Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1900-02-23

lutely, his feet apart, his hands deep
in his pockets.
"Nan, you must understand how it
is" he said, steadily. 81 haven't
been used to this sort of thing, and I
deceived you q little, too, about the
way l lived here in New York. I"
he dreaded SCATTERING her idea OF him
as festive Philistine, but there was
no help for it. 81 was not the man
you believed me to be-"
Don't you have said quite enough. "
Her eyes were fearless, and there was
a slight curl to her pretty, short upper
lip, as she drew her skirts aside. II
understand"
He waited several moments alter
the portieres had fallen behind her,
but she did not return. AS he bent
over something clswed at his hair,
and he growled as he detached grim
ming spider of unearthlv proportions,
suspended by ribbon from the gas
jet. He unused for five minutes, when
the tension gave way, and he felt that
there were things that the human
heart could not bear.
NAN" he called softly at her door.
There was no reply, and he listened
for a sound of weeping, but all was
silent, and he entered.
The garb of the goddess was tossed
on the couch, and Nan was gone.
There was no note, no message, moth
ing, and he went back to the little
front room and stood beneath the Joss
head and glared about the two apart
ments. The chatting dish caught his
eye, and mighty yearring took pos
session of him. Raising it, he bore
it to the diminutive room called the
kitchen, and lifting the window with
all due caution, sent it hurting down
into the black abyss below. On his
way back he stumbled over a pile of
cushions, aud a new and brilliant idea
struck him. Standing where he could
command full range, he fired one
cushion after another with careful,
deliberate aim at the Jose head,
spiders, japanese dolls, junk boat
each and every enemy of his domestic
peace went down before his wrath,
and as each cushion was launched no
charged it with a great and solemn
curse; then, with final glance at the
ruins, he took his hat and coat aud
went out into the night.
> 1t was after eleven when the Cafe !
Metropole received late patron. He
delivered his order with much de-
cislon, and it was o large and sub !
stantial one; then sat for some time,
one hand supporting his throbbing |
head. All at once he casually glanced !
in the mirrored wall beside him, and |
his eyes opened wider. Not ten fec. !
away sat Nan.
He rose and crossed to her table. !
She looked at him IN astonishnent, |
and flushed holly, but he only smiled |
aud hent toward her.
"You were hungry, tco:" he said,
gently, alphabetically. NAN, 1 !
fred it ont the window"
WHAT" she asked, her blue eyes
full CT wonder
THE whole thing, quail aud all. |
And well come here every day, dear,
and get a good, square meal"
The light of knowledge came to her,
and the dimples in her checks |
deepened, as he said, softly:
I've been here every day, but I
thought you liked the other. and 1 !
thought You meant tonight that you !
were tired of-of me-" (
Nugent leaned back in his chair,
and drew a deep breath.
"Nan," he said, you're an angel.
II, mind, I say, if had had the slightest |
doubt as to your worthiness to be my
partner III this wilderness of woe, it |
would have gone down before this.
Did you order plenty, dear?"
You poor, starving boy" she be-
gan, bat he checked her.
<a'I've had feast at the Rienzi every
day." he said, ard as the waiter ap-
preached, and hesitated over the
sudden fusion of forces, he added |
over his shoulder, make il two. -
- IT,