The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-28

lOII 11O"dIu, uS tilNN Sthb
ing and chatting together on the pleas
ant veranda OF Hotel Pleasant View.
"I shall love her while l live, Tom,
though I may never see her lovely
face again"
"Ah yes, Brown" observed Jolly
Tom in his rosuish, good-natured way,
$50 l hear, but the all-important point
for consideration is: Does she love
you, my boy? There's the rub The
question before the house is; Doth
she reciprocate?"
Brown reflected a moment, gazed va
cantly across the beautiful stretch Of
silver waters known as Crystal Lake,
that Law kissing the white-pebbled
beach, hundred yards away, and re-
piled:
81 think she does"
"But you're not certain?" suggested
Tom, interrogatively.
why, no; of course not" Ernest
admitted.
We'll then, there's lots of room and
probably plenty of reason for honest
doubt in the matter" was Toms solac-
ing observation.
Ernest glarcd at his friend reproach-
fully.
How clever and sarcastic you are
growing Tom, and how sympathetic
you are becoming" he retortcd, dryly.
Neither clever nor sarcastic" cor
rected Howard; simply honest and
alive, as of old"
Ernest was silent. Am | net risht?'
asked Tom.
quite likely you are" said Ernest,
but you'd talk differently if you were
in my position"
"Of course most assuredly;" an
swered Howard. smiling.
A short silence followed. Howard
sat abstractedly watching the snowy
sails of a little yacht that was gliding
slowly n'cng over the tranquil bosom
of the LIQUID plain, in the shadows of
the picturesque hillslopes on the lakes
further shore, but his actual thoughts
We're divided between the investment
of his next years income and his
friends love affair. Ernest, however
was thinking solely of the latter when
his reverie was suddenly broken by
Howard who inquired, half teasingly;
us the lady of your hearts dreams
pretty, my boy?"
Not pretty, Tom but beautiful"
Ernest replied, "and as innocent and
captivating in her girllike simplicity
as little fairy"
"Whew!" whistled Tom, had soul
full eyes too l reckon"
LAS soulful as any l have seen"
retorted Ernest
And dimpled hands, red lips, rosy
cheeks, a fine figure, graceful walk,
billows of golden-brown tresses, pearly
teeth, a soft voice and an angels dis
position-have 1 omitted anythins -
n short no rpgulatinn natnpta1 cp1f-
working, impossible piece of sweet
heart machinery set up by nesting
poets and out-of date novelists?"
There, now, Tom" said Ernest, 'Iet
, me have a chance to talk a bit. 1 love
cultured, flesh-and-blood woman,
whose faults-if she has any-are hid
: den by virtues big and white enough
to make me, at least, love her through
a lifetime, if / can only win her."
And you met her here, did you?"
said Tom.
Yes, here on this very veranda,
two summers ago, loved the delightful
little creature and was determined to
win her the moment l beheld her, and
she seemed to fancy me. We spent
many happy hours together in sweet
CompaniOnship, like twin souls that we
were. But at last we parted, vowing
tender VOWS of sacred friendship-We
were too earnest and prudent to do
more-and she passed out of my life
like floating shadow. Seek as | will
| can get no trace of her. l visit this
place every summer in the almost vain
hope that some mystic power in the sa-
cred longing of soul for soul will again
draw us together, here whence first we
met. But if we are doomed nevermore
TO meet l shall carry the image of her
fair, sweet face in my heart till I
die"
Say, YOU ought to take something
for that; you're bad off" said Tom;
I'D be scared if | was in your fix.
Have you consulted q physician"
mo, but l hope some day to send
YOU to minister for me-" said Ernest
laughing.
"Oh, you do, do you?" was Toms
observation; mot content with doing
bad, you desire TO do worse, In short,
you wish to flop out of the frying-pan
into thH fire and want me to assist you
in making the transit" laughed mis-
chievious Tom. Just fancy me in the
role of matrimonial assistant"
You look able to act the part"
Thank you, my boy; but, say,
Brown, how did you get yourself into
such a fix? i want you to tell me, so
that 1 can point out your case as a
horrible example to other young
men,"
well, said Ernest, its not a long
story and l don't mind telling It,"
Glad the agony's short" interrupt
ed Howard. II was afraid you We're
going to give it to me in spasms, on
the installment plan"
Ernest brushed the ashes off his
cigar, leaned forward in his chair and
began:
well, the matter is just this: You
know l was left an orphan at IS, that
your honored father, he's my guardian,
handed snug fortune over to ms
when l attained my majority two years
ago. You also know that immediate
ly invested several thousand dollars IN
your fathers profitable business and
that, having some property in this
neighborhood, which had never seen
decided TO couple business and pleas
uTe by spending my summer vacation
at this charming resort. You will re-
member that | came alone, as yoU
had accepted an invitation TO summer
at the seashore. OF course you tried
10 coax me to accompany you but my
business interests In this locality de.
manded my immediate personal atten-
tion. So, putting aside the pleasure oi
your companionship, 1 came here a!Jae
This brings Inc to my story proper"
That's the Introduction, you mean, y
said Tom. Now follows chapter I.
TO be continued in our next"
Ernest threw away his cigar and