The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1902-03-28

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
a note:
dearest: Unforeseen circum-
stances have arisen and | must make
myself miserable by breaking our en-
gagement for four this afternoon.
viii explain as soon as | can. Will
you t4st and forgive me, till then?
Your jim"
This note he copied five consecu-
tive times and addressed as many
envelopes-one to each of the women
he had insulted by asking to become
his wife. Then he rang for Perkins.
CDR. Luther is out? Very well, [
am going, too, Here are seven letters
to be delivered by messenger. Call
them after am gone. Twill be back
some timer Then, with last
look about him, he rushed out into
the street, determined to end his eX-
istence in the river But inside OF
five minutes he found himself being
admitted into the Staarne home, with
no purpose in his overweight mind
but confession.
And confess he did, holding back
nothing, eXcusing nothing.
"N1iserable fool that am" he said
as he finished, 81 cannot refrain from
telling you, Louise, that it is you and
you alone whom [ truly love, I do
not expect you to believe me, but l
must say it, and then"
Jim paused, struck dumb, for the
pretty, dark-haired girl was laughing
softly.
"Dear boy" she cried, as he rose to
his feet excitedly, ''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 DR.. Luther
prepared for you worked strangely,
he told me, and you fell into a sleep
from which he could not arouse you.
He came last night and made your
apologies, and so, we did not go. l
was not sorry"
'Then l have dreamed it all ?" cried
jim.
eyes" sheanswered, a blush creep
ing into her pretty face.
Cali except that l love you," whis-
pered Jim, quickly seeing his advan-
tage, Louise, dearest-I deserve
nothing, but beggars were ever choos-
ers. love you, as you must know
now-tell mel 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 yet?"
demanded Mr.. Newcomb as he burst
into his rooms few moments later
and was confronted by the astonished
Perkins.
'"The first one is 'ere now, sir" re-
piled the well trained servant
;":Shall /"
'"Throw him out the window! Give
me those letters-all six" cried his
master. ct will murder you, Per-
kins, if any one of them is delivered.
Here-into the fire they 60! Now,
send the boys off-give them tip,
kick them out-anything. Perkins,
Perkins, I say! l won't be home to
dinner. Put out my evening clothes.
[ have an important engage-Imean,
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-
lions Of bad dream back to him.
"Now, note to Luther" he added TO
himself, Sand then to the florist and
the jeweler."
Once again he threw himself down |
before his desk, but in very different
frame of mind. As he wrote he
hummed an air from new opera and |
smiled to himself.
'Mark, you outcast," he began,
"the next time you mix a sleeping
draught for me, you will swallow it
yourself at the point Of my pistol, and
then die by the same weapon! I
ought never to forgive you, but will
have to, temporarily, for I have no
one else to act as best man, two months
from to-day"
This he signed "Jim, and, slipping
it in an envelope, left it beside thepic-
- IL