The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-01-09
A TREASURE LOST.

see, it is this way. Miss Davis and l
were talking about 1t this morning,
and she limited that she wanted to go,
but had no one to take her. Well,
offered my services, and they were ac-
cepted. You know that l will spend a
miserable day without you, but l could
not help it, could l. Dot?"
Certainly not, Mr.. Vane." was the
scornful reply. you chose the lesser
OF two evils. Either Miss Davis or
myself must remain at home. and you
have decided for US. l must retire
now. Goodnight"
Richard Vane and Dorothy Warren
had been friends since childhood, and
everybody expected that they would
marry.
The families had decided that they
would take their summer outing to-
gether, and the first of July found
them in a quiet little hotel on the coast
of Maine.
During the first few days Dorothy
and Richard were together a great
deal Then Miss Davis appeared upon
the scene She was beautiful and at
tractive. and Dick seemed to find much
pleasure in her company. They
walked, drove, and sailed together.
while poor Dorothy seemed to be for
gotten.
Dorothy observed all this, but did
not say a word. When Dicks father
spoke OF his treatment of her, he would
say: II will have Dot to myself by and
by We are not engaged yet. and
meanwhile, If a deucedly pretty girl
wants to make herself agreeable to
me, where is the harm? We will go
home in few weeks. and then Dot
will forgive me and take me back"
One evening an unlooked-for inter-
ruption took place. The stage coach
drove up and deposited a new guest at
the hotel. 1t proved to be young
man, tall and handsome. who regis
tered as DIR. Raymond Drew. Boston.
In conversation with the newcomer.
Mr.. Warren learned that he was the
son OF the Junior member of his faith
er's firm, his father having died few
years before. He had been fond of
his father, and was pleased to make
the sons acquaintance.
to Dorothy from the first, and she was
no longer lonely. He accompanied her
on her walks. and together they read
the books of the day.
Dick did not seem to relish this state
Of affairs. He loved Dorothy as much
as he loved any one. and did not like
to see her apparently enjoying the
company OF the handsome young doc
tor.
He tried to speak with Dorothy and
win back her affections, but she
avoided him as much as politeness
would permit.
Thus the days passed on. Dick and
Miss Davis still appeared together, but
her society seemed to have lost some
of Its charm, for his fair companion
often found him preoccupied and dull.
and following the direction of his eyes,
would see that he was watching DR..
Drew and Dorothy, who always seemed
unaware OF any other presence.
At last Dick said he could stand 1t
no longer. He wrote little note ask
ing Dorothy to meet him on the beach
that evening.
They strolled along for some time in
silence. Then Dick burst forth: Dor
othy. why do you treat me so? You
know that love you, and still you go
around with that doctor fellow. and
don't have one word for an old friend.
1t is the wish OF both our parents that
we should marry and you cannot mean
to throw me over"
"Yon ara p,istokeu Mr. Uopa an,
engaged to be married to DR.. Drew
with the full consent of my parents"
and as she turned to go she said sar-
oastically: Miss Davis viii! more than
console you for your great loss. Fare
we'll"
Miss Davis" was the scornful ex-
clamation as he sank upon the sand.
Il hate the name. and l wish I had
never met her. She has come between
me and the only woman 1 ever could
love.
figure that was sitting in the shadow
at little distance. nor did he hear
the groan that escaped her lips at his
last words. Elsie Davis had seen and
heard all that had transpired
Locked in the secrecy of his room
Richard Vane gave vent to his
thoughts. What shall do? Go back
to the city and let people think 1 am a
Tilted lover. No. 1 have It'll I will
mary Elsie Davis. I could do a great
deal worse, and 1 am almost sure she
loves me-
The next evening he saw her sitting
in lonely part of the veranda. He
approached and sat down beside her.
Miss Davis. l have known you for
some time. and admire-yes-like you
much. VIII you be my wife?"
That was all. and. Oh. how different