Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-10-04

nish a sufficient reason for desponden
cy. 1T was rumored that the object of
his affections was on the eve OF be-
trothal to another. But what depend
ence can be placed upon public ru-
NOR? As matter of fact Miss Muir
dock wore no rings; in the absence of
the badge of the betrothed woman,
was he not justified in believing her
fancy free?
In that case. there was fair field
and no favor. Why should not he have
as good a chance of winning the prize
as another man? No man. of course,
was worthy of Agnes Murdoch. That
was the fundamental axiom. But in
love success does not perch only upon
the banner of the worthy. lfit did, the
human race would soon become eX-
tinct.
So the young mans thoughts ran on,
while hope once more found resting
place in his heart.
Miss Murdoch was not TO pose again,
but Sprague was eager to work on the
portrait. He was about to step into
| the studio after breakfast, when the
| lawyer, who wished to consult him
about some important matters. The
| entire morning was thus consumed in
necessary but tedious business, and it
was not until after luncheon that the
artist was al last free to set to work.
| Uncovering the portrait, he stood off
to examine it. AS he did so, something
white upon the floor caught his eye.
He stopped to pick it up. 1t was let
ter in beautifully regular masculine
! hand. Mechanically he turned it over
and unfolded it. His eyes carelessly
swept the written page; then in flash
he realized what it was, and he flung it
violently from him.
Only few words had left their i'm
press upon his retina-a few scattered
words and a signature. But these were
branded deep upon his brain for all
time, in letters of fire which burned
their way to his very soul. For he had
recognized the letter which had been
delivered by the messenger to Miss
Murdock the day before, and he had
seen enough to know that it was
couched in words of passionate love. In
that instant was quenched the last ray
of hope which had lurked within his
heart. Overwhelmed with a sense of
utter desolation, he sank back upon a
divan, and for a long time remained
lost in bitter reflections.
But Spraguc, in spite of his dilet-
tanteism, was 4 man of grit when oc-
casion called for it. Summoning at
length his fortitude and his pride, he
proceeded to carry out what he con
ceived TO be the duty OF a gentleman un-
der the circumstances.
Picking up the letter again, he placed
it unread in an envelope into which
he slipped his card, with a brief eX-
PLANTATION of the finding of the paper.
Then, after addressing the envelope, he
started out to mail it himself.
Thomas Chatham!" he mused, as he
went down the stairs; "Thomas Chat
ham! Why, lie is the man who took
such pains to inform me that Miss Muir
dock was betrothed, or on the point of
being betrothed--the flashily dressed
young man with red hair who is so
regular an attendant at the Murdocks'
informal receptions, and who never
seems to be invited on state occasions; :;
an insignificant and conceited puppy.
Poor girl, what a pity that she should
throw herself away upon such man.
But, if he marries her, he shall make
her happy, or else
The balance of his thought was not
put into words; but his face became set
in stern lines and his hands clenehed in
grim determination.
Sprague, with the letter for Miss
Murdock in his hand, hurried to the
nearest letter box, raised the lid of the
drop, inserted the letter in the slot and
then tightened his grasp of it and be-
gan to think.
The letter, if mailed, might perhaps
not reach its destination until the fol-