Junction City bulletin. [volume] (Junction City, Or.) 189?-1901, 1901-07-18
CHATTER XVII


For more than nm hour there had been
nnbrokcn silence In the dlngy old law
office OF Mr.. Worthington. where Henry
Lincoln and William BENDER still re-
malned. the one az praciicing lawyer
and Juaior partner of the firm. aud the
other ~ . student still. for he had not
yet dared 20 Offer himself for exnmina.
tlon. Study was something which Henry
particularly dlsiiked: and as his mother
had trained him with the idea that labor
for him was wholly unnecessary, he had
never bestowed thought on the future,
or made an exertion Of any kind. Now,
however, different phase OF affairs was
appearing. His fathers fortune was
threatened with ruin; aud be sat In the
Office with bis heels upon the window sill,
debating the al.Imporiant question
whether II were better 20 marry ella
Campbell for the money which would
save him from poverty, or 20 rouse HIN.
self 10 action for the sake OF Mary How
ard. whom he really fancied he loved.
Frequently since the party had he met
her, each time becoming more and more
convinced of her superiority over the 9th
er young ladies Of her acquaintance, lie
was undoubtedly greatly assisted In this
decision by the manner with which she
was received by the fashIonables OF Bos-
ton. but. aside from that, nv far az he
was capable OF doing NO. he liked her,
and was now making up his mind wheth-
or 10 tell her 80 or not.
At last breaking the silence, he exclaim.
ed: Hang me, II don't believe she's be-
wltched me, or else I'm In love. Bender,
how does chap feel when he's In lover
Very foolish. judging from yourself" +"
returned William. and Henry replied:
II hope you mean nothing personal, for
I'm bound TO avenge my honor, and
'twouid be deuced scrspe for you Siid
me TO fight about your sister as you call
her, for tits she who has inspired me- or
made fool Of me, one or the other
you've changed your mind, haven't
youf" asked William, q little Sarcastical.
iy.
Hanged II haver' said Henry. II
was Interested in her years ago. when
she was the uglicst little vixen q man
ever looked upon. and that's why teased
her s1--I don't believe she's handsome
now. but she's something. and that some.
thing has raised the mischief with me.
Come. Bender, you are better acquainted
with her thRn | am, so tell me honestly
n you think I'd better marry her"
with naughty frown William repiicd;
"Yon have my permission. sir, 20 propose
az soon as you plcase. rather wish you
would:" then taking his hat he left the
ONCE, while Henry continued his solilo.
Guy as follows;
II wonder what the old folks would
cay 10 a penniless bride. Wouldn't moth.
er and Rose raise a row? I'd soon quiet
che old woman, though, by threatening TO
tell that she was once factory girl. But
if dad smashes up I'll have TO work. for
haven't brains enough TO earn my living
by wit. guess on the whole I'll so and
cnll ON Ella: she's handsome. and besides
that has the rhino, too: but how shallOw!'
and the young man broke the blade OF his
knife as he stuck IL Into the hardwood
table By way OF emphasizing his last
words.
ELLA chanced to be out, and as Henry
was returning he overlook Ida Selden
and Mary Howard. who were taking
their accustomed walk. Since her conver-
sntion with William weight seemed
lifted from Marys spirits, and she now
was happier far than she ever remem-
bered OF having been before. Mary
could not find Il In her heart to be un-
courteous to Henry, and her manner to-
ward him that morning was so kind and
aifable that 1t completely upset him. and
..,k. A.a nj t.INI, har af Mr. &altaVtsa u
gate his mind was quite made up to
offer her his heart and hand.
II shall have TO work." thought he,
"but for her sake I'll do anything"
An hour later he sat down and wrote
90 Mary on paper what he 0Duld not
tell her face to face. Had there been
O lingering doubt of her acceptance, ho
would undoubtedly have wasted at least
dozen sheets OF the tiny gilt-edged pa
per. but us 1t was one would suffice, for
she would not scrutinlze his handwriting
--she would not count the blots, or mark
the omission OF punctuating pauses. An
ardent declaration OF love was written,
sealed and directed.
Restless and unquiet, he sat down to
await his answer IL came at last--his
rejection, yet couched In language so kind
and conclliatory that he could not feel
angry. Twice--three times-he read Ii
over. hoping to find some intimation that
possibly she might relent; but no, II was
firm and decided, and while she thanked
him for the honor he conferred upon her,
she respectfully declined accepting 1t, as
suring him that his secret should be kept
inviolnte.
There's some comfort In that"
thought he, "for | wouldn't like to have
1t known that have been refused by a
poor, unknown girl" and then, as the con-
viction came over him that she would
never be his, he laid his head upon the
table and wept such tears as spoilt
child might weep when refused toy too
costly and delicate to be trusted in its
rude grasp.
Ere long there was knock at the
door and hastily wiping away all traces
OF his emotion Henry admitted his faith