Year: 1879

as IIltHus, III very COHlIltc tOlc'


No answer. What was he to say tC


make his peace: What would Gordor


probably have said under similar circum.
stances?


A sob from Miss Jessie. ~ am just


as unhappy as can be, Mr.. Strong, and


I'm very sory | told YOU | was going


away. never thought it would make


make you kiss me


This was encouraging, and her com


panion's spirits grew lighter, and he be-


came fluent in his expressions of regret


for his conduct and its remote cause.


He at last succeeded in gaining forgive


ness for the first, and in aSsuaging her


grief at leaving "dear, darling Chicago "


for so perfect was the reconciliation that
when the drive was ended, Miss Bloomer
was the promised wife of Mr.. Strong.


Now a well-conducted romance ought
to have gone on smoothly from this point ;
but instead, this one sought out the
toughest paths through which TO wander.
In the first place, Mr.. Strong found await
ing him a telegram which called him to
PENNSYLVANIA, and while he was away
the father of Miss Bloomcr made an un-
expected appearance in Chicago; got
very homcsick. after the manner of old
gentlemen unaccustomed to leaving home,
and spirited that young person away to
the farthest corner of Minnesota, only the
day before her lover returned Had she
known of his nearness, she might have
persuaded her father to wait twenty four
hours: but am forced TO confess that
my hero had never once written 10 his
little fancce during their ten days Of
separation He would gladly have done
SO, and even dated numerous sheets Of
papes, but after the date was once written
he was at a loss to know how to continue.
The address was the stumbling block; if
he could have settled that to his satisfac-
ton he might have gone on, but he
could not Since Miss Jessie was not
present, his engagement seemed so vague
thing that he was only half certain
that he had not dreamed it that night in
the sleeping car When he had started
upon that cycntful drive. no idea that he
would return from it her promised hus-
band had ever crossed his mind Then,
in less than two hours after. he had said
a hurried farewell in the hall, had stolen
a couple of kisses when they were out of
range of the open parlor-wherein reigned
an ominouS silence-had promised to be
back the moment business was over, and
taken his valiSe and rushed away to
catch the night train going east. SO at-
ter the many vain attempts have noted,
the letter was given up, and he depended
upon forgiveness, when he should reach
Chicago, by eloquently and truthfully
stating the case.


But letter might have prevented all
that followed. For if a letter had come,
il is more than likely that in the course
of time it would have been shown to
Mrs Norm, who would straightway have
told her husband and father, and the en-
gagement would have been talked about in
the family. Indeed, Miss Jessie had de-
pended upon the coming OF letter to
diyulge her secret to her sister. But
when none came it was but human that
indignation should settle down upon her
heart, and silence upon her lips.


SO she departed, leaving but a brief
note, which was to give her neglectful
lover her Minnesota address, should he
desire to make use of it.


This note called forth prompt, awk-
ward apology from the errring Strong,
which was received and pardoned-both
the conduct and letter-in graceful and
lengthy cpistlc from Miss Bloomer In
deed, it was such pretty letter that it
inspired the recipient with glow Of
pride in being able to claim the charming
writer as his own. He carried it in his
breast pocket, and read it many times,
and on the following Sunday retired to
his room Immediately after breakfast, and
wrested with an answer during 4 great
er part of the day He began by inform
ing her that her favor Of last Monday
was received, and contents duly noted.
Then he was glad to learn that she had
reached home safely, and that she had
found all well there; he was also glad
that she had not mentioned their engage
ment to her sister before leaving Chicago,
as the fellows would all have had their
remarks to make, and it would be just
as well to give them good surprise one
of these days: and should he write to
her father: He supposed she knew the
great news about Jack and Gordon going
into a partnership and setting up in st.
Louis the next week. He would try to
get off sometime near Christmas and
visit her. In the meantime she would
tell him what kind of a ring she would
like. Business was beginning to hurry
him, and she must not always wait to
dnSwer letters, but write to him often,
and he remained respectfully hers, etc,
etc


As an ordinary letter it was study,
but as a love letter not success. Still,
Miss Jessie understood his difficulties,
read the most readable passages to her
dear friend and confdante, and proceed
ed to make hero of her future husband,
and did as he desired about writing often.


Almost any reasonably good fellow can
be idealized into hero by simply setting
himself upon a pedestal in the heart of
an imaginative young girl, and then leav-
ing her. First of all he will be hero
because it is necessary for her to have
one to worship; then he is hers, has Civ