The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-10-24
is all have to say. and no reply win

be expected. Abel Mitchell.
The young girl drew the sheet from
the machine and, bringing is forward,
laid It on the old mans desk. Abel
glanced it through.
"a beautiful copy" he said and care
fully folded it. Then he placed it in
an envelope and dipped a pen in ink.
Il do not know his address," he said,
and knit his brows.
The girl at the end of the desk eX-
tended her hand.
'If you have no objection" she
quietly said, 81 will deliver it to him in
person"
The old man looked up at the fair
face bending over him.
"Why, who are your he cried.
81 am Alice Mitchell" said the young
girl
"Mitchellr' repeated Abel DULY.
"M-my sons wife! And what But
the ugly words would not come. He
could not utter them in the light of
those gentle eyes. 'Will you be seat
ed?' he lamely added.
Thank you, no." said the girl. II
have but few words to say; they will
not detain you long" AbePs gaze
dropped to the letter and the will. and
sarcastic smile twisted his mouth.
mo, no." the girl quickly added. Il
have not come to plead with you. You
are quite wrong to imagine such a
thing. And you were quite wrong, too,
| to insult me as you did in that letter"
| He looked up again quickly. There
were tears in the gentle eyes. And
there was a CLINT of fire in them too.
"You insulted me and you insulted my
dear father. l have no mother" She
paused a moment. when you inSinu-
ated that my father was mercenary in
this matter, you did him a cruel wrong.
He was bitterly opposed to our marry
ing without your consent. | 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 l was hasty," he slowly
said, "but the provocation was great" )"
Then he quickly added, But knowing
as you did that opposed the wedding,
and your father opposed it, too. why
did you permit yourself to marry my
boy?
81 could make it clear to you,
think" said the girl gently, ''if you
loved your boy.'
The old man trembled. If he loved
his boyi All that was near and dear
to him-all that was left to him OF
kith and kin. The babe that a dying
wife had solemnly placed in his pater
nal arms. If he loved his boy! He
drew a long breath and stared hard a.
the blank envelope on the desk before
him.
"And now," said the young girl, 81
only want to add that think Jim was
quite wrong in crossing your wishes
He might have waited. | wanted hin
to wait. But he is so proud, so sell
willed. l am very sorry that l shoult
be the means of separating you, ant
Ill am quite sure am not worth the
great sacrifice my dear-my husband
has made"
Abel was quite sure there were tear:
in her eyes again, but he did not looi
up.
"Where is Jim now?" he asked. Thel
he smiled grimly. "And why are yot
not enjoying your-your wedding
tourP'
"There was a vacancy in the banl
where my father is employed" sait
the girl, ''and father secured it for Jim
His duties began today. Perhaps w
will take our wedding journey later
We have to look out carefully for th
main chance now, you know"
"And you didn't expect to fall bacl
on my dollars?" said the old man.
mot a 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 tn
girl, and her gaze dropped to the let
ter on the desk.
Does Jim know you are here"
mo. AT least he didn't know l wa
coming Father will tell him to NEE
me at the corner at o'clock. l mus
60"
Wait" said the old man quickly. II
|
gaze with a smile. Her mind was o.
Jim.
Abel deliberately put the will back L
it's envelope and the envelope in it
: pigeonhole. Then he picked up til
,, letter in its unaddressed envelope, tor
; it into minute particles and tosse
them into the waste basket.
"Tve changed my mind" he softl
muttered.
, He pulled down his desk cover wit
a bang and reached for his hat.
"There," he said, ''I'm ready" The
he added, "Will you give me your arm
my dear?" AS they passed through til
! doorway he paused.
Il think, Alice" he said, that 70
, and l are going to be very good friends
, And now we must hunt up Jim an
take him home with us."-Clevelan
Plain Dealer.
Did She Keep Her Tempers
! Mr.. Biles is very hasty tempere