Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-11-25

cried Nora. with one of her rare smiles.
"Why didn't your
A flush overSpread the young woman's
cheeks. ''The man | loved did not ask
me-" she said. Il could not be so untrue
to myself as to marry instead the man
who loved me-" She stopped herself in
time to save Mary's second cup Of tea
from being totally ruined by sugar
"Why didn't you marry, Jenne?" She
aimed the query at her. Miss Forshay
drew herself erect in impressive dignity.
She was not pretty, but what one calls
fine. healthy looking.
II made the mistake the average
woman makes and threw aside good
mans love-" she tried to say lightly, but
the corners of her mouth belied her in
difference; they We're trembling. There
was rustic of a gown, refreshing Whit
Of cut roses and a young woman rushed
them rapidly in turn before she finally
settled down in chair like o butterfly
on favorite flower. The room seemed
suddenly filled with good cheer and radi-
ance, SO blooming and glowing with good
health did she appear.
I'VE were afraid you had been coniis-
Gated" they told her, between removing
her wraps and putting in her fingers the
prettiest cup of the hottest tea.
For once | am worth it." She nodded
her head in elation Guess the news
girls-a story accepted. That's what de-
layed mel was so overcome. And now
am wondering whether to invest it in
a hair tonic or n growing laundry bill
That's the trouble with having money.
The question is how to spend it,
Poor Jenne has the blues,' Mary
Goodson announced I'VE all have decid-
ed that we have nothing to give thanks
for on Thursday"
but you have" the newcomer cried;
you're all single"
ooh" There was not much triumph
in the exclamation.
Il suppose you are all dining out that
day."
NO trio of mournful voices rang
out. Miss Somerset faced them in
amaZement.
'What-not one Of you?"
"No"-another discord Of lugu bIious
tones.
''And not one of You has a man friend
who cares enough to ask you to go out to
dinner that day? No? Well, / never!.'
Miss Somerset lapsed into her chair and
burst into merry laugh.
Neither have T. she gasped between
her paroxysms of mirth. Not man in
the world cares whether | am living or
dead. Oh, this is so funny
Funny. Kitty?'' three reproachful
voices Intercepted. Miss Kitty Somerset
gathered her long skirts high in one hand,
and for the edication OF her friends per-
formed Wild intricate little pas seul
She stopped abruptly with very red
face and waved a slip Of paper in their
midst
Girls" she declared. oratoricallv.
this precious bit of paper that repre-
sents nothing else but the within of an edi-
tor. or an evidence of his appetizing lunch
is too precious to be purified by a laundry
bill, or applied to a hair tonic. | dedi-
cate it to Thanksgiving. when you are all
invited to dine at my house at O'Clock
sharp. And our guests will be. Do
you remember the bachelors Christmas?
Well, each of you girls must bring a
man. Just as those men each had to
procure girl. Dig up the past, open the
old tiesh-pots. and exhume man. Some
one you used to know-one of the few
who never married Will you Gomez"
Three pairs Of eyes stared abstractedly
at the floor: what shadowy faces of the
past met the gaze no one knows A
mass of falling embers on the hearth
aroused them to their everyday sur
roundlngS again.
Il should like very much to christen
some new pale blue stationery, thank
YOU" answered the hostess.
Il am charmed" Mary Goodson said
'And l." said Jenne, sententiously.
"shall perform 81 veritable Frankenstein
act, and make q man-out of the past
Girls [ will just take off my prde-it is
shabby, anyway, from its three years
steady wear-and | shall put it in the
deepest pile of dust l can find Kitty.
you are certainly better than a stimulant
| thank you"
Clyde Dorrance was sitting in his office
the next day watching the heavy, gray
clouds lower over the towers of the city.
Below him throbbed the dull noises of the
streets, pierced by an occasional news
boys shrill cries: in an outer office. the
incessant, irritating click of the ticker
grated harshly on his ears. He had just
completed successful stock transaction
Practically, he was forever beyond the
reach Of want, but the ambition. that he
had beeen SO long in attaining had now
lost its sweetness. There was no one of
his flesh and blood left to help him enjoy
it or take pride in his success. Dimly he
felt his lack Of enthusiasm was his own
the thousand and one golden dreams Of
his youth; old hopes may be realized,
long cherished plans executed. But
alone? The bitterness of solitude filled
him with fear. In the throes Of business
he could forget his loneliness, but sepa-
rated from it, his life seemed grimly
empty and devoid of cheer
And for Thanksgiving? For what
should he give thanks? A broken heart,
a desolate life, and forever mockingly be-
fore him the face of one woman in the
world for him, who, unconsciously, had
been the cause Of his discomfort, the frus-
tration Of his dreams. He disposed Of it
all by deciding on a generously sized
check for the poor. In the deep abstrac-
ton into which he fell he tried to analyze
his feelings. She had not cared to accept
his love Or his name; and he had never
found another for whom he cared suffi-
GENTLY to offer them.
I'm getting pessmistic,' he told him
self, with adamant notions and opjn-
ions, and Grabbed senile ways. Who
could like me, anyway?
A quick step sounded at his door; one
Of the office boys knocked on the panels.
Come in,' cried Dorrance.
"a letter for sou, sir, and the coloreti