The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-04-05

!, ,<ythrg seemed to oance Derore nls eyes
Unfolding the slip up to the light, Mors
n3le stared at It, puzzled and bewilder
cd, his system undergoing something yer,
j. .Hke an electric shock. Good news haI
,often just such an effect.
= Could 1t be q joke or q hallucination
Morsdale read 1t over and over again
with increasing ecstasy after each pc
rusal. No. it was not dream. There Il
was In black and white, Just as sure and
solid as the rock Of Gibraltar.
Hereafter it should be +. Haroldson
Morsdale. and the sign would swing from
one of the big Office buildings on Broad
way. Steadying bis senses after awhile
and with full realization Of all that q
hundred thousand meant to him, Mors-
dale diyed into his pocket and brought
out blue tinted envelope family redo.
lent of fresh violets. His eyes rested
on the envelope in dreamy contemplation
for moment. and the familiar signature
caused his heart to throb faster and with
hope such as he had not known before.
Singularly enough. it was an invitation
to call that very afternoon. MY red
letter day." said Morsdale to himself as
he locked his office door and ran whis-
tling down three flights of narrow stairs.
As be walked on through the gathering
shadows, the light of the dying day
touching everything with soft radiance,
he fell to dreaming of past vicissitudes
and then Of the new vista Of possibilities
about to open up before him. He knew
that his talent was no mean one and felt
with thrill of pride that. the desire Of
his heart fulfilled. there would be nothing
lacking to make bis career a successful
one.
And then there came lurking doubt,
as there always will. perhaps she did not
care for him in that way at all or. worse
still. care for somebody else! The thought
caused him momentary pang; but,
thrusting 1t aside with the sanguineness
Of youth, he hurried on his way with
1uickened pulse. As he drew near be
swept the veranda with half anxious,
half expectant eyes for signs of her. The
next instant he was standing on the stone
step and she coming forward with out
stretched hand to receive him.
80 glad to see you." she said. with
her pretty charming accent. which bare
ly missed drawl. while the peach flush
on her face deepened just trife.
81 hardly hoped to find you alone"
began Morsdale in his frank, genial way,
making no effort to conceal his delight.
She was smiling up at him with dash
Of light in her fine gray eyes. and the
twilight, playing in soft gray shadows on
her cloudy gown, brought out the pure
transparency Of her face. Morsdale flung
one knee over the other and then back
again, regarding her the while with ad-
miring eyes. He fully intended to say it,
but with absolutely no experience in that
particular line the question arose as to
"prelimnnries"
After debating for q moment he Tipped
the ashes from the end of his cigar and
leaned closer to her, sudden resolve in
his face
"Miss Dolores
He looked at her a little obviously a.
her eyes met his in questioning way,
and the faintest Of smiles glinted about
her curved lips. YES" she said, draw
Ing jacqueminot rose from among the
fluffy laces that framed her throat and
with nervous fingers plucking out the
crimson, velvety petals.
She gave him side glance and smooth
ed out the folds of her gown. 1t was a
little way she had Indicative Of undivided
attention.
Morsdale took on added courage.
He fixed his dark eyes on her search
ingy and said:
II have had good news-such good
news" he reiterated, with glow of
pride as he Watched her narrowly for |
some answering light.