El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-25
A DARK MISTAKE
It II Unsafe to Mako Love With
ont Seeing the Object of
AfTection.

Observation-Disclosures llhf1llIlllllifE
"No use burning all these lights
down here. FL just have to fill them
IA the morning, and 10 use making me
work for nothing" and the old sexton
turned down the one lamp burning in
the chandelier in the room and went
out, leaving the door ajar. The light
fickered for a few moments until an
outer door was opened, and then, with
one bright flash, it died out.
Up stairs there was much laughing
and talking as the busy hands put the
finishing touches to the church decora-
tons for the morrow.
There. think that is as well as we
can do and Nellie Collier stepped
back to survey the work. 1--WE need a
small piece of rope to reach across that
seat yet, DOCTOR" she said, turning to
DR.. aham, who was standing beside
her 1.-TWO of those letters in that cen
ter motto are crooked. You straighten
them, please, while L get the rope. L
know where there is a piece that will
just do and she hurried down the
stairs and ran against Mr.. Pitcairn as
he was entering his study.
"Whewi Dark as 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 a 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, I want to tell you some
thing he said, taking hold of the
hands which were full of rope.
81 have been wanting to tell you for
q long time that I love you. I don't
think that you can be surprised, for
you must have seen that I love you
dearly, and hope that it has not been
distasteful to you, has it?"
There was no answer, but there was
NO attempt to withdraw the hands that
he held.
Il am not an adept at lovemaking,
darling. Will you be my wife, Nellie?"
Il never thought that you cared for
me-" she murmured. You never no.
ticed me much, and I thought you
cared for Others came in a low voice.
Il must have hid my feelings more
than 1 thought, but it was because 1
loved you so that you thought that 1
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?''
II a " fhn
but he suddenly clasped her in his
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 SO small.
81 must be going, darling" he said |
at last as he heard some one entering |
the next room. "There is a commit |
tee meeting in my study. L will come !
up stairs as soon as 1 can" and, Civ |
ing her a last kiss, he hurried from |
the room.
He was in no humOr for business |
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 |
Dne had gone, but Nellie, Ibis Nellie"
was busy arranging some last flowers !
in a 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 as he ap-
preached.
What do you think of the decora-
tions?" she asked.
They are fine, very fine" he answer
I'd, trying TO meet her glance, but she
had turned back to DR.. Graham, and
'or moment he was angry.
"PShawi How unreasonable L am
lie sSid to himself. How much more
thoughtful she is so as not to attract
attention.
So he walked away until he saw her
to leave.
"Are you ready to go now?' he asked
N a low tone. DO you want to take I
his basket along?"
"Why, yesAbut." she hesitated an
instant, "Dr. Graham will help me
with my things"
He suddenly dropped the basket
why, Nellie, it is my place, not that
he exclaimed
Nellie Golfers face flushed. 81 do
lot see how you can claim that right
my more than you have to speak of
DR.. Graham in that manner" she said
"Why, Nellie, think that what pass