The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-10-18

Il
into her confidence on the subject Of
her engagement and her ailments.
~ love Guy dearly" sighed ehe;
"but shall never live 10 marry him"
ooh, nonscnsel" said Cousin Elsie,
cheerfully.
"You will sec," said jennie, fore
bodingly. 81 have n prcsentimcnt,
and my prcson,imente always comes
true"
Guy Elmending was considerably
astonished when frat ho saw Miss
Elsie Brown. There were no buo
spectacles, no forty years. no extreme
and rosy, with glossy brown hnir, lips
like cherries, and the brightcst of vio-
lot blue eyes, and she was hardly
twenty.
Guy became fast friends with her nj
once. Doctor Mntiison, who was n
middlo-aged bachelor. did no also; aud
the house was more cheerful than II
had been for months.
"A year to-day since jamie has left
her roDmP" said Guy, aoberly
"And yet sho doesn't Hook sick"
Nhiu DUNNitu fiSie.
"Sho isn't sickr' said Doctor Mat
tison. "Come, Miss Elsie, chal-
lengo you TO n game Of chess"
"Well," said Elsie, ''hero is tho
board"
'Let us sit by this window" said
tho doctor, moving his chair.
"Whyp"
because there's n neighbor oppo-
site-Miss Salina Settlcgate."
II was about week afterward that
jamie was sitting listlessly in her room,
hearing merry voices below stairs,
and wondering why their owners did
not come up stairs 10 share her dreary
vigil, when tap, soft and low as the
tick Of a French clock, sounded on
the door.
"Come inl" sighed jamie.
And Miss Salina Settlegate rustIed
into the room.
Miss Salina Settlegato would have
made very good realization Of Mr..
Elmerding's fancied idea of Cousin
Elsie. She wore spectacles, although
they were not exactly blue; she was
hard on the borderland Of tho forties,
and she had long, pointed nose,
that looked ns il IL might have been
sharpened by prying into other peo-
ple's business.
Excuse my intrusion" said Miss
Salina; "but have felt 80 sorry for
you"
jamie coldly inclined her head. She
didn't like Miss Salina, and she could
not imagine what excess Of imperti-
nence had brought the woman.
"Yes." said Miss Salina, especial
ly since that bold ones come here,
who ilirts 30 auda-ciously with your.
ahoml-your young man"
"Flirtsl" cried jamie, turning pink
andwhite, like sweet. pea blossom.
81 make il rule never TO pry
into other folks affairs" said Miss
Salina, "but with your windows ex-
actly opposite, / can't help seeing
what ia going on. How can she be so
treacherous, with her chess playing,
and her 'Emblems Of Flowers and
her reading poetry out of the same
books, and-I saw il with my own
eyes, my dear-his arm around her
waist?"
''It can't be possiblel' cried jamie.
"They're down stairs now, tete-a-
totel" said Miss Salina. "You can
surprise 'em, il you've mind to-"
jamie grew pale. Real trouble
eflectually banished fancied ailments
from her mind; springing lightly to
her feet, she hurried down stairs.
with step that was wonderfully
light and free for such q chronic in
valid.
Miss Salina shuiled down after
her, and noiselessly opened tho door.
"Therel" said Miss Salina, "I told
you SO. Sparkin' on the sofy, side by
side."
jamie, whose nerves were strung to
tho highest possible tension, uttered
a.Glittle, hysterical laugh. Cousin
Elsie was sitting on the sofa, indeed,
with gentleman beside her, but it
was not Guy Elmerding.
doctor Mattison" cried she.
Exactly" said Doctor Mattison.
rising to his feet. $50 we have sue
ceeded? Much obliged to you, Miss
Settlegate."
"Ain't it the right young man?" de.
manded the spinster, rubbing her
long nose.
"Oh, yes-it's the right young
mani" said jamie, unable to repress a
laugh, mortified as she was at her
own foundationless jealousy. Dear
Elsie, why didn't you tell me?"
Because" Elsie made answer,
radiant with smiles and bushes, eve
have only been engaged for about five
minutesl'
"And Guy?"
"Guy knows nothing Of it as yet"
answered DIR. Mattison, "but I shall |
suggest to him that his wedding take
place at the same time"
At the same moment, Mr.. E.merding
opened the door.
"Hellop said he. "Janie!'
eyes, Janiel" and she came for