The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1908-12-03

as completely as if they had never existed
Now seven years had passed and the
mystery was as complete as ever. Not a
single inquiry ever had been received to
indicate that elsewhere in the world was
anybody interested in their coming and
going.
Now for good or i'll had chosen to
make Lucy Dean the object of my roman
tic and sentimental regard. 1t was not suf
fcient to make me lose any Of my good
three meals day or to cause me any
rather a luxury than otherwise. 1t filled
my dreams whenever | chose to be senti-
mental, gave me chance to believe that
/, too, had had my romance and supplied
a vision whenever | hummed "Annie
Laurie" or other lovesick tune. Also it
is possible that her memory had prevented
me from falling in love with some pretty
stenographer whom / met in the course Of
my work and marrying and living happily
ever after in Harlem fiat, up four flights
of stairs.
1 looked around my comfortable lodg-
ings which had determined should be
my home for many years to come, and
then took down volume and began to
read for the thousandth time Taaekefay's
Cane Bottomed Chair, "Tsentimentally i'm
agining that many years had passed and
that / had grown old and white-haired,
but still dreaming of the days of my youth
and fitting my Lucy to the Fanny of the
poem. True, she had never been in the
room and l had no cane-bottomed chair,
but when we are determined to be senti-
mental we do not stick at trihes.
| could hardly be blamed for my SEN
timent. With or without reason, SEN
tiinent is bound to play part in our lives
and-I had seen Lucy Dean. Seldom is
given, below the stars. a vision Of beauty
of our acquaintance. The clear blue eyes,
the light, ripping brown hair, the faultless
complexion, the high, smooth brow, the
frank innocent expression, the. merry
laugh, the silvery voice, the dancing step
never could be forgotten And she was
good as beautiful, with the strong intelli-
gei,ce necessary to complete goodness,
kind, sympathetic and true. Never, | felt
assured, would see her again and, though
] might grow old, Lucy would remain-to
me always the same
How long might have gone OH dream
ing l cannot say. We never may know,
have happened if something else had not.
/ was brought back to earth by loud
knock at my door. promptly opened and
confronted my visitor.
1t was the man with the raw-beef face
and dingy green uniform of public hack
driver
!"Ziss Mr.. Westmark?". he asked in the
language and husky voice of his kind.
"That is my name" | answered.
"Zares lady, down in de street wants
"a see you," he said.
"All right, I'll come down." said,
though with profound wonder as to who
oh, 90 ha
vaguely thought, some distant relative
from the country come to let me know the
hotel at which she was staying
followed the hackman downstairs to
the street where the carriage stood at the
curb. He at once climbed to his seat
after hinging open the door of the car
riage A face leaned forward from
within.
"How de do? suppose you don't know
mee" came thin voice. Il am Mrs. Min
ton, Professor Monroe's sister," she said.
after had admitted that did not know.
1.-THE professor IS in Brooklyn for few
days and he wants you to take dinner with
him Tomorrow"
"Why,' i said, in establishment, 1T
heard that Professor Monroe died three
years ago!" >.
"Weli, Of all things in the world!' said
the woman, with feeble laugh. IF he
is dead it is within the last hour. How
on earth. did you ever hear such a thing
as that?"
Il had 3. letter from one Of my class
mates" said
II "Well. you come over to Brooklyn to-
morrow and see whether he, is dead or
not. Do YOU know If there are any more
of his boys in the city?
q believe there are several | said. II
fr., To tfstt Ism, add