The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-11-20
DOUGLAS
fOriginal.l

The day went to the country l
found Iarcella much depressed.
was told that Peter Douglas had gone
the day before. She said nothing to
me about Douglas, and / supposed she
was not aware that l knew of his haT-
ing been there. AT any rate, she gave
herself away by asking me to play
Accomplishments for her and insisted
on singing:
Oh, won't you come back to me. Douglaa.
douglas. tender and true?
l did not mind 1t at first, but when
found that she could never go to the
piano without wanting to sing the
Douglas song I tired Of 1t. Finally,
one misty evening when she appeared
more than usually depressed after the
invitation to Douglas to come back TO
her, she-well, she wept; wept with me.
I'm able bodied, fairly attractive man
present to entertain, amuse, interest
her. wished that Douglas would
come back and remain long enough In
the grounds for me to so out and
punch his head.
l finally minated that this Douglas
business was growing tiresome, think
ing she would mend her ways. What
was my surprise when she sorrowcd
more for Douglas than ever. Besides,
she seemed hurt, if not offended. that
l should take so matter of fact view
OF what she called tender associa-
TONS" and refused to allow me to play
the accompaniment again, playing 1t
herself and stumbling at every note.
Something must be done. Two weeks
once year are too short to be spoiled
by such nonsense, and l resolved on a
stroke One evening, after she had
walled the usual plant to Douglas.
went to the piano, and after few
melancholy chords sang:
Mary. dear. departed shade.
Where Is thy place of blissful rest?
See'st thou thy lover lowly laid?
Hearst thou the groans that rend his
breast?
l arose from the piano and went and
sat in dark corner for awhile, then
rejoined Marcella.
Don't you think" l said, signing,
shat anniversaries are very sadY
VERY" she replied, not sympathet-
ically, / thought.
Nothing more 3d." I sighed again.
Il supposed you to be bachelor. 1t
appears that you are widower."
"How did you find that outi"
"By your singing Burns beautiful
lament to his wife SO feellngly."
Am l to consider you widow be-
cause you are plning for Douglas?"
She got up and went into the house.
'The next day was Saturday, and the
usual overflow from the city was ex-
pected. Marcella looked troubled.
whats the natter" asked.
douglas moved farther awayT'
She bit her lip. I didn't know then
why, but l found out before long.
Without any reply she went into the
house.
In the afternoon when the express
came in the crowd came in with it. and
with the crowd who should come but
Douglas.
Well, upon my word, and this Is
douglas, tender and true"-a pudgy.
fat, knockkneed little man who slut
tered.
I would have supposed that Marcelln
would have met him. Not so. She did
not appear on the piazza, and at dinner
time had headache. The next morn
ing haw her trying to steal through
the hall to get away to the woods, but
Douglas was watching for her, and I
saw him approach with the air Of an
old friend, II nothing more Marcel,a,
who saw that was witness to the
meeting, blushed violently, made a few
incoherent replies to his tender re-
marks and dash for cover. Douglas
looked puzzled.
There was little seen of Marcella the
Monday after Douglas had departed on
the early morning train. The same
evening she sat in an obscure corner
Of the parlor with a novel, l went to
the piano and sang
Won't you come bacl. to me, Douglas.
Douglas. tender and true?
I sang the whole song over twice,
then walked out on to the piazza. It
wasn't long before I heard few SON.
Der chords, followed by
Mary. dear. departed shade
Where is thy place Of blissful rest?
I couldn't understand what had led
the, girl to play such a game. l went
to good friend of mine, a married
woman Of mature years and with a
knOWlpdOa of the world told ho1. Of tho