The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-01-05

Ell ub tlis eNeulhk WouiA CcS.
give me the right"
"Why Mr.. Pitcairn, what could pos.
slbly have passed between us? You
must be Ia boring under some mistake"
she exclaimed In surprise. III saw you
when you came into the church and
had scarcely spoken to you until you
came mere q few minutes ago"
what do you near after what was
said In the anteroom when you were
after rope|
"Mr. Pitcairn. II you had any CONVEX
eation with any II down stairs 1t GER
talnly was not with mt. went down
after rope, but | "a not gone two min
utes. and you must remember that |
was not the only n who had been
down stairs after things. and II you
have made any arrangements to nc
company n young lady home this even.
Ing 1t was not with your humble serv.
ant" and her black eyes danced merri-
~. and he knew that she vas enjoying
his discontinue.
Mr.. Pitcairn grew pale.
"Ill forgive you for calling DR.. Ora.
ham a fellow II you don't do 1t again,
for he is"--she hesitated and blushed-
"a very particular friend Of mine, and
you and l have been such good friends
that l will tell you a secret--we are en-.
gagged"
"Oh. you little torment! | might have
known that you would try he ex.
claimed, his face all aglow.
"Why. Mr.. Pitcairn. how could you
have known It, when W did not know
It ourselves until this evening? And l
don't know what the doctor will say to
my telling YOU"
Mr.. Pitcairn staggered back against
a seat. Ill wish you every happi-
ness" he stammercd. then he turned to
examining the flowers until after they
had left the church. He felt dazed, and
he certainly plnched himself to see that
he was not dreaming rs he went down
stairs to his study.
"A pretty kettle Of fish I've got into"
he exclaimed. as he threw himself into
a chair and kicked the footstool which
Miss Reynolds had made across the
room. Lost the girl | wanted and en-
gagged myself to something | don't
want, and | haven't any idea who 1t
Isl"
He lit a match and went over to the
anteroom. There lay a piece OF rope on
the floor and beside 1t a daintily per.
fumed handkerchief. He picked them
up and went back to his study. He re-
membered now that he noticed the
scent Of violets rs he held her In his
arms. 1t cost him a struggle to give up
Nellie Collier. He sat and thought un-
til long after midnight. He studied
over all the Nellies Of his congregation.
There was Miss Reynolds, but she was
too stout. he thought, with a great sigh
Of relief; Miss Mattern was too tnll. 1t
was some one whose head just reached
his shoulder. He had called her Nellie,
he was certain Of that. with some 0
eplthets thrown In. She was small and
dainty and, whoever she was, evident
ly loved him.
II he found she was some II who
would not suit him, well. he would
have to get out OF 1t In some way
But. whoever she was, her presence
seemed to haunt him rs he sat there,
He could feel her arms around his
neck and the pressure OF her head
against his shoulder, and he felt an
intense longing to again hold the little
white ROBBED figure In his arms and feel
her warm breath on his cheek. And
h%e--dignined minister that he was
picked IN the handkerchief and kissed
It passlonately.
He scarcely knew how he got
through the next day. He was thank
full that the services were such that
he did not have to give a regular SER
mon. lie studiously avoided looking
at the choir, where Nellie Collier was
sitting, until near the close Of the
evening services. when, while Nlinol
Vandever was singing a solo, he turned
that way, and for a moment their eyes
met, her voice faltered for an lnstan,
and then rang out clear and sweet. HI
nearly let the hymnbook he was hold
Ing full to the floor in his surprise. AM
a sudden feeling Of relief came ovel
him.
ElInor Vandever! He had never
thought Of her, and yet he knew tina
her pet name at home was Nellie. Sht
had always been SO reserved that III
had never dreamed that she woult
care for him, but there was no mis-
taking that look.
"What a dear little thing she Is.
don't think that l will want to give he
up. IL have been very Fortunate
he said to himself us he met her at thu
foot OF the stairs and drew her littl'
hand on his arm. Last evening yo'
didn't He paused n moment.
"You-you were not angry" sh'
whispered ~anxiously. "You We're bus!
talking to Nellie Collier, and Aunt Min
ME was ready to 60. and | didn't know
how to get out of not going along will
her. thought you would understand
It,"
well, II | didn't have you last nigh
7 bon, yn,, tnnluht ,, ha Snl1 an1arl