Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-11-16

cherishing any false hopes. This is
all 1 have to say, and no reply will be
expected AgEL MrTcHg11,"
The young girl drew the sheet from
the machine, and bringing it forward
laid it on the old mana desk. Abel
glanced it through.
"a beautiful copy" he said, aud
carefully folded it. Then he placed
1t In an envelope and dipped pen in
ink.
II do not know his address," he
said, aud knit his brows
The girl at the end Of the desk ex.
tended her hand.
''If you have no objection" she
quietly said, Il will deliver it to him
in person
The old man looked up at the fair
face bending over him.
why, who are you" lie cried
II AIN Alice MITCHELL said the
young girl
MITCHELL" repeated Abel, daily.
"Mmy sons wife, And what"
but the ngly words would not come.
lie could not inter them in the light
OF those gentle eyes. "Will you be
scated?" he lamely added.
Thank you, no., said the girl.
Il have bat few words to say; they
viii not detain you long" Ahel's
gaze dropped to the letter and the
will, aud sarcastic smile twisted his
mouth. NO, no." the girl quickly
added. II have not come to plead
with you. You are quite wrong to
imagine such thing. And you were
quite wrong. too, to insult me ss you
did IN that letter" he looked up
again quickly rhero were tears in
the gentle eyes. And there was
CLINT OF fire i'll them, too. ''Iou in
suited me aud YOU insulted my dear
father. l have no mother" She
paused a moment "When you in
situated that lly father was mercenary
in this matter you did him a cruel
wrong He was bitterly opposed to
orr marrying 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 reproachfui gaze.
Perhaps ! was hasty,' he slowly
said, ':but the provocation was great.
Then lie quickly added: But, know
ing as you did that I opposed the
wedding, and your father opposed it,
too, why did you permit yourself to
marry my boy
y could make it clear to you,
think said the girl gently, elf you
loved your boy"
The old man trembled. II he loved
his boy: All that was near and dear
to him-all that was left to him Of
kith aEd kin. The babe that dying
wife had soleu u,nly placed in his
paternal arms. If he loved his boy
He drew lon breath and stared
hard at the bla nix envelope on the
desk before him
"And now," aid the young girl,
81 only want to ndd that think jim
was quite wrong in crossing your
wishes. He mi ght have waited. I
wanted him to wait. But he is SO
proud, self-willed. I am very sorry
that I should be the means OF sepa-
rating you, and, I am quite sure am
not worth the great sacrifice nay dear
my husband-has made
Abel was quite sure there were
tears in her eyes again, bu. he did
not look up.
where is Jim now?' he asked.
Then ho smiled grimly. and why
are you not enjoying your-your we'd
ding tour
There was vacancy III the BAN
where my father is employed" said
the girl, "and father secured it for
jim. His duties began to-day. Per
haps We will take our wedding lonr
nev later. We have to look out care
fully for the main chance now, you
know"
And YOU didn't expect TO fall back
on my dollars?' sail the old man.
Not penny OF them quickly re.
piled the girl.
The old man tidgeted in his chair.
And Why not?" lo asked.
Il .nink you understand. said the
girl ana her gaze dropped to the let
ter oil tie desk.
'No. 81 leas. he dldn. know I
was coming. Father will .e.! him to
NEE. nc a. the corner at o'c.ocs.
must go.
Wait. said tue old man quickly
He looked at her searchinEiv. Sh.
met his gaze with a smile. Her mind
was on Jim.
Abel deliberately put the VIII bach
iu;o the envelope, and the envelope
IN its pigeonhoe Then he picked u.
the letter in It's unadiressel envelope.
tore il into minute particles and tossed
them .ato the basket.
"i've changed my m.nl, !" lie softly
uuttered
He pulled down lis desk cover viii
bang aud reached FOR his Lat.
There" lie sail. In ready.
Then lie added. VIE YOU give =,
your arm. my dear As they passet
through the doorway hc paused
II think, Alice he said. that yot