Year: 1879

Se'gReW style and Is all the more admlra-
, bic for it. Under any and all circum-
l stances her common clay turns to finest
marble, and she worships her idol, and
commands all her friends to kneel before
the shrine.


Now even on the slight acquaintance
, my readers have with Mr. Strong, | am
sure they will agree with me in the vcr-
dict that he was not of the stuff from
which heroes are usually made. He
was not built of very fine clay nor OF
sounding brass; he was more-judging
him impartially--like Eastwood image
than anything in the idol line; but such
as he was, Miss Jessie had not been part
ed from him a month before she had him
enthroncd, with innumcrable tapcrs glim-
mering through the clouds of incense
constantly burning before him.


How sad to think that he was so soon
to cast himself down from that pedestal
Or did fate do the deed: I'm more than
half inclined to think he was only a tool
in the hands of incxorable destiny, for
years after, when he told me the whole
story, he came as near weeping as a
Chicago coal merchant could. He twist
ed his hands together, and turned about
on the little finger of his left hand
magnificent diamond ring (which was
bought for a much fairer hand he
groaned aloud, and sworc that greater
blockhcad than he never lived, and in
every way showed the liyeliest remorse.
To Justify him as much as possible with
my readers, I'm going to let him finish
the story for himself, and they will be
convinced of his sincerity.


Il arranged my business so as to get
away for a couple Of weeks about Christ
mas wrote her | was coming, but
did not say just when, | was so uncertain.
was going a little beyond her home, too,
before | returned, to visit some of my
mothers relatives. | wanted to see poor
little Jessie very much; indeed did;
but | dreaded to meet the old folks,
and all her girl friends, and the whole
village; so when got on the train TO
start, and met a friend who was going
hunting in my uncle's neighborhood, |
decided TO 20 on with him, make my visit
there first, and then visit Jessie on my
way back to Chicago. | thought Id
gather courage in the mean time to meet
her folks


l found my friends very glad to see
me, and the first week of my vacation
slipped without my realizing it. Then |
thought I'd send line and fix a day for
starting didn't get chance to write
that day: and the next, when sat down
and began, | found it rather awkward TO
tell her that had come right past her
station to see other friends first, so con-
cluded not to write, but just step in the
next day when she wasn't expecting me.
That very night terrific snowstorm
came, and there wasn't train to be
seen for forty-eight hours. The last one
that went through brought me letter
from my partner in Chicago, urging me
back a. soon as possible, as we were like
" to meet with heavy loss The letter
decided me to take the first train that
came. and get to Chicago as soon as posi-
ble fully intended to dispatch my
business there, and the moment | could
get away, to take three days and visit
that poor girl. OF course couldn't
write and tell her how I'd been loafng
within hundred miles of her for nearly
two weeks.


When | got to Chicago found affairs
badly mixed up, and it was two weeks
more before they were Strengthened. |
was so harrassed all the time that writ
ing was quite out of the question with
me. | never was much Of a letter writ
er anyway, and least Of all in the line of
friendly correspondence. But had thought
of my behavior every day, and | can as
sure YOU didn't respect myself any the
more for my convictions.


The very night that my business was
completed | received letter from Miss
Boomer and he handed me little
missiye from out his note book. 1t ran
thus


MFR. SrRONG,-After receiving your
last letter, nearly month ago, expect
ed you daily. But Iced scarcely say,
now that have learned from u true friend
that you passed through Forrestyille
t,oice last month, that | do not expect
you at all.


Your conduct has been very singular,
to say the least, and | do not understand
it. DO not, please, imagine that | am
breaking my heart over the matter, for
am not. only congratulate myself up
on my happy escape from man who has
80 little regard for his word.


Trusting that your ways will be more
straightforward in the future, for your
o,on good,


am respectfully yours,


JESSIE BLooMER'


Pretty severe, isn't it" he asked as
| finished. "But deserved it.


"Yes, you deserved it," l replied,
handing it back What did you do to
clear yourself:' ,


Il wrote and told her the whole thing,
but received my letter back, along with
the Others | had written, little slip of
paper, upon which she merely said thai
good excuse was better than none, but
| must pardon her if she declined to ac-
cept it"


"And did you ever learn how she
found out about this unlucky trip"


"Yes; it seems that White-the
friend met on the train-saw MORN at