Gilpin observer., 1900-01-04

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said, invitingly.
Il realize it," faltered Miss Annie.
HE is gentleman" continued Miss
Rebecca, "of good heart and sound
common sense"
'I know it," assented Miss Annie.
"He knows his own mind, too. You
remember how he simply ignored Miss
Smith when she tried so hard to cap
ture him two years ago?"
"Yes!'
| well, Annie Jocelyn, this seems to
me to prove that his heart is already
occupied. Further proof is that I've
often seen him manage to go out so as
to meet you when you are returning
| from town.
Miss Annie grew quite white. Re
becca, what are you saying?"
I'm trying to say that l believe Col.
/ Wellby is in love with you and l be-
lieve, too, that you're in love with Col.
| Wellby. Why don't you settle it be-
fore something happens?" and Miss
Rebecca, startled at her own boldness,
| fled from the room, reaching the hall
as the bell rang again, this time really
announcing Betty Much commotion
| followed, during which Miss Annie had
no time to reflect on her emotions.
| Miss Betty Jocelyn was lively girl
of is and won her way at once into
the hearts of her aunts, Miss Annie
and Miss Rebecca, though the former
was IS and the latter 80 years of age.
1t was almost trial to Miss Annie
that she liked the girl so mucb. Be
fore she had been there a week Betty
had revolutioniZed the staio little
establishment; her popular songs had
taken the place of Miss Annie's bal
lads on the piano, her half-fiDished
pieces of fancy work lay here and
there about the tidy sitting room, her
guitar occupied the sofa, and her pug
dog the mending basket. She had
made the acquaintance of every one in
the neighborhood, Col Wellby first of
all, after which she sought him con-
stantly, while Miss Annie looked on
with worldless foreboding. Miss Re-
becca had said her say to Miss An
ME, and she never repeated herself.
The climax was reached when one
evening in the third week of the visit
Miss Annie from her window over
heard these words in the garden be-
low: Then you would really marry
man so much older than yourself?"
asked the colonel, and Betty answered
with matter of fact yes"
Miss Annie sat dry-eyed and calm.
She had known it would come. There
is only one thing blame myself for"
she said, looking about the room,
which suddenly seemed quite empty
4 might have warned him and did not.
l don't know that he would have
needed it, but at least l might have
done that much. My dream is over"
she exclaimed to the familiar objects
that had received her condolences, but
my duty shall be done now, though SO
late"
She descended to the sitting room
and returned with the magazine con-
tanning the parallel story, pencil in
hand as if to mark lesson. Her firm
ness almost gave way as she reread
the secret tender thoughts the heroine
had directed to the hero, but she
passed quickly along till the entrance
of the niece, when the pencil came
into play. After the description of the
niece's beauty she wrote in a small
disguised hand, ''skin-deep," fleet
ing; when her "artless" ways with
the elderly lover were dwelt on, she
drew a line through the LESS" and
wrote above it full; after the various
stages of his infatuation she wrote in
cautious" "unwise," foolish" 'ab-
surd''; and at his proposal she wrote
"a ruinous mistake" happiness i'm
possible" She then wrapped the mag
azine and addressed it to Col. Wellby,
still in the disguised hand Then she
laid her head on it and wept for a
moment. If cannot be happy" she
whispered. "at least will not see you
invite misery blindly,"
She retired early without seeing any
one, and 6 O'Clock the following morn
ing saw her walking firmly in the
direction of the adjoining town, three
miles distant, where she meant to mail
the magazine to prevent any possible
suspicion of the sender. The warning
should reach him as II from the hand
of Fate. The way was long but she
reached the desired Office at last and
mailed the precious roll, and as she
turned to pass oat she met-Col. Well
by entering.
The effect was paralyzing on poor
Miss Annie. She stood still and looked
at him fixedly, much to his confusion.
What i. the matter, Miss Jocelyn I"
he asked, taking her cold hands. "You
alarm me. My cart is here; will you
permit me to drive you home-or shall
get assistance"
Miss Annie shook her head, walked
with him mechanically and allowed
/. IL