made up my mind to make long stay
at the Torrington house while 1 was
about it. AS stuffed my golf things
into a portmanteau l pictured Maria
and myself ploddirg over the links to-
gether. AS l folded up my riding
| clothes I thought of the gallops we
were to have, and I broke into song,
and as I sang forgot all about the
note that was then on its way to me
and worked away as cheerily as though
it were but the matter of an hour till
I was speeding to her But loud
knock at the door called me back to
realities, and when the hallboy held
| 4 al II n
in a small, angular hand, l realized
that, perhaps, after all my Joy had
been premature. Decidedly prema-
turei The note was brief, so brief
that in an instant comprehended its
contents, sank into chair and, tossing
the paper from me, repeated the fate
full words: ''NIiss Torrington regrets
that, owing to another engagement,
she cannot accept Mr.. Blanks kind
invitation to become his wife.
Why had ever consented to risk
all on mere throw Of dice? Why
had I tried to win by gamble wha
other men worked. waited and suffered
for years to obtain? 1t would moi
have been so bad had Harkinson, who
had been out of the game year, wor
her. But that snob Brooks! He would
never have an opportunity to gloat
over me. I would go abroad. Iwould
exile myself rather than witness one
minute of his triumph. | would take
the very next steamer-no! After al
it would but add to the satisfaction o.
my rival to have me eating my hear
out in some foreign city. Far better
to stay right here in New York; tt
work and become famous, to bring
home to the girl full sense of what
she had lost by her foolish lottery
But why should I waste my life in dui
office drudgery? Why should /, Will
solid income inherited from indus,
trious forefathers, throw away the gooo
things of this life for an empty baubie'
for the sake of petty revenge on !
silly woman. Silly woman? A boid
woman who had repaid my homage by
gaming with me. Would true
hearted girl, girl worth having, nave
| -l.-o1 ,,,;tl, N wang love as she la0