The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-02-08

frOWn occasionally or excuse LAcAu-
selves when he calls on the plea Of in
disposition and the bottom Of his uni
verse drops out Immediately. Molly
played these little games on me so Of
ten that l was discouraged. thought
that If l could only reach a point
where 1 could ring In my long adora-
ton of her photograph her heart would
warm toward me at once.
Meanwhile another little romance
that l cannot develop here was going
on between my sister Ruth and Molly's
brother. Molly had noticed 1t and
spoke to me about it, but was so in
terested in my own affair that had no
thought for any others. didn't hap
pen to meet Molly's brother, but was
not slow in making up my mind that
he was the person to whom she had
given the photograph. A brother would
not be likely to write "a peach" on
the back Of q sisters picture. but the
brother in this case might have had q
friend who admired the sister.
One thing noticed in Molly's treat
ment of me that construed favorably.
Whenever she would give me the cold
shoulder she would follow up her act
by being especially gracious. After one
of these fits Of graciousness resolved
to bring matters to crisis. did not
begin with SO unromantic matter as
an exchange Of overcoats. led up to
the subject by telling her that I had
been familiar with her Hneaments be-
fore had ever seen her. She evidently
saw what was coming, not from my
words, but my manner. When a man
has a proposal on his mind and trying
to find words In which to make 1t there
are few girls who do not know the in
evitable result. l might just as well
have said nothing after making the
start, and what did say was not what
l had intended to say. At any rate,
forgot to tell her that her likeness had
been on my dresser for long while
before had met her. Her reply to my
proposition was startling.
"Why haven't you returned Bob's
ovcrcoatT'
drew aside to get better view Of
her expression. She was toying with
some ornamental work on her skirt,
her eyes cast down. Nevertheless l
detected slight Quirk to the corner Of
her mouth.
"Wh-a-at do you meanT asked.
"Come; don't pretend what's not
true" she replied You know you
have had picture Of mine that didn't
belong to you"
My establishment, my curiosity, went
down before the desire OF my life l
told her that fate had thrown into my
possession picture which from the
day first saw it had grown upon me,
had enthralled me, had been the be-
ginning Of my first and only love.
Fate had thrown it In my way
''You mean fate threw Bob's over
coat In your way, the overcoat happen
Ing to contain my photograph"
This matter Of fact reception Of my
outburst somewhat cooled me.
How did you know about the ex-
change Of coats2' I asked.
Bob had his coat taken the day I
sent him my likeness. knew the pat
tern of the cloth well and have been
looking for it ever since The moment
| saw you at the breaking up Of the
bridge party, standing in the hall with
Bob's coat on, recognized it at once"
And Bob?
II saw by the way you were looking
q ho% ho6
had done so by my photograph. I In
ferred that you would seek me and
kept my own counsel. I haven't yet
told Bob or any one else that you have
been wearing his coat"
l looked at her steadily for a few
different vein:
I've been nursing this matter for
months. intending a pleasant surprise,
and now you've taken the wind out of
my sails. Ever since met you you've
known that had been in possession of
your picture. There's no use in a man
trying to impress woman by chican-
cry or concealment She'll beat him
every time When l saw you look at
me the evening you first saw me l
fanc1ed that some telepathic process
had informed you that and you were
destined"-
1T did saw admiration in your
glance"
"Oh, that was it! Anyway, the game
has all been In your hands. / count
for nothing. l am only a beggar."
She was touched by my disappoint-
pent, the abject position in which I
found myself. She felt for my hand
and drew closer to me- My victory
pme through defeat, but since I had
achieved all had set out to achieve I
did not repine.
What was my gain was another's
PISS. The mana chum of Bob's-who
had written "a peach" on the back of
Molly's photo was an aspirant for her
hand when appeared on the scene
ana was obliged to withdraw In nv