Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-09-21

Miss Murdoch was seated at the piano
in the drawing her shapely an
gers wandering dreanily over the keys,
when servant knocked at the door.
"a gintleman to see yer, MISS" said
the maid.
"a caller!" exclaimed Agnes, in sur
prise. "At this time of day? Did he
give you his card9"
"No, miss. Nor his name, nayther."
well, then, Mary" said Agnes, With
q mixture Of amusement and severity
"why do you announce him? I think
you would better keep an eye on the
hat-rack."
"He amt no thafe, MISS" said the
maid, positively; she do be dressed up
too foine fur that. Besoides, Olive sane
him here before. A hansum young
Teller wild rid hair-Nfister-M
chapman"
"Chathaml" suggested Agnes, with
sudden seriousness.
"Yis, miss; 1t do be the same"
II cannot receive him." said Miss
Murdoch, in frigid tones. II am sur
prised that John should have admitted
him, after the explicit instructions
gave him yesterday. Hereafter I am
never at home to Mr.. Chatham"
"Your butler is not at fault in this
instance" said voice from the hall
way, and before either of the women
could recover from her surprise, a
fashily dressed young man with in
tensely red hair entered the room. He
carried his left arm in sling. His
face was pale; his eyes glittered with
a feverish light; his voice quivered
with depressed excitement.
II was waiting for your father in
his Office, when heard your maid go
by, and asked her to announce me.
hoped for, but can hardly say
expected, more hospitable recep-
ton"
Miss Murdoch, after the first shock
of surprise, had drawn up her grace
full figure to its full height, and stood
looking at the young man with undis-
guised contempt in her flashing eyes.
Chatham paused as If expecting a
reply; and then:
SHALL 1 explain the object of my
visit before your servant?" he asked,
bitterly.
''You may leave, Mary, until I ring
for you," said the young girl, turning
to the maid.
The woman reluctantly left the
room, casting curious glances upon
her young mistress and her unwel-
come guest as she went.
Chatham made motion as If to
take q chair; but Agnes remained sig
nifcantly standing.
Perhaps" she said, coldly, "you
will be good enough to explain as
briefly as possible your object in fore.
ing your presence upon me in this I'm.
gentlemanly way?"
Il suppose my conduct does strike
you as ungentlemanly," said the
young man, piteously; "but what could
do? I love you devotedly, madly,
and you will not allow me even to
tell you so. You instruct your serv-
ants to turn me away from the door
like beggar. Is it a crime to love
you?"
mo, Mr.. Chatham" said the girl
more gently, sit is not crime to love
woman; but it is at least serious
blunder to adopt the method you have
selected of showing your affection,
and it is certainly not generous to
force it upon her as you are doing"
'What else can I do?" he repeated,
doggedly "Here am suddenly
obliged to leave New York for long
time-perhaps forever-and unable to
get single word with you. I called
yesterday morning and was informed
that you were at that artist fellows
studio. Then I wrote you letter,
asking for an interview, and left it
there for you myself. The only notice
you took Of 1t was to give instructions
to your butler not to admit me II /
called again. I cannot go away like
that, without a ray of hope to tighten
my exile, and to leave you here sur
rounded by lot of men who are
anxious to marry you"
The tender-hearted girl felt grow
4AA6 plOy III Vic dWAWdla ullo
young man in whom she began vague
" to discern genuine suffering.
II am sorry, Mr.. Chatham" she
said, more sorry than can say.
But what can I do? I do not care
for you in the way you wish, and at
lection is not to be coerced. / have
done the best could to discourage
you, because"
II know you have" interrupted
Chatham; you have avoided me. and
snubbed me, and taken every way you
could to show that you do not like
me-"
"It would have been mistaken kind
ness to do otherwise" said Agnes,
gently.
mo, It wouldn't" exclaimed the &C.