The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-11-11
might come to me!

since Charley had lett me. lie mac
almost five years to cultivate an aura
and collect his auriferous deposits.
"See here, Charley" said, as the
last night Of the years sweetest month
was waning, II am going to give uE
mysticism for matrimony. I'll have
to accept Tom Allin in self defense
There's insanity in this madness"
got up from the lounge on which
l had thrown myself face downward
and, despite my brayaao, there were
tears of desperate longing in my
eyes.
The clock was striking the last
quarter before twelve. l looked dis
heveled, and l felt forlorn, and yet
contradictorily, there swept over me
something like an emotion Of hatred
for him when thought that in all lik'
lihood be was gay and Lappy and
heart whole, while l was on the eve
of my yearly devotional ceremony
my dark and trembling pilgrimage
downstairs. The futility, the imbecil.
ity of it made me heartsick.
/ pressed my fingers to my eyes
6ercely as if to wipe his features from
nv retina. In vain. shuddered
with delight, for he seemed to be right
there beside me, and every trail and
charm that that had won my soul ap-
peaisd 10 it res:stlessly again. In
deed it was as II he coqnent page
one has learned to love had revealed
fresh features, subtle meanings, in
type and text.
l glanced at the clock; five minutes
gone. l threw off my wrapper, assum-
ed Louis QuiLze gown and suck a
bunch of oses Gan offering from my pis
aller, TONY in my corsage.
One minute of l2!
Heaven! Suppose should be too
late; suppose he had come and gone
looked in the mirror, and, not seeing
me, vanished! And yet, if l fell down
stairs and broke my neck Charley
would be my murderer. To save him
from this CHASTITY responsibility ]
moderated my speed. III had been
in bloomers 1 would have slid down
the banisters.
l was in front of the mirror now
and town clock doomed 12. l was
so excited that its revcrberations
shook me like a rough hand. I could
scarcely hold the candle Git was bless
ed, by the way), but up above my
head 1 carried it at ease, while my eyes
searched the mirror; and, believe it or
not, from its clear depths, as if from
the waters of the past, looked Char
ley.
"Rose !" and the voice was Char
ley's.
"Oh, Charley" and the arms that
the enfolded me we're Charley's.
A brief interval, all that life ever
yields us, was given to rapture, and
then realism romped upon the scene
Remembering my first trying vigil ]
murmured with awe:
"How did you get in?''
"Just as l did four years ago.
"Four years ago"
"Fact! I never break an engage
ment with lady, even my sweetheart
but I am as polite as punctual (at
times), and as another gentleman had
you in his embrace on that occasion l
very considerably Gas l thought) re-
tired. l took the 4 o'clock train that
morning and went back to-well,
Dante's Inferno" he said joyously
"But, strange to say, that man is the
cause of my being 6ere."
"Oh, Charleyl'' what shudder at
that fr,ghtful episode: II don't unders
stand-explain? What did make you
come at last?'
"Well, it seemed worth while to
make little journey of two or three
thousand miles for the sake of few
explanations. Best reason of all, l
wanted to see you to hold you in my
arms. Saddest reason of all, want
ed to get on my knees and beg your
pardon. felt like shooting myself
when l knew. 1t was temperament
and l couldn't stop myself.
"But tell me, how did he-who is
he-was has he to with it?'
"To-morrow, sweet"
"No, tonight.
"Well, about two month ago man
calling himself Horace Armisted came
to Boonville. He was a tall, hand
some, melancholy individual, very
Notwithstanding though; sort of care
less style about him, a certain noncha-
liant frankness that would make you
share your last crust with him and