Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-01-23

finally breaking into stifled sobs.
MIR. Mellin, an involuntary caves
dropper in the perfect quiet Of the
night, clinched his hands and gritted
hard his teeth. while beads of mois.
ture not directly traceable to the
heat stood upon his brow.
could II be that she-they-were
going to leave their home? Could II
be that next summer there would be
no ne~ighboring with Mouser's sweet
m~istresses? Impossible! l~nsuffer.
able. But wat was he to them =
And which was she. the siren, who
had so strongly drawn his heart?
Miserable rir. Mellin! Never had
distracted lover a harder problem to
solve. The only thing was to go over
at once, acknowledge his eavesdrop.
ping, and offer help. But with what
right? His dilemma might still exist
And what was he to them-her? Yet
might he not serve as a friend? But,
no. he would not go now.
And then Mr.. Mellin, mortal like.
contradicted his own decision by act.
ing quite the contrary. His face grew
pale eve in the sight Of Miss Hope
Cummings who admitted him. Man
like, he did not know what explana.
ton TO offer and his heart beat like a
~trip.hammer.
1t was she who had to smooth the
awkward meeting.
BE seated she said, "and let me
thank you for coming. Tonight
feel ! need a friend"
And then Mr.. Nellin b~lundered into
his confession.
81 heard" he said. And indeed
| want to be a friend. Nothing will
make me happier than TO be of serv.
ice to you. and | trust you will feel
that you can open your heart to me"
Il am in difficulties explained
Miss Cummings, gently, lin which l
have no one to advise me" and then,
impulsively as 1t seemed, she entered
almost eagerly into full details.
Mr.. Mellin listened, dazed and d.
vided in mind. At last he asked,
hesitatingly: But your sister, Miss
Desire? Surely this affects hero
The light from the ~candelabrum plain.
ly Showed a change in Miss Hopes
face. There was a thrill. too, in her
voice, almost of supplication, as she
said:
Il still have an explanation to offer,
a confession which | owe to you be.
fore ! can accept the least OF your
good Offices. Mr.. Mellin. | have no
sister. / live alone and have done so
ever since my brother Duncan died,
IL years ago. Desire is but a creature
of my own imagining. into whom |
would gladly have breathed the breath
of life. My brother and | were left
alone, and he, poor soul, was very
deaf. There had never been much in
common between us, and with lis af-
fiction-you understand. Then came
his decline in health, and my heart
smote me. He would have no help
for. his ears. so | knew | must have
1t for my overweak voice. | tried
every known system for strengthening
the vocal organs. Constantly, by my.
self, | talked TO keep in practice. 1t
was a help, and | know the reading
and my music helped poor Duncan
through those last three years" Miss
Hope paused a moment as though to
control a reminiscent agitation, then
continued:
Il think l hardly could have en-.
dured my solitude afterwards but for
49,. -. ,.1F a. yuh1yn 4 Hal Na1lrAl
so long. ] have kept up the habit, and
Desire has been the greatest comfort
to me-sister, friend, and almost
mother.
And now you have my story, Mr.
Mellin," she concluded. Forgive me
If | have seemed to play a double part
/ feel that | have nc right to your
friendship, you who are so good and
noble, when ! have deceived you as
have. but really | had no such inten
ton in the beginning; it was merely
the carrying out Of the happy delusior
with which | had ~consoled myself fol
SO long"
But Mr.. Mellen's usually rudy face
had paled with something that wa'
not anger. Had he not been admitted
into the penetralia of most sacred as
sociations while listening to the un
folding of the simple domestic mys
terry? Now he trembled almost Wis
IDLY as he leaned forward to take tn,
white hand held out.
Il thank you, | thank you" he said
"for the confidence you have giyeI
me. Let me be your friend until
and then he stopped.
But it was not long before Johl
Mellin was able to finish that ser
tence, saying, proudly: Until nov
! that | have this assurance that IN,
Hope and my Desire are one"
For Miss Cummings, too, had founr
an answer TO a quite undreamed dc
sire.