The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-08-01
FafefuI
Miss Douglas
By Fanny Burton

most his little visit to his sister, whom
he had not seen since her marriage a
couple of years previous, 80 he did
not in the least understand why she
should sigh and remark seriously, It's
too bad; yes. it ISL
"What?" he asked, lazily.
why, that you got here just the
day after Isabel Douglas left town"
responded pretty little Mrs. Ransom.
She's the dearest girl! She's"
Lives in Kentucky, beautiful as q
dream. glorious brown eyes, most
charming disposition on earth, is"
"Where'd you meet herr" broke In
Mrs. Ransom. breathlessly.
Il never had the pleasure" laughed
her brother. only l had to sit one
whole evening during my visit in To
ledo and hear my hostess recount the
charms of this most evasive Isabel.
She had left there just the week be-
fore my arrival I seem to cast q
blighting shadow over her enjoyment;
at any rate. she runs at my approach"
Now, isn't that queer?" said his
sister. But, really. John, I'm in
earnest about wanting you to know
her"
so was my Toledo hostess he an
swered, amusedly. IF only the lady
and l were of similar mind and as
much in earnest, nothing on earth
could save us from wedding cake and
rice. But We aren't, thank the fates, y
he cried rather fervently.
At the age of 35, John MacPher-
son, comfortable in his bachelor quar-
tiers in New York, wealthy enough to
indulge any within, looked with quiet
and polite pity at the unfortunates
he knew tied down to domestic cares,
He had fully decided he wanted none
OF that for him-what happiness he
might miss was more than compen-
stated for in peace and quiet and free
dom.
You're wrong, Jack" said his
sister, rather wistfully. Aren't you
ever going to abandon your crazy no
lions and marry some nice girl and
settle DOWN."
He threw out his hands in mock dis
may as he got to his feet. I'm the
most settled down person you ever
saw, Nan" he protested. I'm as
steady as a railway time table and
perfectly contented just as l am.
could attend the wedding Of some 9th
err fellow to your amiable Isabel with
out qualm."
NO you couldn't" said his sis
ter forcibly. You've never seen
her!"
But if he had not seen her the fame
of Miss Isabel Douglas was destined
to haunt his ears. During his visit
at his sisters he heard Miss Douglas
name so frequently on the lips OF Wis
itors that he grew half irritated. It
was impossible that any girl should be
such a paragon-and if she was he
had no desire to know her
Such perfection would be tiresome,
he concluded; and SO he dismissed
her from his mind.
When he reached Chicago on his
homeward way he stopped to transact
some business. Phillips, his lawyer,
was most cordial in pressing his New
York client to come out to his house,
and Macpherson was half inclined to
accept His frame OF mind expert
enced an instantaneous change, how
ever, when Phillips added:
We've a visitor coming tomorrow
you'd like to meet, l know-Miss Isa-
bel Douglas Of Kentucky She"
Sorry" said Mr.. Macpherson, de-
cidedly, but l can't wait over a day
on any account, my dear man." At
that moment he would have gone a
hundred miles out Of his way to es-
cape meeting this southern paragon.
He did not stop to reflect she I'M
doubtedly had not the slightest desire
of meeting him, either-the constant
sound of her name and the rehearsal
of her attractions had nodded itself
into a haunting shadow, pursuing him,
and he actually disliked the very
thought of her He wondered Grossly
why she never stayed home where she
belonged Then he went back to New
York
Strangely enough, even there he was
not left in peace. One of the newspa-
pers printed a page OF pictures and
gossip about beautiful women, and,
idly glancing it over, the name OF
Douglas caught his eye. He groaned
as he looked closer-yes, the first
name was Isabel. Then he searched
for the picture of her and stared at
1t half Indignantly. 1t was a very
/ lovely face. more than that, 1t was
high-bred and thoughtful, as well as
perfect in line and form.
But John Macpherson had seen too
many beautiful women to be especially
attracted by any one in particular.
He wondered idly what there could be
about this particular girl which 30
hypnotized her friends and acquaint-
ances. In a few weeks she had pass
ed out OF his mind entirely.
But John MACPHERSON was not to
slip out of the clutches OF determined
fate in this easy fashion With no
warning whatever, no premonition of
the trap before him, he climbed the
steps of a Fifth avenue house one
night to fulfill dinner engagement.
His hostess was a charming woman.
and her dinners were famous. He