The indicator., 1904-12-17

she occasionally Ncnturcd to pen n
word or two of greeting ON the blank
sheets To her imaginary sweetheart
and once she wrote. You are my lover
now, but You don't Know 1t. hope you
don't mind | only wanted you for
show, you know" She derived sort
of absurd comfort from this explana-
ton, feeling that something was due
this creature of her brain.
One day the village gossip said to
her:
"Do let me see your ring, Miss Fell
cia."
"Ringr" repeated Miss Felicia inquir.
ingly.
''Yes-engagement ring. of course.
sharply at her.
Miss Felicia's cheeks grew pink
"No-yes- s-er-I mcan-its coming
soon" she stammcrcd confuscdly. and
the next day certain city jewelcr was
slightly amazed by TN order Tor an zen.
gagement ring suitable for II maiden
lady something nice" signed "(Alissl
Felicia Winthrop"
All this was very well. but 1t could
not last forever, Tie Villagers Assisted
upon knowing when the wedding was
to take place, aud lhis was particularly
disquirtlng to the bride elect She could
only gasp "a hurried. oh | don't know
not yet awhilc!" but II cost her many
a sleeplcss night before she solved the
problcm--she must Iii her lover.
She had no trouble In manufacturing
a convenient deadly disease. and she
promptly went into deep black. She
wrote 10 the book dealer aud told him
she never intended to buy another book
as long ms she lived and not to write
agnin Thus she made sure Tint none
of those discriminating. boldly address,
ed envelopes should come through the
mall.
1t must have been fortnight later
that Miss Felicia received call from
tile village gossip. The woman's face
WIS flushed, and her ncrvously excited
movements pluinly portended some
thing unusual
Nov, Miss Winthrop. hope youIl
be calm. 1t ought to be broke gently,
you know. Now, be calm very calm
It's nice day, aiu't 1t, Miss Win
,hropT'
BY this time Miss Felicia was thor
1ughly unncrved
'Sarnh Ann Jones, what are you
talking uboutT' said she sharply. Tell
m'.-tcil me this minute. nowl Quickr'
BE calm, Miss Felicia, do be calm.
'Inint much, only you've been de-
cejvcd-your lover amt deadw
'Wlmtf' demanded Miss Felicia.
starting from her chair.
Il say your lover amt dead, and he
never did die. He's come back, nnd
he's right here In this very town. and
maybe you'll see him tonight" blurted
the woman, fairly bursting with the
sxuberunce of her disquietlng inform.-
ton.
She had her desired rewnrd. for Miss
Felicia fell In limp little heap. and
-FOUR distracted nelghbors had to be
summoned before she was brought
back to life--and her lover. Then she
shut herself up In her room and re.
fused to come out, even when a stal-
wnrt, blue eyed man came up her little
path with long strides and pulled twice
at her tnkling doorbell.
Toward night She stole down utairr
and out the back door, then followed
winding path to little grove of
trees behind the house. From a child
She had always taken her knotty prob
lens there to solve The big. blue
eyed man was on the watch and fol-
lowed. 30 Miss Felicia had scarcely
seated herself when she sprang to her
fset with little scream.
Don't be frightened, please: 1 am
Paul Raymond-don't you rememberf
] used to sit opposite you In school.
won't you please shake hands with
ner said he pleudingly.
Miss Felicia gave him linn finger,
snd lssbsA isas1nxly toward the hon..
NO. ASat go back Just yet. Iv,nt
to speak to you. please" Then tn.
color In his face matched her own =.
hs began little nwkwardly: -Miss
Winthrop. don't know how to ~
what l want to. but used to knov
and-er-like you long ago, and-and
understand that the people here havs
hnd Of got the idea that you and
are lovers-speakins very fast-"apd
JUST wanted to say that maybe va
could keep 'em from talking II you,d
b willing to be sort Of friendly WIN
- OF course" - a4Asa sulsan. Il