Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-02-13

accomplished. he proceeded to address
two envelopes. one 10 Miss Marie Weid
ar / the other TO Miss Gladys Atherton,
an he inclosed half heart In each.
The writing Of the addresses occu-
pied nearly three hours. for each letter
..ul MINERAL was traced with great
care from n collection Of old notes and
scraps OF penmanship which Mr.. Mel
lin took from q locked drawer In his
desk. When this task was completed,
he exclaimed. In tone expressive OF
grim satisfaction:
well. II that doesn't look like Jim
Carrington's writing, I'm an Eskimo"
He stamped the envelopes and went
out into the night to mail them In the
letter box on the corner.
"They will get those things tomof-
row." said he to himself. ''and they
will say: why did Jim Darlington
send me half valentine? What did
he do with the other halfT Each girl
will tell her particular friends, and
they will tell one another, and the
story will get out Everybody will
laugh except Jim, and he will run for
his life. 1t will serve him right for
making love to two girls at once. No
fellow has a right to do that, and. by
lingo. no fellow Is smart enough to do
II long, though Jim Darlington thinks
that he is."
He continued to ruminate upon the
approaching doom Of Darlington and
the fate Of sinners In general until his
cigar was burned out, when he betOok
himself to bed.
II must not be supposed that In act
Ing as the agent Of retributive justice
Mr.. Mellin was prompted entirely BY
motives Of abstract propriety or by q
desire to reform his friend Darlington.
The fact is that Mr.. Mellin was in love
with Miss Weld.
In all his experience he was
nearly 22-he had never felt such an
absorbing passion. Although he had
not mentioned the matter to the young
lady herself, he had discussed 1t with
the moon and stars and with the vari-
GUS articles of furniture In his room.
even with the ledger Of the bank where
he earned his living. Among the Imam
innate objects with which he was asso-
eiated the reality and strength of Mr..
Mellin's love were well known and
sympathetically regarded.
Mr.. James Arthur Darlington waa
not the sort Of man to address the
moon upon a subject Of this nature. II
was much more like him to speak to
the girl about II. Dlffidence was the
least of his faults, as the French say
and he was seldom at loss In con.
yersation, no matter which way 4
might tend.
Yet Mr.. Darlington had never told
Miss Weld that he was In love Will
her. He did not believe 1t himself
Indeed he was not perfectly sure tina
he loved anybody, though In the cas'
| of Miss Atherton he held his heart Il
be seriously under suspicion.
The two girls were members OF dif
| ferent social circles, In both Of which
Mr.. Darlington was welcomed It wal
not In his nature to be In any set
very long without selecting some yount
woman a. the object Of his particular
attentions, and that was the reasol
why he happened to interfere with thu
course of Mr.. Mellin's destiny.
| Mr.. Mellin was the sort Of man Wit
believes In repressing and disgulsinl
emotion. Il was like him to sit In th'
corner Of q ballroom and glover .
Miss Weld while Mr.. Carrington dane
ed with her. Mr.. Carrington did no
understand such Z nature or sympa
thise with It He liked to zee every
body have good time, and he believe<
that Miss Weld would have . mucl
bottoe time with him than with n