The Opelousas courier., 1899-10-14

IN 1act the Scneme ratnef appealeo
to me, for of late things had not beer
going SO smoothly as 1 could have de
sired. It had seemed at times as
though Brooks was drawing away
from me in the race. Now a chance
had been offered. Once for all the
question would be settled. Then, my
luck was usually good. The plan was
not so agreeable to my rival. Doubt
less he felt that he had the advantage
of me and in entering into sucha game
was gambling to obtain what was o.
ready almost his own. He had nc
other course but to assent, though,
and he did it with rather bad grace.
cit seems hard" he said to Maria,
''but You will it, and 1 obey
ut is agreed, then" said she.
Brooks and | bowed. The three OF
us walked back to the house.
I was up early next morning at my
rooms in town. l had calculated
everything to a nicely. The postman
would reach the house at s. 10 o'clock.
The train for Elmwood left at 8
o'clock. Provided the contents OF
the note that [ expected were satisfac-
tory, [ would just have time to break
fast and reach the ferry. Should the
note prove to be the wrong one, Icer-
tainly would not need any breakfast
and much less to catch a train. | had
been awake at dawn; excitement had
driven sleep from my eyes, and the
dragging hours gave me more than
ample opportunity to figure out my
chances. I revolved over and over
again in my mind the history Of my
acquaintance with Maria Torriagton.
| reviewed My own life and picked
out incidents in it in which luck had
played a part, and I found such a bal
ance in my favor that I was almost
convinced that it was useless for me
to worry over the outcome of the game
of chance I was playing. Having
brought myself to a state of compare
tive confidence, I began to pack a
couple of bags full of clothes, for [ had
made up my mind to make a long stay
at the Torrington house while l was
about it. AS I stuffed my golf things
into a portmanteau I pictured Maria
and myself plodding yer the links to-
gether. AS I folded up my riding
clothes I thought of the gallops we
were to have, and I broke into song,
and as I sang ! forgot all about the
note that was then on its way to me
and worked awayas cheerily as though
it we're but the matter of an hour till
I was spec ling to her. But loud
knock at the door called me back to
realities, and when the hallboy held
toward me a square envelope addressed
in a small, angular hand, 1 realized
that, perhaps, after all my JOY had
been premature. Decidedly prema-
ture! The note was brief, SO brief
that in an instant I co]mprehended its
contents, sank into a chair and, tossing
the paper from me, repeated the fate
full words: "Miss Torrington regrets
that, owing to another engagement,
she cannot accept Mr.. Blanks kind
invitation to become his wife"
Why had I ever consented to risk
all on O mere throw of dice? Why
had I tried to win by a gamble what
other men worked, waited and suffered
for years to obtain? 1t would not
have been so bad had Parkinson, who
had been out Of the game a year, won
her. But that snob Brooks! He would
never have an opportunity to gloat
over me. I would go abroad. [ would
exile myself rather than witness n
of his triumph. I would take
the very next steamer-no! After all
it would but add to the satisfaction of
my rival to have me eating my heart
out in some foreign city. Far better
to stay right here in New York; to
work and become famous, to bring
home to the girl a full sense of what
she had lost by her foolish lottery.
But why should I waste my life in dull
office drudgery? Why should I, with
4 solid income inherited from indus
trious forefathers, throw awaythe good
Of this life for an empty bauble,
the sake ola petty revenge on a
silly woman. Silly woman? A bold
who had repaid my homage by
with me. Would a true
girl, a girl worth having, have
with a mans love as she. had
lone? She was a firt-an internal
1irt. How lucky was [ in getting the
wrong note-how fortunate! I sprang
rom my chair and danced around the
DOM, singing a snatch of a song. A
9ag, half packed for the journey,
my eye, andin a frenzy of Joy
kicked it and sent the contents flying
wei the flo +. -. 5s.ta-.
A knock at the door interrupted the
celebration Of my good fortune. 1t
vas the hallboy with a telegram.
I opened the despatch and read:
Dreadful mistake. Letters got
Sent you wrong note. Come.
IAR1A."-New York Sun.