The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-01-19

story tellers can never deceive you
You knew how it was to be from the
first. The plain one entered. The little
chap in Chile had been wrong; the
plain one was Esther
81 am so glad to see you," said our
sailor, thinking his Esther was to fol-
low. The real Esther stood there in
chagrin. Was this the ardent lover of
all those letters2
care you?" she said timidly.
"But, y he fumbled, sEsther2''
"Yes. dear, said she softly.
And then the situation began to
dawn on him horribly, luridly. He
stammered and remembered, even if
this were SO, and he began to act. But
what man can deceive woman at such
acting? She pushed him away.
"You thought?''
eyes" he confessed, IT thought"
ooh, Angus" she cried, "you have
made me such a fool. -
"Why, Esther, y he cried, trying to
retrieve himself.
"You thought I was Eleanor" she
persisted.
s'No. didn't, 1" he cried.
ooh, 1 know" she said coldly.
Glow horrid of mel But you would
never let me KNOW he said, weakly
admitting the truth.
sWe thought it a joke-you didn't
know, said Esther Driscoll, not think
ing how such a statement would sound.
"You thought it a joker" he re-
peated.
ooh, thought you knew-that you
must know. And you remember what
you said"
Yes, he did remember what he had
said-to make an impression that might
repeat itself in his praises to the sister.
And he said now:
"Why, Esther, don't be a goose.
meant it-every word. OF course knew
which was which?''
If he said this with all sincerity, she
repulsed him, and the more she did,
the more he began to think she was
worth while AS for her, she thought it
very fine and noble Of him. while she
hated herself
And just then the pretty one entered.
prettier than ever.
"Ah, you two" she said. 81 made
the proper delay"
"1t was, Eleanor, mistake" said
the plain Miss Driscon.
"A mistaken
He thought was you"
"Mel'' said the pretty Miss Driscoll,
blushing. "Now it couldn' It be-
81 never did. said Angus. begging
your pardon. But you know there is
only one Esther.
"She's a dear good girl" said the
pretty one
"The dearest in the world. F" And his
fb did not seem SO much one that
moment. The plain Miss Driscoll began
to weep.
"Please to go, she entreated.
II will co. said Angus. "But I
shall call again. I will prove to you
that am speaking the truth. What if
I did think you Eleanor? now know
you are Esther. Do you suppose can
forget those letters that made me happy
in the long watches, in an uncongenial
mess? You are Esther to me. and
( Esther you shall remain.
He said all this bit too much in
the strain of defamation, but he was
in earnest He felt he must persuade
her.
"Do go, please" she said.
''You would better co." said the
pretty one.
civil go now, he said. "Ihate my
self-for hurting you.
st am not hurt, y she said proudly.
"Ah, am then, he said, going out.
The pretty Miss Driscoll followed.
cts ridiculous" she said at the
door. "She ought to have known we
were only flirting"
"Only flirting r said Angus.
"Why, I was engaged then"
''Ah, you are Eleanor. had forgot
ten. Esther wrote that Eleanor was en-
gagged. 1 am very glad. Do tell her thai
have thought only of her. And he
paused. "she was the little girl whom
l played with so long ago-that bully
little girl. And she wrote that letter. ;
And then he laughed.
4 "Why, she was the Esther, after all. ;
He brushed by the pretty Miss Dris
coll and entered the room again. Sh
stood there, dry eyed now.
"It's ridiculous, she said, and Tn
dreadfully impolite. Do stay, at leas
for cup of tea
81 haven't time, . he said brusquely
Haven't timer" she asked in sur
prise at his manner.
"After the way you have treated me
Miss Driscoll !"
"You know wasn't to blame for tn