Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-06-29
ONE OF THE
EIGHT By.
LEOk1 i OHIO B.
SENGA
Copyright. 1903, by Ohio d. Senga

add TO his attractiyeneSS.
This thing has gone far enough" h
said aloud. "One way or another
shall be settled and settled tonight"
He stretched out his long, lean arms
and looked griinly at the great. bon,
hands. zone of those fellows wears ;
ring and plays the piano." he thought
and ghost of Il smile touched thu
firm mouth
lie walked with long, slow steps t.
the mirror and gazed at the face re
hected there 1t was not unlike the
man for whom he was named. with
the high cheek bones, wide mouth
deep set eyes and large nose.
You're not much to look at. Abe u
he said shaking his head at the re-
lection. land Bruce is as handsome rs
4 girl-and good. square fellow too, u
he added honestly.
Abraham Lincoln Adams had come
from Il country home and q country
lawyers Office three years before. He
had passed the examinations with high
.
bar had been remarkably successful
He felt that lie was now in position
to ask the girl of his choice TO share
his life and the honors he was sure the
future held for him.
He had known the girl since child
hood. He was a big boy studying al
zebra when she sat dangling her
plump legs OH the front seat devoted
to the infants. He had taught one
term in that same school, and she had
tortured bis faithful heart by an alb
sorbing interest in pink checked boy
in her class and by an utter inability
to master the mysteries Of Y YZ.
He had left her with no word of love.
He had his way to make. and the let
tiers between them were few and I'M
satisfactory.
a year ago she had come to Boston
to study music. and bis honest soul had
rejoiced. How happy he would be
In having her so near. He could see
her often and take her about good
deal. and ii would not be long now be-
fore he could tell her of the great love
that was in his heart. Of his hopes for
the future. his plans for her happiness
But TO his dismay he found Tlllie
hedgcd about in most ineXplieable
fashion with formaltics and conyen-
tons hitherto unknown.
Eight young women had rented
furnished house and with an aunt and
uncle rs hOusekeeper and protector
were living in little world of theii
own. superior to boarding houses and
with Il fine contempt for homes and
institutions. Adams wasn't quite sure
whether the aunt and uncle were rent |
ed with the house or if they were real |
ly related 10 OnP Of these very modern |
young women.
He called several times aid was cor |
daily received. bnt npon every oc.
casion ut least three OF the other young |
ladies were present and remained dur
ing his entire stay. Then he tried the |
plan of writing to Tillie, inviting her
to accompany him TO lecture or a
concert The little notes he received
i'll reply were sweetly courteous. but
he felt somehow thrown back upon
chilled add repulsed.
You must remember that AMI only
one of eight" was the tenor of the
sweet little notes. Not one of us ac
ceptS m invitation for herself alone
Which one of the girls wOuld you like
to include in your very pleasant plan
for Thursday evening or Saturday aft
ernoon?"
Then be sett,ed down TO a regular
call on Wednesday evening. He met
al of the young ladies and really had
better opportunities for conversing
with any one Of the others than with
he one lie sought Bright. pretty girls
hey were. each earnest in her work
with high aims and youthful dmbi
ions. An artist. schoolteacher Il
writer. IL music teacher. violinist, Il
ana an editor made up
he list
Often there were other men there.
IND Adams soon discovered that he 5
MAS not tie only one who would like
o see Tilie alone. After awhile he be !
;an to wOudcr if the other men were {
Is completely shut out us lie. and the t
lnwelcomc thought suggested itself
hat Tillic might manage to see him
lone if she really wanted TO-
Can it be- that Title doesn't care TO
ce nlc?" he asked himself uncaSily.
If it were NO wouldn't she tell me:' ,
Ills own nature was SO simple and c
rrct that this would seem tho most q
ind aud true thin. TO do. He could ,
OF understand the feminine complex I
IS that led the Girl TO enjoy his I'M /
'avrring. unspOken devotion. The pro 4
rstS of the other girls that she was .
nfair to the man and did not deserve Il
lich homage only increased her deter +
Iination to hold him at this disadvan- 7
I@c and 20 ward off as long us posi- I
10 the declaration she knew she must I,
eur when once they were alone n
But now he WAS resolved. He would II
OF be Il plaything for IL girls whim.
he must make known her decision,
nd he would abide by 1t.
Under cover Of greetings from eight 4
ughing girls he was able to ask Til II
q if she would go for Il short walk @
18th him. =,
with another of the eighth" she q
;ked archly. {,
"No; alone" II
Title shook her pretty head in re- /,
Isal. but her heart beat faster. There l.,
as something new In the mans tone, w
masterful and commandlna s,
lat she had never known before.
after Il few minutes he wandered,
ith apparent listlessness, to the fire
ace and. turning. faced the group. W
"Tilliew IA
At the sound of the firm, compelling