The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-11
OUT OF THE V4N.

he obviously cared no more for her. she
vss woman enough. The letter which
Walter crushed Tn his hand. as he sat
on the nail keg In the dark. stated
briefly but comprehensisely that all was
ever between them, and that Josephine
he'd already started. indefinitely. for the
West" to carry out her often expressed
desire to become a trained nurse. which
she had Temporarily held in abeyance
while contemplating the possibility ef be-
coming a wife.
Suddenly, Walter was startled by
crash. followed by brilliant fash OF
lightning. The sequence would nave
proved the crash not 10 be thunder, even
II the fiash had not revealed the cause OF
the noise TO be a large covered wagon
which had fallen into an excavation made
by the water company directly In front
OF the door. Walter hastily lighted the
lantern which he had brought to hang out
as warning, and jumped to the rescue
The wagon proved 20 be a large moving
van belonging to an auction warehouse.
II was crowded to the roof with all sorts
OF household furniture. and had split en-
tirely In two. exposing it's contents 70
the storm which was rapidly approach
ing.
promises OF indemnity for his careless
ness. and at once offered his empty rooms
for the temporary storage of the goods
until the storm would have passed and
another wagon could be procured. Throw
ing on his coat. he assisted the driver in
carrying the furniture into the house.
Half instinctively. and half from a curios-
ity to get the effect of the house with
furniture in it, he placed the various ar
ticles, so far as he could judge by the
faint rays of the lantern. in their appro-
pirate rooms. Two or three times in the
course OF their hurried work he thought
that there was something familiar in the
aspect OF some Of the larger pieces, but
it was not until the load was entireiy
slowed under shelter and the driver had
departed with his team for the stable.
that he was able to take in the fact that
his house was actually filed with Jose
phine Merrihew's household belongings.
The realization struck him all of a heap
No other phrase will adequately describe
bis sensations. and no phrase exists which
will describe the state of mind that in
duced him TO work all night long in ar
ranging everything exactly as if it were
to remain there indefinitely, as If ii had
come to stay. He even unrolled the rugs.
OF which there were rumber, and laii
them down in the different rooms. He
laboriously put the books in their shelves
and placed the last song she had sung for
him on the piano. II seemed TO him that
be was working out weird sort Of pen
ance for his thoughtless conduct, and yet
there was a certain melancholy satisfac-
ton as we'll
When his work was done, the first rays
Of the dawn were coming In through
the east windows. Then, as ne surveyed
the rooms all set in order, they seemed 70
be permeated with the spirit OF the owr-
er, and he knew that he could never allow
them tc be taken away. Far better than
any new furniture they fitted into the
house that she had helped to plan
The driver had told him that they were
to be sold, as the owner was giving up
her home 1t only remained for Walter
to buy them anonymously at a liberal
price, and then to lock the house up and
to keep it a memorial to his shattered
hopes. Walter had worked all night on
an empty stomach and was in a morbid
state of mind.
At o'clock he washed up. put on his
coat and hat. and went to the storage
warehouse to clinch the bargain, and his
determination. The transaction was soon
completed. as the proprietor stated that
the lady was waiting for the proceeds OF
the sale to enable her to start on her
journey.
Indeed" he added. as he signed the
receipt. ''you will probably find the lady
at your house, as she has just heard of
the accident and has gone TO look after
her things"
Walter had been somewhat noted as a
sprinter in his younger days, but he prob
ably made record time that morning In
getting back to the house.
And Josephine did not so out West af-
ter all.
icopyright 1900 Daily Story Publishing Comnanxl d