The Bowbells tribune., 1900-02-23

take great pleasure out Of it. The post
man kindly stepped in the other day
and looked at it, and he admired 1t
much"
Miss Nelson hesitated between pru-
dence and amiability, and then, cast
ing selfish caution to the winds, she
went in. A prim, expensive, exquis-
itely neat, and altogether unhomelike
interior met her view.
Il had to do it quite alone" ex-
planned Mr.. Rumford. Il dare say a
lady can discover many deficiencies in
it, and l should be glad of sugges-
tions."
you must find it pleasant living on
the boulevard" said Miss Nelson.
"Oh, very, very! So many people
go by. would like to ask some of
them in, at times, but they might think
it strange. I'm much obliged to you
for coming in. 1t has made very
agreeable break in the day. I'm lit
tie solitary, you know. If it were not
for John should be quite dull
Miss Nelson was moved to shake
hands in saying farewell, and the hand
thai took hers was unexpectedly hard
with ancient callouses. She could not
make the man out. He was more of a
mystery than ever. -
She got in the way, after this, Of
adding some little word over the
phone, after the daily test of the wires,
and finally she confessed that it was
she who had called. Mr.. George
Whitman Rumford was greatly pleased
at this. He laughed and chatted about
it till Miss Nelson was obliged to ring
gift, but she refused-very gently-to
receive it. He asked to take her to
church. Sunday evening, but she felt it
to be best to refuse that courtesy, too.
He inquired whether he might not call
for her and escort her home. But she
did not accord him the permission. He
took these rebuffs sadly. One morn
ing there was no response when she
rang the bell, and after many trials
she made out that John was making
futile attempts to be heard. 1t was
John who mumbled over the wires for
four successive mornings.
Miss Nelson grew anxious, and called
personally at the house. John came to
the door, weeping.
"Mistah Rumfo'd he pass way dis
moh'nin', ma'am. He ask me ovah
and ovah las night, did you tes' the
wiahs yet. He mighty fon' OBJ answer
ing the phone, Mistah Rumfo'd."
Ida Nelson suffered pang such as
she had never felt before. It was re.
morse.
She went into the room where tho
undertaken and his assistants were,
having just finished their sorry task,
and she looked with penitence at the
white face of the loneliest man she had
ever known.
II ought to have had less propriety
and more humanity" she said to her
self.
1t was Miss Nelson, John, two or
three Of the neighbors, and Mr.. Rum.
ford's man of business who followed
the black coffin to the place of the
dead.
And the next week Miss Nelson had
all the mystery solved. The man of
business brought her manuscript. 1t
was written for her by the dead man,
and it contained simple story of a
man whose money had brought him
only isolation. With the manuscript
was gift.
when you receive this" the donor
had written, Il shall, be where you
cannot return it to me-"
my contemplate. selfish propriety!"
sobbed Ida Nelson. 'My cowardly
discretion! It's the biggest chance
ever had for giving happiness, and
missed it. l let it CO."
She was glad when her circuit was
changed, so that she would have no
further occasion to ring up Six-ninety-
six, Main."-Chicago Tribune.