The Morris County chronicle., 1904-06-14
ONE OF THE
HfTH By.
LAOA1 4 OTH0 B.
SENGA
Copyright, 1903, BY otho B. ssnsa


together in a manner not entirely
pleasant to behold. He was not a
handsome man at the bestxand this ex-
preston of stern determination did not
add to his attractiveness.
This thing has gone far enough he
said aloud. "One way or another it
shall be settled and settled tonight
He stretched out his long, lean arms
and looked grimly at the great, bony
hands, Zone Of those fellows wears a
ring and plays the piano. he thought,
and ghost Of smile touched the
firm mouth.
He walked with long, slow steps to
the mirror and gazed at the face re-
hected there. 1t was not unlike the
man for whom be was named, with
the high cheek bones, wide mouth.
deep set eyes and large nose.
You're not much to look at, Abe.
he said, shaking his head at the re-
fiection "and Bruce is as handsome as
a girl-and a good, square fellow. too.
he added honestly.
Abraham Lincoln Adams had come
from country home and a country
lawyers office three years before. He
had passed the examinations with high
honors and since his admission to the
bar had been remarkably successful.
He felt that he was now In a position
to ask the girl of his choice to share
his life and the honors he was sure the
future held for him.
lie had known the girl since child
hood. He was a big boy studying al
zebra when she sat dangling her
plump legs on the front seat devoted
to the infants. He had taught one
term in that same school, and she had
tortured his faithful heart by an alb
sorbing interest in pink checked boy
in her class and by an utter inability
to master the mysteries of x W
He had left her with no word of love.
He had his way to make, and the let
ters between them were few and un-
satisfactory.
A year ago she had come to Boston
to study music, and his 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 1t 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 Tillie
hedged about in most inexplicable
fashion with formalities and conven-
tions hitherto unknown.
Eight young women had rented a
furnished house and with an aunt and
uncle as housekeeper and protector
were living In a little world Of their
own, superior to boarding houses, and
with 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 to one of these very modern
young women.
He called several times and was cor
daily received. but upon every oc-
casion at 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
in reply were sweetly courteous, but
he felt somehow thrown back upon
himself, chilled and repulsed.
sYou must remember that am only
one of eight" was the tenor Of the
.sweet little notes. Not one of us ac-
cepts an 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 he settled down to regular
call on Wednesday evening. He met
all of the young ladies and really had
better opportunities for conversing
with any one of the others than with
the one he sought. Bright, pretty girls
they were, each earnest in her work,
with high aims and youthful ambi-
tons. An artist, schoolteacher, a
writer, a music teacher, violinist, a
kindergarten and an editor made up
the list.
Often there were other men there,
and Adams soon discovered that he
was not the only one who would like
to see Tillie alone. After awhile he be-
gan to wonder if the other men We're
as completely shut out as he, and the
unwelcome thought suggested itself
that Tiliie might manage to see him
alone if she really wanted to.
"Can it be that Tillie doesn't care to
see me?' he asked himself uneasily.
"If it We're SO wouldn't she tell me?"
His own nature was SO simple and
direct that this would seem the most
kind and true thing to do He could
not understand the feminine complex
ity that led the girl to enjoy his un-
wavering, unspoken devotion. The pro-
tests of the other girls that she was
unfair to the man and did not deserve
such homage only increased her deter
mination to hold him at this disadvan-
tage and to ward off as long as possi-
BILE the declaration she knew she must
hear when once they were alone.
But now he was resolved He would
not be plaything for a girls whim.
She must make known her decision,
and he would abide by it.
Under cover Of greetings from eight
laughing girls he was able to ask TIL
lie If she would go for short walk
with him.
ssWfth another of the eight2 she