The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-09-17

i've for. he told himself that II didn't
much matter how many he took. He
settled back In q big rocking chair
that persistent and aggressive kick.
ing had induced the management Il
provide for his room-everyone knows
the dihiculty with which these luxur.
les are procured at a summer hotel
lit cigar. and began to brood and
then to dream. The brooding was
over the dark future; the dreaming
was occasioned by a photograph that
he had not had time to put away since
he last fell In love. Probably the
Scotch had something to do with the
transition from dismal thoughts to
dreamy speculation. At any rate, he
gradually began to give more atten-
ton to the photograph on the table
and less to the dreary mental picture
for which the affair at the garden-seat
had been responsible.
How I did love that girl" he said
reflectively. meaning the one repre-
sented in the photograph. "She's q
beautiful girl too-and SO distin-
guished, and tactful. and generally
delightful. But she's like all the rest;
it's always so sudden Why, oh, why,
am | so uniformly unfortunate? Why
am ! ever unsuccessful? Other men
love once and win; | love a dozen
times and lose. and yet the odds are
all In my favor. It's IL to l. yet here
I am, disconsolate. hopeless. I must
star: I. : Is against me: I'll never
know success" He disposed of what
was left OF his last highball and lit
fresh cigar. under the soothing influ.
ence of which the girl In the photo
graph seemed to smile at him. Il
could have been happy with her." he
sighed, then, after a pause: Il could
be happy with her yet. How 1t would
Jar Charlotte Culver If should marry
her! Lovely girl" dreamily. Il never
saw one more charming than she was
the night she said" He straight.
ened up In his chair suddenly. by
George! she didn't say IT." he cried.
when told her about the man at the
gates of Paradise and the wayfarer
dying OF thirst she said the man at
the gates couldn't expect to have
them opened the very instant he
knocked-it was unreasonable: and
that was all l could get out Of her
She was very queer girl. indeed she
was. 1t doesn't follow she said.
that a caller is not welcome because
there is not an immediate response to
the first knock on the door, Now
what did she mean by that? Why,
knock again. of course. and it's just
about time too. Funny how It slipped
my mind, And what superb wife
she would make, never really loved
anyone else anyway; was just sort
OF seeking consolation. guess"
He called bell-boy and sent for a
telegraph blank.
"Once more knock" he wrote, and
signed his name. Then he ordered
another highball and gave himself up
entirely to dreams. Perhaps Fortune
was to smile on him after all; It Ger.
tainly seemed as II he ought to win II
there were any virtue In persistence
| Il would be such domestic man II |
only had the chance" he told himself;
Il really ought TO have wife. and
deserve to have one. No man ever
has been more earnest and enthusi.
astic In his search for a mate. And
what Is II the wise men say?-1n per.
sistence lies success Industry is the
key to success Keep everlastingly ut
It, and Success Is constant endeav.
or According TO all rules | deserve
success. and, besides, such love as
mine should be rewarded. All. how
do love that girl"
The answer to his telegram came
the next morning. and 1t was model
of brevity. "0nce more I knock" he
had wired her. Come In" she
wired back. He turned away from
the desk in the hotel Office proud and
happy. AT last" he cried exultantly.
and then the clerk brought him down
to earth by pushing letter over to
him. He opened II mechanically, his
mind still being on the telegram.
Dear one" It began. and then add
said yesterday l know / may call you
dear one"
Great Heavens," he cried.
whats the matter, old man?"
asked an acquaintance who happened
along just then: anything wrong?"
'oh. no." he answered lightly: "suc-
eessful in love. you know. and 1t sort
Of startled me-"
He sought a secluded spot and fin
ished the note. thus learning that
Miss Culver had "communed with her
heart most of the preceding night and
had discovered that Well. perhaps
1t would be better II he called to get
the information"
They found him with telegram IN
one hand and letter In the other.
muttering to himself: "oh. how love
that girl"
which girl?" they asked.