The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-10-25


ink.
"I do not know his address," he
said, aud knit his brows.
The girl at the end of the desk ex-
tended her hand.
"If you have no objection she
quietly said, "I will deliver it to him
in person."
The old man looked up at the fair
face bending over him.
"Why, who are you!" he cried.
"I am Alice MITCHELL" said the
young girl.
"Mitchelll" repeated Abel, duly.
"M-my sons wifel And what"
but the ugly words would not come.
lie could not utter them in the light
of those gentle eyes. "Will you be
seated?" he lamely added.
"Thank you, no." said the girl.
"I have but few words to say; they
will not detain you long" Abels
gaze dropped to the letter and the
will, and sarcastic smile twisted his
mouth. "No, no." the girl quickly
added. 81 have not come to plead
with you. You are quite wrong to
imagine such thing. And you were
quite wrong, too, to insult me as you
did in that letter" He looked up
again quickly. There were tears i'll
the gentle eyes. And there was q
CLINT of fire in them, too. "You in
sulted me and you insulted my dear
father. / have no mother" She
paused moment. "When you in
sinuated that my father was mercenary
in this matter you did him q cruel
wrong. He was bitterly opposed to
our marrying without your consent
l disobeyed my father, too. But it
was not for your money. This letter
will bring us no surprise"
The old man dropped his eyes be-
meath her reproachful gaze.
Perhaps was hasty," he slowly
said, "but the provocation was great."
Then he quickly added: 'tBut, know
ing as you did that 1 opposed the
wedding, and your father opposed it,
too, why did you permit yourself to
marry my boy?"
"I could make it clear to you, I
think" said the girl gently, "if you
loved your boy"
The old man trembled. II he loved
his boyl All that was near and dear
to him-all that was left to him of
kith ard kin. The babe that dying
wife had solemnly placed in his
paternal arms. II he loved his boy
He drew long breath and stared
hard at the blank envelope on the
desk before him.
"And now," said the young g irl,
''I only want to add that l think Jim
was quite wrong in crossing your
wishes. He might have waited. /
wanted him to wait. But he is so
proud, self.willed. I am very sorry
that l should be the means of sepa-
rating you, and, am quite sur e am
not worth the great sacrifice my dear
my husband-1has u le."
Abel was quite fafe there were
tears in her eyes again, but lie did
not look up.
"Where is Jim now?" he asked,
Then he smiled grimly. "And why
are you not enjoying your-your we'd
ding tour?"
"There was vacancy in tho bank
where my father is employed" said
the girl, "and father secured it for
jim. His duties began to-day. Per-
haps we will take our wedding jour-
ney later. We have to look out care
fully for the main chance now, you
know"
"And you didn't expect to fall back
on my dollars?" said the old man.
"Not q penny of them," quickly re.
piled the girl.
The old man fidgeted in his chair.
"And why not?" he asked.
81 think you understand" said the
girl. and her gaze dropped to the let.
ter on the desk.
"Does jim know you are here?"
"No. At least he didn't know I
was coming Father will tell him to
meet me at the corner at o'clock. /
must CO."
"Wait," said the old man quickly.
He looked at her searchingly. She
met his gaze with smile. Her mind
was on jim.
Abel deliberately put the will back
into the envelope, and the envelope
in its pigeonhole. Then he picked up
the letter in Its unaddressed envelope,
tore it into minute particles and tossed
them into the basket.
"I've changed my mind" he softly
nuttered.
He pulled down his desk cover with
bang and reached for his bat.
"There," he said, "I'm ready
Then he added, "Will you give RE
your arm, my dear?" AS they passed
through the doorway he paused.
81 think, Alice" he said, "that you
and I are going to be very good
friends. And now We must hunt u
Jim and take him home with us"
Juvenile Precocity BIighted in the Bud
Papa" said the boy, as they drov,