The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-03-25


in love for more than year that he
had had eyes, ears and thoughts fol-
none other than pretty, fascinating
Miss Dormer. Yet, so skillfully had
he been managed whether consciously
to herself or not, he knew not), that
no word of his could have been con-
strued to give evidence of more than a
friendly feeling.
There were others in his predica-
ment, and misery always loves com.
pany. At the same time he felt there
must be an end to all things, and had
resolved to bring matters to state of
certainty without further delay, know
Ing full well that he had made SINH
lar decision a score of times before.
Bhe had way of turning the converse
tion at most interesting stages without
/. giving ofense and with show of tact
worthy weightier cause. He could
recall any number of times when he
was on the eve of making q full
Avowal, and thought her particularly
sympathetic, when turn of her head
Or a glance of her clear gray eyes
would throw him back into the old
state Of detection and he would leave
with the words unsaid. Again, inter
ruptions had come when he was at the
point of growing serious, and there
had been much in the way of declaring
bis love.
She must have read it in his eyes,
In his every act, yet there were several
other fellows who wore their hearts
On their sleeves in much more
amazing manner than did he, and who
were treated with the same calm i'm
partially.
There was Hilton, member of every
club in town, and possessed of such |
IN income as is never an objection in |
The affair of the heart. There was
Ressler, the captain of his college
eleven, adored by all the girls, adoring
Miss Dormer only. There were NAL
lard, Hollister and Smith, all rafting
good fellows, to say nothing of one
Bookleigh, a sort of literary man with
long hair, ready made ties and original
poems. No man feared him as a rival,
however, for he made his love as COM
mon as postage stamps by talking of
her to everyone he knew. Moreover,
be was the kind of fellow to make a
bit with old ladies at afternoon teas,
and the men not only considered him
more OF an ass than any one of their
hcquaintances, but actually guyed him
10 his face. Among themselves they
estingly accused him of imperfect
berebration. But in spite of these
lacts, and that he enjoyed fair share
pf Miss Dormer's favor, they liked him
because he was kindly-natured and
altogether harmless.
/ As Hotaling chewed the end of his
pen, he meditated upon these things;
particularly Hilton's ten thousand a
year, and wondered if the latter con-
liberation would weigh with Miss
Dormer. He believed it would not,
and wrote her a note accordingly. He
asked for an engagement during the ,
week, adding that he had under con-
sideration an offer to 60 abroad as
foreign correspondent for daily pa
per. and that in case of accepting he
UOAio coA thO AOAt tCutuk0oys 11C
would leave it for her to decide
he should go or stay. 1t was
his last resource, and he felt that it {
would bring things to a crisis. If she I
refused him, he could go away--and !
forget. If she-but the other posi- ]
oility plunged him intdss such delir- '
um of delightful dreams that he de- '
'troyed the missive and resolved he
would see her that evening and set his
mind at rest. II
There is popular faffacy that van {
lty is the prerogative of woman exclu- s
sively. Many hold that the soul of j
man is above such petty considera
lions as dress and personal adorn-
ment. Go to! Vanity hath no limit {
atoms of sex AS Mr.. Richard {
carefully accomplished his {
toilet that evening, with frequent sug-
gestions from his valet, and more fire i
luent glances toward the mirror, Ii
thoroughly appreciated his goo
points. and vslisntly strove to maj