Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-03-18
A Modern. John Alden.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

q TUB" Van Alan's rotund visage
~ doomed dimly through cloud of
tobacco smoke, for NIL the world
not an unusual phenomenon. certainly,
but the fact that my generally ire
pressible friend had been in my room
ten minutes and had neither smiled
nor attempted any of the atrocious
puns for which lie was justly infa-
nous, was hitherto unknown state
Of affairs.
What's the matter with you, old
man." queried. The cloud of smoke
became denser, threatening total
eclipse. Nothing" came forth pres.
emily from the .blueness; Eat least moth
ing you would care to hear about"
81 like that" replied. little
touched at his manner. "Slnce when
have been in the habit of passing
by on the other side,' like what's-hls-
name in the parable. and you In trou-
bie?"
Cant shy you ever did, said Stub.
removing his pipe, but it isn't-er-
ordinary trouble; | suppose may as
well tell you, thougll--rm in love"
..In love?" l echoed, beginning to
laugh. rs that all? imagined from
your looks that you were about to be
hanged. Was there ever a time when
YOU were not in love--with some one?
Who is 1t this time?"
You needn't laugh said Mr.. Van
Alan, Indignantly. This isn't joke;
I'm in dead earnest"
who is it?" demanded, seriously.
: Helen Lorrington," said Stub, dart
ing queer glance at me. If he had
suddenly hurled n chair at my head
It would have dumfounded me less.
became interested all at once In look
ing out of the window. wasn't anx-
ious for Stubb to see my face.
1t was no joke, us he had said-to
me, Mt all events. had been in love
with Miss Lorrington for two years,
madly, hopelessly; tlutterlng about her
beautiful, stately presence, as the pro-
verbal moth about the candle flame.
and with about the same result.
have never been accused, even by my
enemies. of lacking nerve; but some
how, under the spell of Miss Iorrinp.
toms gray eyes, could never screw up
my courage to the sticking point and
put my fate to the touch. had fan
cied at times that Helen was not alto.
gether Indifferent. There had been
a memorable day Oh the links that she
however, at other times / was miser-
ably certain that had no chance.
"Of course"-Stub was speaking-"I
know she's much too good for me;
she's better. nobler than
Have you said anything to her?"
managed to say. knew how perfect
the lady of my heart was, without
Samuel Payton Van Alan telling me-
NO." he said, ruefully, III can't.
Whenever I'm with her feel like mn
overgrown boy and nearly make nm
idiot of myself; she has way of look
ing into fellows soul. with those big
eyes of hers, that makes him think
of his SINS" made no comment: /
understood perfectly.
Look here, Ken" said Stub, as IL
suddenly struck with bright idea.
"You and Hel-Miss Lorrington-are
great friends, aren't you? remember
hearing her say once that Kenneth
Sears was one of the incest men she
knew. Why can't you-er-er-sort of
say word for me? Tell her how 1t
is with me. and that am not really
such blockhead as appear in So
ciety. Tell her IL love her-just as
il 1t was yourself. you know; maybe
II she thought cared for her she
might"
do you take me for a matrimonial
agent?" asked. sternly. DO your
own proposing. Do you suppose girl
like Helen Lorrington would think
twice of q man who was lacking in
courage2'
II don't know said Stub; that's
what you are going to find out"
I'm not" said l.
Don't be chump," remarked my
friend. in contemptuous tones. prom
Use you'll speak to her tonight, If you
get chance. at Mrs. Applebee's
dance"
Stub and had been friends since
college. l would do more for him than
for any man alive, and. Well. ar
rived at Mrs. Applebee's that night
t5as5s \ ss