The sea coast echo., 1898-04-16


gone" on her even before she handed
me the card which gave her name as
Jeanne Lancaster. She was from Chi.
cago aud had called to inquire about
Charles Day. She had scarcely men.
toned his name when she began to
weep. If you have ever been an old
bachelor you will understand how
quick the heart of such man melts
under the tears of n good looking
Young woman. 1 began to speak
soothing words, of course, and pres
emily she grew confidential and made q
confession. She was an heiress, while
Day was but poor young man. They
met they loved-they became en-
gagged. She would have welded him
in his poverty, but he wouldn't have
1t that way. He went out to make
his fortune before claiming her, and the
first good thinghe struck was the state
treasury Miss Lancaster had read
all about it and had been almost brok-
en-hearted. While she had put Day
out OF her heart as being unworthy of
her, she yet felt like having few last
farewell words with him.
BY the time the pretty little woman
was through talking ant. smiling and
crying, l was ready to put brotherly
arm around her and speak words of
consolation. Indeed, when l discov-
cred that her engagement was "off, -"
L came very near Offering her nv
heart and hand as o substitute. Moth
ing restrained me but the fear that I
had not known her long enough to in
spire the proper trust and confidence
which a good girl should have. I at
once granted her the privilege of q
private interview with Day. That is,
she was allowed to enter his cell, the
door of which was left open, and con-
verse with him while a guard waited
within call. The interview lasted half
an hour, and there was much weeping
and promising and protesting. The
young man didn't want to be thrown
down just because he had stolen 1920
600 and been sentenced to 20 years in
prison. The girl was obdurate, how
ever, though it broke her heart over
again to tell him that he need no
longer hope. When she came out, her
handkerchief to her eyes and a sob in
her throat, she sat down in the Office
to collect herself and then said:
Il want Charles to restore that
money and have been pleading with
him to do SO. If L can have one or
two more interviews with him 1 think
| can accomplish my object"
jumped foot high and told her
she could interview him every day for
month. He knew where the money
was, of course, and il it was restored
through any effort of mine the tax
payers of the state would carry me
around on their shoulders as reward.
Not only that, but the oftener Miss
Lancaster came the oftener / should
see her and the deeper should be in
love. She came next day at the same
hour, held another fearful interview,
and when 1t was over she said to me-:
"Charles has almost made up his
mind to confess, but still hesitates. He
has sister of whom he is very fond,
and if you don't mind her | will bring
her in to help me plead with him"
| didn't mind, of course. If he had
four or five favorite sisters | should
have been glad to have them all in to
coax the secret out of the rascal. Day
appeared to be very much broken
down, and after Miss Lancaster had
left the prison he sent for me to ask
if the governor would pardon him on
his giving up the money. / had to
reply that it might be four or five
years before he could look for his lib
erty, but it would surely come before
he had served out more than third
of his sentence. He seemed quite
elated over this, and when pressed
him to tell me where the Doodle was
hidden he opened his mouth as if to
do so. On second thought he shook
his head and replied
eff tell anybody it will be Miss
Lancaster and my sister. ! had deter.
mined to die first, but am beginning
to see things little differently"
left him with the impression that
the two girls would soon have the Sc
cret. When Miss Lancaster appeared
next day Miss Day was with her.
Miss Day was very coy and retiring.
She neither shook hands with me MOI
replied to my salutation and turned
her back as soon as possible. At the
same time, as / remembered later, Miss
Lancaster not only dallied with m,
hand, but pressed it and was very of
fusive in her speech. She said she
would have something special to tel
me when she returned from the inter
view, and she looked at me so archl,
that / jumped at the conclusion she
was going to confess first sight love
for me.
The interview did not last over II
minutes, and it took place just as ttusl
was drawing on. When the two adie.
returned to the door Miss Lancaster
came over to me and whispered;
''He has promised to confess all to
morrow, and every dollar will be re
stored. am glad, not only on his
account and mine, but for your deal
sake. l know you to be a noble man
and if you would not think it unmaid
enly in me IL"
! took her hand in mine and CAV.
it several squeezes and assured hel
that nothing she could possibly an
nounce or confess in the English Ian
guage would be considered by me un
worthy of her. She pressed my hant
in return and was going to confess
. her love, but the telephone bell rang
and put her out. She just whispered
in my ear that was an old darlin,
and then laughed and joined Mis-