The gazette., 1900-01-13

Mr.. Fem, with sudden heartiness
grasped the slender gloved hand ex
tended to him. "Good-by," he said
you came in like the spring sun
shine, Miss Lucy"
After the girl had gone Fem sat fol
some moments lost in thought. How
many memories the girl had stirred
within him! How like she was to that
other girl-Ellen-whom he had once
known.
With deep sigh he turned, from
force of habit, to the watch before
him. He well remembered that disa-
greeable little monitor which had dis
turbed so many pleasant hours! His
accustomed fingers pressed the large
old-fashioned plate which protected
the works from dust, and there fel
into his hands a folded paper, yell
lowed with age, which opened as he
reverently touched it.
There, exposed to view, was the face
of the young man who had glanced
back at him from the mirror, and with
it was a withered violet, which lightly
fluttered out. 1t was brown and dry,
but it preserved its freshness and
fragrance in a faithful woman's heart
well knew.
For a long time Mr.. Fem sat ga2-
ing at these relics of sunny past, his
hand over his eyes, his expression lit
tie betraying the disturbance within.
Finally he shook his head sorrowfully.
"Did Fem look like that?" he
thought. ''Was there ever time when
1 was really happy? 1 have changed
in appearance"-he smiled bitterly
"and not for the better, but l have
also grown in charity. What young
fool | was! To have such happiness
within my grasp and then to scorn it
to throw it away--because l was too
proud to demand an explanation! All,
WE'LL" He reused himself and looked
up in his old, absent-minded way at a
woman who stood awaiting his atteE-
ton. Her eyes were riveted upon the
paper in his hands1she had not
glanced at Mr.. Fenn's face-while his
gaze never left her countenance dur
ing their entire interview.
II see," she said, in low, faltering
tones, that you have already opened
the watch my sister brought" AS she
spoke the color rose in her face in the
same dear old fashion, taking away
the pressure of the years, until she
seemed a girl again in the eyes of the
man who watched her.
"Yes," he said, gently, "but do not
begrudge me my peep into paradise,
Ellen"
At the first sound of his voice she
had glanced incredulously up, her
knees trembling under her as she lis
tened-and looked.
Edward" she gasped. 'Why, il
can't be Edward"
"Yes," he said, reassuringly, putting
his hand over hers as it clutched at
his desk. ''Why not? We were
bound to meet some day, you know"
"Yes," she murmured, 81 have al
ways felt that if you were living !
should see you again." Her eyes fell
under his and rested on the relics on
his desk. But these things'-he1
flush deepened-"I am sorry you ever
saw them"
"Oh, no, Ellen, not sorry, but glad.
Stay, L will show you my treasures"
AS he spoke he drew forth his own
timepiece and opened the back There,
smiling up at him, was her own face
as it had looked 20 years before, fresh
in its girlish beauty.
"All these years." she asked. "Have
you never married, then, Edward?"
Married some one else, Ellen? You
know better-you must have known
better all the time"
"Yes," she whispered, 81 knew"
ELLEN" he urged, softly, lone day,
ever so many years ago, a boy said
to you that he would never ask you
for love again. He does not, but a
man does-now. He asks you for i'll
that boy threw away, because he has
wanted it all his life"
What do you mean?" she asked,
Nothing to frighten you, dear. l
want you to marry me still. I have |
wanted you every day since we parted |
but 1 thought you had long ago mar
is no use going into that.
We are not children now. How do you
feel about it, Ellen? Are you willing
TO pass the rest of your life with me?'
Ellen lifted her eyes to his-eyes
n
deemed from age by the radiant light
If love within them.
81 will do just as you say" she said,
simply.
Promptly the matchmaker stepped
'ut from behind his desk, passed her
nand through his arm and approached
he astonished proprietor.
Il want a vacation, SIR" he said. 81
haven't asked for one in many years,
'ut 1 want one now. My assistant
an do all the work we are likely to
lave at this time of the year"
II shall be glad to give it to you,
lr. Fem, but why have you decided
o suddenly"
''Well, you see, sir" Fem replied,
this lady has just consented to be-
ONE my wife, and we have waited so
ong for our honeymoon that we want
proportionately long honeymoon
ow."-Chicago Tribune.
He Was Mistaken.
The young man was telling the
oung lady that he believed there
lust be some sort of affinity between
hem. And he went on to say that
he other day when he was walking