The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-04-11

Il -
kE|[5Ss struck me that he would like
60 TO hear my news, since he had
known the young lady in New York
Lucy Ann tells me that Miss La
moline is coming" said l.
He was taken by surprise, but he re-
covered in a moment.
Coming ne echoed. shes here"
l had just opened my door. He pass
! ed me and entered the room.
sHere?" l exclaimed. Why. it wasn't
| two minutes ago that Lucy Ann told
me-
Never mind what Lucy Ann told
YOU said he. "She and your friend
Jimmy are merely two wheels in the
| machinery. Listen to me. and you will
! learn that Miss Lamoine was here be-
fore you or l came"
| looked closely at him to make sure
that he was not the victim of half
digested idea. His manner was COM
pletely satisfying.
1T is inconceiyab1e to me-" said he
that you should not have recognized
her.
81 haven't seen her"
You have not met her face to face"
he rejoined, '|but you have seen her. /
was on the point of telling you the
other day when you We're writing to
your father, but for certain reasons |
thought best to wait. In one particular
1 was not quite sure of my ground
"Derringer," said |, walking up to
him and laying a hand upon his arm,
you don't mean to tell me that Miss
Lamoine is the girl in the orchard?"
How can you doubt it," he return
ed. Il recognized her almost imme-
diately'
Il can't believe it. Why, the girl is
a blond
"How do you know? Did you ever
see her head? | mean, have you seen
it here? Doesn't she always hide be-
hind an umbrella?'
Its her Clothes" l protested. "She
wears colors BETTING the blond oom-
plexion. I'm an ignoramus in such mat
tiers, but there are a few little hints
that a fellow can't help getting. Still,
you know her better than l do. L never
saw her except in New York"
'.Nor I" answered he. My acquaint
ance is only a few days longer than
yours. But it mattered more, perhaps"
..Derringer,' said 1, this thing has
come to a point where we must speak
straight out. Sentimental condolences
between men are painful absurdities,
as a rule, but we seem to have aequir-
ed the habit Is it possible that Miss
Lamoine is the girl you mentioned to
me when we first met here?"
81 will answer yes he replied,
though the main fact of the whole
matter remains still to be stated From
7
lady. at Cushings house, l had but one
wish or hope in the world. Such things
do happen, you know"
u am the last man to express doubt
of it." said L "Yet think | was not
hurt SO badly as you were"
81 wasn't hurt he replied. do you
imagine that | regret it? No, sir. / am
twice the man l was before, for any
useful purpose in this world. Do you
think l have come out here to pine
away and die? Far from it, my friend.
| came to get a bit of a grip on myself.
and I've got it, and now I'm going back
among the workers to show what | can
do for the love of a woman who is
worth it."
My dear fellow" said L, why go
back SO soon? Upon my word. you
amaze me. If | ever saw a man who
didn't look like a gutter, you're the
individual. How can you give up like
this? As / understand it, you haven't
given the lady half a chance. You have
had no refusal"
''She needs no question: said he sad
Iy. You have met her. Tell me, is it |
necessary to speak word to her? Does |
not she see straight into your heart us
easily as L look out of that open win
dow?'
Il used to think So" said l, ''but |
now, to be frank with you, l have my
doubts. She has an innocent delight |
in mystification. 1t pleases her to play |
pretty tricks. Have you observed her |
brother?"
Derringer smiled strange. sad
smile.
'She hasn't any brother" he said.
l was pacing the floor and had pass
ed him. Turning quickly at this speech |
Of his, l looked beyond him through |
the window, and there stood Jimmy |
Lamoine on the driveway. Without |
replying in words l pointed to the boy
Derringers eyes rested for a moment |
upon James and then met mine.