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

A DARK MISTAKE
It 10 Unsafe to Make Love with.
out seeing the Object III
AffeCtiOn.

IN the LlOruluS. uuu ~ uSV 'N
work for nothing" and the old sexton
turned down the ont lamp burning III
the chandelier In the room anu went
out, lea wing the door njar. The light
fickered for a few moments until an
outer door was opened. and then. with
one bright fash. 1t died out.
Up stairs there was much mugh'ng
and talking us the busy hands put the
finishing touches to the church decorA'
lions for the morrow.
"There. | think that Is as well us we
can do" and Nellie Collier stepped
back to survey the work. I'VE q e Il
small piece OF rope to reach across that
seat yet, DOCTOR" she said, turning to
DR.. Graham, who was standing beside
her. "Two OF those letters In that cen
ter motto are crooked. You strnighten
them, please. while ! get the rope. !
know where there Is n piece that Will
lust do" and she hurried down the
stairs and ran against MIR. Pitcairn as
he was entering his study.
"Whew! Dark MS can be-" she said
half aloud as she entered the small an.
teroom and felt her way over the closet
under the stairs.
Mr.. Pitcairn went into his study, his
thoughts In Il tumult. For months Mel
lie Golfers laughing face had been
haunting him. and he often found that
his eyes rested on her when he was
preaching. .
He waited a few minutes and then
met the little white robed figure as she
was about leaving the room.
"Nellie, l want to tell you some.
thing" he said, taking hold OF the
hands which were full of rope.
II have been wanting to tell you for
a long time that | love you. don't
think that you can be surprised, for
you must have seen that | love you
dearly, and | hope that 1t has not been
distasteful to you, has itT
There was no answer, but there was
no attempt to withdraw the hands that
he held.
II am not IN adept at lovemaking,
darling. VIII you be my wife, NellieT
II never thought that you cared for
me-" she murmured. You never no.
ticed me much. and I thought you
cared for Others" came In n low voice.
81 must have hid my feelings more
than l thought. but It was because |
loved you so that you thought that |
neglected you. A minister Is watched
so much and has to be SO very careful.
But can you love me, darling, enough
to be my wife"
He could scarcely hear the answer,
but he suddenly clasped her In his
arms. No matter what happened for
a few minutes. 1t was the first time
that he had been In love, and the room
was dark. He remembered afterward
that he even then felt surprised to find
that she was 80 small.
II must be going, darling" he said
at last as he heard some one entering
the next room. "There Ia a commit
tee meeting In my study. will come
UP stairs as 0 as | can" and, CIV
Ing her a last kiss. he hurried from
the room.
He was In no humor for a business
meeting, and the good brethren must
have thought that their young minis
ter was growing frivolous, he seemed
so light hearted and laughed several
times when they were discussing i'm
portant business. The truth was he
scarcely knew what was said or done,
and as soon as the last one had depart.
ed he hurried up stairs. Nearly every
one had gone, but Nellie, "his Nellie"
was busy arranging some last flowers
In n vase, and DR.. Graham was stand
Ing beside her and whispering some.
thing to her while she just shook her
head and laughed.
Nellie merely glanced UP rs he ap.
preached.
what do you think Of the decora.
tons" she asked.
"They are fine. very fine," he answer.
ed. trying to meet her glance, but she
had turned back to DR., Graham, and
for a moment he was angry.
"Pshaw! How unreasonable am
he said to himself. "How much more
thoughtful she Ia so as not to attract
attention"
So he walked away until he saw hel
preparing to leave,
"Are you ready to go nowW he asked
In n low tone, "Do you want to take
this basket al0ngT
"Why, y%es--but," she hesltated M
instant, "Dp, Graham will help ms
with my things"
lie suddenly dropped the basket,
"Why. Nellie, 1t II my place, not tina
fellows" no exclaimed,
Nellie Golfers face flushed, ~ df
not sec how you can claim that RICH
any more than you have TO speak Of
Dr.. Graham In that manner" she saif
h~aNghtiiy,
"Why, Nellie, think that what pass