The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-02

have often been touched by it. l had no
right to say you were heartless.
Then he sighed, and neither spoke again
till they parted.
So the fall passed and winter came.
McClintock's attentions to MISS Deiand
had become so marked by this time that
they were q matter of comment to every
one in the office and not a few out OF IT,.
ssShe seems to have found your 'rlghJ
man. Z" Gates blurted out to Jameson one
day, nodding tow ard McClintock, VINO
was leaning on Miss Deland's desk.
"Humph! You don't think she cares
anything about that fellow"
'sShe encourages him." returned Gates
doggedly.
81 don't think so, said Jameson, land
it is only his thick skinned persistence
that makes it look that way"
But Gates was not convinced. He had
grown thin since summer, and his temper
was not improved. Gates, however, even
though glum and quick of temper, was
universally liked, while as for McClintock,
no one excepting Miss Deland seemed to
like him at all. "He talks too much, has
too high an opinion of himself and is none
too honest, was the general opinion.
Ou0 dIE6TuOOu Ill oe1hASoOA
came over to Gates, ostensibly to borrow
knife "Oh that fool McClintock!' he
groaned under his breath.
ssWhat has he been doing now?" asked
Gates, with assumed carelessness.
ssOh, he's the same as told Doddrldge
that he intends proposing to Miss Deland
this evening"" answered Jameson, look
ing critically at the knife. He's going to
hi,oco1f y,roha b1U
Is positive she'll have him too. And I
swear" he continued, still intent on the
knife, "I'm most afraid she will myself.
There's no knowing what woman will
do, especially II she is unhappy"
"What makes you think she is unhap-
py2'' demanded Gates hoarsely. II
thought she had seemed to be in excellent
spirits.
"Those excellent spirits are all put on.
You just catch her unaware, as I have
once or twice lately.
After Jameson had left him Gates leaned
his face on his hand and thought If he
could only get the start of McClintock
The chances were 900 out of 1000 that 1t
would do no good, but there was the one
chance. He looked at the clock. Miss
Deland would leave the office in about 20
minutes, and McClintock would be on
hand to go with her.
AS he sat there his glance fell on his left
hand, which rested on the desk in front OF
him. On the little finger was ring
which his only sister had given him just
before she died, and which he had worn
ever since. An idea came to him. With
considerable difficulty he drew off the ring
and folded it in a half sheet OF paper
Then, drawing fresh sheet toward him,
he dipped his pen in ink and wrote hastily:
MYDEAR Miss DELANp-H you can accept
the inclosed article, an engagement ring, 1t
will afford me intense happiness. II not ac-
ceptable, please return. Very sincerely yours
]. ALBERT GATES.
Then he put the ring and what he had
written in an envelope and addressed 1t.
There was no messenger handy, SO he de-
livered it himself. Miss Deland looked at
Kim with cold Indifference as he approach
ed. He laid tho letter before her. PLEASE
read it now" he said Then he went back
to his work.
After few minutes Gates gained cour-
age to look toward Miss Deland. She was
calmly unfolding typewriter manu-
script, and he watched her while she read
the first page, a part Of the last and par
agraph here and there between, then, re-
folding it, put in an envelope, together
with rejection slip, sealed it and as calm
1y went on to the next.
In about ten minutes more she tidied
her desk, and five minutes after that she
had on her outside garments and in the
company of McClintock was leaving the
office.
In going out they passed near Gates.
Miss Deland, however, did not so much as
glance In his direction. She carried her
self proudly, her eyes were bright, her
cheeks tinged with color, her lips smiling.
Gates held his hand against his face in a
way to shield it from observation. There
was tight feeling in his throat, smart
ing sensation in his eyes.
Some one touched him on the arm. He
started angrily and looked around. 1t was
McClintock, who thrust an envelope into
his hand. "Miss Deland asked me to come
back and give you this" he said and hur-
ried away.
Gates face grew hot. How like a
woman to send her refusal by the hand OF
his rival and so enhance its bitterness!
He held it In his hand and looked at the
address for full minute Then, setting
his lips together, he slowly opened the en-
velope and unfolded the letter. It was
very brief:
MY DEAR MIR. GATEs-Your article, an en-
zagement ring. is accepted. Very truly yours,
ELINoR BERTRAM DELAND.
Elizabeth Robbins in Woman's Home
Companion.