The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-11-15

pay uearly Tor tnls, ana thtn-oh,
Lord, what shall ] do?"
He flung himself down at his desk
and put his whirling head in hi;
hands, but think as he would no
plausible, practical solution to the
miserable problem came. AT last he
drew paper and pen to him and wrote
q note:
dearest; Unforeseen circum
stances have arisen and | must make
myself miserable by breaking our en-
gagement for four this afternoon.
Will explain as soon as | an. viii
you trust and forgive me, till theni
Your jim"
This note he copied five consocu.
tive times and addressed as many
enyelopes-one to each Of the women
he had insulted by asking to become
his wife. Then he rang for Perkins.
"Dr. Luther is outY Very well, ]
am going, too. Here are seven letters
10 be delivered by messenger. Call
them after ] am gone. Twill be back
some time!" Then, with a last
look about him. he rushed out into
the street, determined to end his ex.
istcnce in the river. But inside Of
five minutes he found himself being
admitted into the Stcarne home. with
no purpose in his overweight mind
but confession.
And confess he did. holding back
nothing, eScusing nothing.
Miserable fool that | am" he said
as he finished, 81 cannot refrain from
telling you, Louise. that il Is you and
you alone whom | truly love. | dc
not expect you to believe me, but ]
must say it, and then"
Jim paused, struck dumb. for the
pretty, dark-haired girl was laughing
softly.
"Dear boy" she cried, ss he rose to
his feet eScitcdly, "set your mind at
rest, for all this that you have been
telling me never happened. You
were sick last night, yes, but the
soothing draught that DIR. Luther
prepared for you worked strangely
he told me, and YOU fell into q SLEEP
from which he could not arouse you
He came last night and made your
apologies, and SO, we did not go. ]
was moi sorry"
"Then ! have dreamed il all?" cried
Jim.
"Yes," she answered, a blush creep
ing into her pretty face.
"All except that love you" wills.
pered Jim. quickly seeing his advan.
tagc, Louise. dcarc.t-I deserve
nothing. but beggars were ever choos.
ers. ! love you, as you must know
now-tell me- am not dreaming
tell me there is hope
"There is-if you can stop those
six letters you wrote before you came
here" said Miss Stearne, as she put
both hands in his. "Were they real
or imaginary, dear;'
Have those messengers come yeti'
demanded Mr.. Newcomb as he burst
into his rooms a few moments later
and was confronted by the astonished
Perkins.
"rhe first one is ere now. sir" re.
kplied the well trained servant
"Shall /"
"Throw him out the window. Give
me those letters-all SKIP cried his
master. 81 will murder YOU. Per.
kins, il any one Of them is delivered.
Here-into the fire they go! Now,
send the boys oif-give them a tip,
kick them out-anything. Perkins
Perkins, ! say! ! won't be home 10
dinner, Put out my evening clothes
| have an important engage mean,
an important meeting, that will keep
me all afternoon" His face went red
as he stumbled over the half-fnished
word that brought unhappy recollec.
tons Of a bad dream back to him
"Now, a note to Luther" he added ia
himself, "and then to the florist and
the jeweler,'
Once again he threw himself down
before his desk, but in a very different
frame Of mind. As he wrote h,
hummed an air from a new opera and
smiled 10 himself.
"Mark, you outcast," he began
"the next time you mix a sleeping
draught for me, you will swallow il
yourself at the point Of my pistol, and
then die BY the same weapon!
ought never to forgive you, butt vii.
have IN tpmnorarilv far have mr.