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About Capital city courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1893 | View Entire Issue (June 15, 1889)
It, "7 i f Ofe-O-OQ 'SKV , i .-Mi v. vss 4 ti-0-O0-Uk. PoPdJUXR- RPER'orMopnRii -JIAAIlS :p ' Voi 4. No 27 Lincoln. Nbbiuska, Satuuday, Junb lfi, 180 Twicuvis Paoicm. SUPPLEMENT. 3V tf ?V ylfc, lttltikxP IU.dt 8& x. - - . EBfiSS8mM YJwCsfe MSCXfo.oo.o WTTW.rr.an.TMj'.'.'iO' LlTA VAA'X W I i f fl 2 iTiET3V HVii.t. &&5'&ffi&i&. jm3BL .'.vifa w i ji lT-fc: . -tcw;ij imd m . i j f.. -wv ., wimu i iiv,v '...-. jk IITOWi WSMSm&k fsem I Its I n&Wr I SPtl PrfflMIHP I ""If tJlVMIISIKEte rSrW MPEl. nsL wsijirs s s2Bfc SKilMf VJMIA-5a55rSv5 SvCSlKXWUIVJS ti .v., w:2vl-ij B8BKZ2S'!55SfeNKiS? - T Te (S5SEEft WiH -. -mtrJKrii lj : r,irri ffrr i v- ---v " - "frrni i ir i ! satS? .---' -. .ii MlTi . LlPyf Wa Jr . ' ,- S? -ZZ w5SrO-0-0-' TAKEN BY SIEGE. 3 The Story otf a Young Journalist's Experi ences in Neto York. Copyright by J. B. Lipplncott Company, Philadelphia, Pa., and Published Special Arrangement through the American Preii Association. m CHAPTER XL o s n 's mooting with Helen )Knovlton at t h o in ft h k o d ball had upset nil Ilia reso lutions. It acted upon him iiko a glass of wino up on a man who has stopped drinking; It went to Ills head and intoxicated hltn, and gave him nn irresistible crav ing for more. II o had felt her eyes upon his; the touch of her hand hud fallen upon ills arm. Ho could no more resist going to sco her again than lie could havo resisted her first Invitation to call at her house. Tho prido that iiad been stung to the quick was "bottled up," as be expressed it, and ho confessed to him self that ho might as well surrender Unit as last. "Ijniust not expect her to care for me vet. It would be vexv slrangn if eke did. 'What mil 1 to hert only one uf hun dreds; and she may be cnguged to that West Hastings now, for all I know. Peo ple say so. and people always know moro about your friends than you do yourself." Such thoughts as theso flew through the young man's brain as ho bent over his desk at night and plied the pen, or, blue pencil in hand, boiled columns of copy down to half or quarter columns. Again he argued with himself, "I owe ber an apology for flooring that rascal in her presence It was very ill bred of me and I must ask her pardon." So on his next "night off' he put on bis dress suit and walked up to Twenti eth street. Tho very thought that he was going to sco Ilelen excited him so that ho could scarcely do justico to the capital Italian dinner set beforo him at his old restaurant. IIo had dressed him self with the utmost care. "I never want to appear In her presenco except ns n well dressed man," ho said to him self; and this not because ho was a dandy, but becnuso ho had heard her cay that sho liked men to dress well nnd givo their personal appcaranco a sufll cicnt amount of thought. "I cannot bear a dowdy man," said Helen ono day in Rush's hearing, speak ing of a clever fellow of their acquaint' anco who was very untidy In his appear ance. "I prefer a man to care less for Greek and more for soap and water. I shudder whenever ho shakes hands with me. Such nailst thero is no excuso for It Thero is nothing I Iiko moro than a well kept hand, and nothing I dislike moro than ono that is let to run wild," Rush looked stealthily tit his Btrong, shapely Imnds, and wondered what head they camo under. On his way home that night ho stopped at a drug storoand bought a box containing all tho para phernalia of tho tollotto des onglea From that timo forth ho took caro of his bands; nnd he had his reward; for ono day, in shaking hands with him, Ilelen said, "What nico hands you have, Mr. Eurlstonel they uro so well kept. I Iiko to seo it." She didn't know that it was ber own doing. Helen's friends used to Bay among themselves that sho was too particular und spoke her mind too freely on these subjects; but the effect on her admirers was instantaneous. Tho mo m"i)t a man enmo to know her, ho began taking caro of his Imnds and looking after himself generally. Uncle Light foot Myers used to say that "tho colts who trotted around Ilelen Knowlton wcro tho best groomed youngsters in tho city;" and so they were. When Rush inquired nt her door if Miss Knowlton was It!, ho wns in such n etatoof nervous excitement that his voico sounded unnatural to him. She was in, nnd ho was ushered into tho drawing, room, where shoat with Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Llghtfoot Myers. They nil seemed pleased toseo him, and fora while he felt supremely huppy. Undo Light foot and Aunt Rebecca fell to chatting about a proposed trip to Europe, whilo Helen devoted herself to Rush. Ho mado bis apologies for thuepisodoof tho mask ed ball, nnd slio readily forgave him. Then alio asked him why ho hud noibeen to 6eo her, and sho was evidently so tin conscious of having given him causo for offense that ho began to think that per haps ho hud been unraisonnblo. As they talked about ono thing and another, Rush said. "Uy tho way, this is an nniver sary." "Of wlint?" inquired Helen. "StraiiL'o that vou should not guess," -v i VU1 Ltm bsssfI mFjvV' Br JMrl r y Hll MffA HlM rF nnuriini f--j- i- MP MM li N Pi - Fi by i answered Rush. "Twenty-ono yenraago to-night I was born." And ho drew him- 1 self up to tho full dignity of his years. , "What?" said Helen, laughing; 'tare 1 you only 31? Why, you nro a mere 1 boyl" And sho seemed so much amused that Rush felt rather annoyed. Ho was a boy as beards go; but ho was much older than his years; and yet again ho 1 was very boyish. "I am every bit as old as sho is, in my feelings," buid Rush to himself; but, then, Helen wai very young for her years. "Your aunt nnd Mr. Myers seem to bo tliscti8slng a very weighty subject." Bilil Rush, anxious to change tho conversa tion. "Yes, they uro," Helen replied; "they me talking over my Ixjiulou engage ment." "Aro you going to London?" asked Rush, with undisguised tuirprU). "Yea; it is all settled except ti few pre liminaries. I am to sing at Drnry Lane the coming season, and Undo Llghtfoot, 1 who gives us so much good ndvico in business matters, is arranging tho details with Aunt Rebecca. 1 don't wnnt to 1 have anything to do with the business. If I havo an of that on my mind I can't sing, and I disliko it anyway. Fortu- nately Aunt Rebecca likes It." This gave Rush time to recover, for ho ' had been quite stunned by tho blow. London seemed to him to lx at tho end of tho world. How ho wished that ho was a Monte Cristo, that ho might say, "What do you oxpect to inako by your trip?' und If sho should reply," A hundred thousand dollars," he would say, "Stay at home, and hero is two hundred thou sand." Hut, nlasl two hundred dollars would bo almost moro than ho could command. Oh, Why was sho 6o kind and why did sho look so beautiful on th6 night when 6ho announced her depart ure? He was afraid ho would betray himself; but he must know beforo she put tho sea between them whether sho was engaged to West Hastings. If sho was, he would retire from tho field and wait. IIo wouldn't givo up oven then. If 6ho wns not. ho wfrukl stay in the field nnd bido his time. Should ho ask her? No; that would be too hold a step, und it might make herungry. Whilo ho was debating in his mind tho bell rang, and theserrunt announced Mr. Hastings. Rush knitted his brows and cursed his luck, nnd Ilelen looked smilingly towards tho door as West Hastings entered. If there was ono thing ubovo another that West Hastings could do well it was to enter a drawing room, and Rush could not but envy his elegant ease. His bow was courtliness itself, and this he bestowed on tho in mates of tho room collectively. With Ilelen ho shook hands, nnd seated him self besido heron tho sofa. Rush thought his manner with her insufferable, but that was his prejudice. West Hastings was exceedingly deferential to ladies, and wirticularly so to Helen so much so, in fact, that sho felt it to bo an outsido polish rather than anything that camo from tho heart, "Confound his familiarity I" said Rush to himself. What right, I should Iiko to know, has ho to sit thero and talk to her in an undertone, as if ho owned her? Can it Imj possiblo that thoy nro en gaged?" He looked carefully at her hands, to sco if thero was n tell tale ring there; but her fingers wcro without orna ment. This was something to bo thank ful for. Although West Hastings spoko in low tones, Helen did not. Sho tried to draw Rush into tho conversation, but ho was too busy with thoughts of her de parture to notico that any of tho conver sation wns addressed to himself. Sho was going away, and that was all that ho could think about. "You will bo in London tho last of way, saw Hastings, "well, I am a lucky follow I shall bo thero just at i that timo; and you must depend on mo i to show you tho eights. London is an ' old story to me; hut to visit tho old I scenes In such delightful company will ! mako them fresh again. " What's that, you young rascal?" asked Undo Llghtfoot from tho other sido of tho room; "going to bo in London with Helen? flolug to witness anew American victory over tho British? Well, you nro a lucky dog. When do you sail?" "On tho lid; in tho Germanic," was tho reply. "Will, upon my wordl la this a pre arranged nffair?" exclaimed Undo Llght foot, winking at Aunt Rebecca. "That is our day nnd steamer," said TIclen. "How fortunato wo arol" "I urn tho fortunato ono," replied Has tings. "1 begin to think that I must havo been lorn under a lucky star." Rush erotind his teeth so fiercely that it is n wom'ler tho company dm not hear him. Going to cross in tho steamer with herl If ho wasn't engaged to her now ho would Ik) by tho timo they reached Liverpool; for tho man who cannot mako an ocean voyago tho turning point in his courtship does not know how to uso his opportunities. What was tho ubo of working ngalnst fate? Tho way wns mado .clear for West Hastings; whilo ho had nothing on his sido but n lovo which ho believed was tho fondest mnn ever had for woman, hut which he knew it would bo fatal to betray. Ho felt desperate, mid It U no wonder that ho looked so. "You haven't spoken a word in tho last ten minutes, Sir. Hurlstono. Why aro you so silent?" said Helen, in n half bantering tone. "I wan just thinking of a lot of unfin ished work, nnd that I must tear myself from this delightful company nnd hurry to my desk. Such a thought wns enough to mako mo silent nnd nnd," ho replied in the sntuo tone, nt tho namo timo rising to leave the room. IIo bade them nil good night nnd left tho house with a heavy heart. "I am really very fond of that boy," said Helen, as sho heard tho front door close. "Ho Is so honest and enthusiastic quito dllfercnt from tho usual society men ono Is constantly meeting." "Yes," said Hastings in a patronizing tone: "ho secius quito nn ninlnblo young man. A reporter or something of that sort, isn't ho?" "Well, yes, something of that bort," sail Helen, taking up tho cudgels rather ngalnst Hastings' tono than his words. "All journalists, no matter how great they may become, lcgin at tho bottom of the ladder nnd learn all tho branches of their work. Mr. Hurlstono is devoted to his profession. Ho will bo editor of Tho Dawn somo day, you mark my words." "Indeed ho will, if Industry and ability go for anything," chimed in Aunt Re becca. Mr. Uurlstono's success would not surprise mo." said Hastings, with n slight sneer in his voice. "A man who can maki such devoted friends of the ladles is bound to succeed. Women rulo tho world, say what you will." "Tho truth well spoken," said Undo Llghtfoot. "This young Hurlstono, how ever, strikes mo ns a go ahead, sensible young fellow, nnd I hopo that Helen's predictions will provo true." "I echo your sentiments, Undo Llght foot, nnd should bo pleased to bco virtuo rowarded," replied Hnstlngs. Helen felt Iiko saylug something sharp in reply, but, as Hnstlngs was her guest, sho refrained. Besides, sho thought it was perhaps a tlngo of jealousy that affected his speech, and sho was too much of a woman not to forglvo sarcasm that nroso from such a source Sho thercforo led tho conversation around to tho European trip, and Rush Hurlstono and his nsplrntions wcro forgotten in tho discussion of pleasant plnns for tho summer. Poor Rush! ho'could not bo Boon turn tin current of his thoughts. IIo began by wishing that ho had never been born; but, ho thought TIs better to havo lovctl and lost Thau never to havo loved ut cM Ho felt that ho had lost, and ho walked from Twentieth street to Printing House squaro thinking over his despcrato case. Tho sight of Tho Dawn office recalled him to himself, nnd, having no occasion to enter tho building that night, ho turned around nnd walked b.v:k to his lodgings. Ills case was certainly n hard one. Ho, a penniless boy, loved with all tho Impetuosity of youth tho most pop ular singer of tho duy a woman any man would bo proud to call his wife, whom all men loved, but to whoso hand few aspired, owing to her position nnd the careful manner in which sho was guarded. Tho wealthiest young bache lor In New York was acknowledged to bo her slave. Sho could marry him if sho would, so every ono said, but sho would probably marry a Russian prlnco or nn English duke. It was already said that two such eligible suitors visiting this country had expressed their willingness to tharo tho prima donna's ducats; and yet he, Rush Hurlstone, n young country boy with his famo nnd fortune still to make, dared to love herl As ho stood nt his window that night, looking out at the moou, which seemed to bo shining with es pecial brilliancy over tho spot whero her house stood, ho registered a vow that he would not givo lilmsejf up to repining, but would bido his time. "I cannot bellevo that I wns put In the world merely to be tho shuttlecock of fate. I'll Iks my own battledoor," said ho aloud, "and knock myself into a posi tion by her side." CHAPTER XII. iffllW HY DONT you loam Italian?" Ilelen naked Rush, one day. "It would be a good thing (or you in your profession, I should think, and you know Utin bo well it w o ti I d not bo hard to lenrn, 1 might often wnnt to say something to you. too, that I didn't want every ono else to understand," shu added, smil ingly. Rush thought tho Idea a good ono, anil tho lust part of the nrguincut carried conviction with It. He determined to learn at onco, and In thinking nbout a teacher, ho remembered Ionl mid her family. Thero was tho "ox-cannon ball tosscr not nn unintelligent man with timo hanging heavy on his hands. Ho would make a capital teacher. At any rate, ho could go over to tho llttlu ajmrt incut and mako tho suggestion. IIo owed tho Ccllus a visit. They hud been very kind to him when ho wns nlouo In Now York, nnd now that he had found other friends ho had quite neglected them. So on his way up town at about 0 o'clock one afternoon ho stopped nt tho Cclla apu'rtment. All the family weroat homo and In tho best of spirits. Lconl never looked prettier. Sho was dressed In gala duy attire, and so was tholittlo room In which bho lived. Tho curtains wero tied buck with guy ribbons, nnd IIowcih stood in all sorts of receptacles altout tho apartment. Tho tahlo was set for dinner nnd looked very attractive. Tho cloth was snow white, and the best China was on It, with two or threo bits of silver that hud been brought from Italy and wero polished till they shone like mirrors In tho light of tho lamp. Tho bottle of Clilantl hud a ribbon tied around its neck, and thero was altogether an ap pearance of festivity about tho place which tho savory odor of a choice mines tra wafted from tho little kitchen did nothing to dispel. Rush noticed that the tahlo was laid for four, nnd he pict ured in his mind tho raven locks and largo black eyes of tho favored boh of Italy who was probably soon to make hlsuppcuntnco ns tho guurt of tho even ing. "Leonl's color and tho unusual brightness of her eyes tell tales that need no words." Bald Rush to himself. "Well, somo sliver voiced tenor is going to win a prize. Leon I is un exceptionally nice girl, and sho is very beautiful." Leoni seemed a little embarrassed and tho parents a Ilttlo mysterious; bo be tween the two Rush thought It best to state his business and get away leforo the arrival of tho lover. Ho mado known his errand to tho ex-cannon ball tosscr, who was delighted with tho idea of bo pleasant n pupil, nnd timo nnd terms wero agreed upon nt once. Rush nroso to go. but beforo ho had mado his adieus the door bell rang, and Leoni disappeared In the hall. It seemed ns though sho would never come luvik. Rush did not want to go out and disturb her, nor did he wnnt to btnnd in the inKdlo of the floor nnd twirl his hat until sho returned. "Ah, these young peoplel" said Signora Cclla, with an nmiiscd shako of tho head. Somo whispering was heard in the hall, nnd Leoni entered, followed by a man. She was just about to fntroduco tho gentlemen, when they loth stepped forward nnd stared nt each otler in amazement. "Why, John, you here!" "Hello, Rush, old maul glad to sec you." And John shook his brother af fectionately by tho hand. Rush was no astonished that ho had nothing to say, but John wns jwrfectly nt his ease. Rush remembered the vehemence with which John had denied any acquaint ance with Leoni, and his heart mlsguvo him no for JoIiu'h sake, but for Leonl's and for that of Amy Dayliss. So you know Mr. Stone?" Bald Leoni. "now very nice! i ui so glad you nre friends." Rush saw that thero was u mystery nbout this acquaintanceship, but this was not tho timo or the pluco to unravel It: bo ho bnde them good evening, rind took his leave. What did it mean? John was evidently on terms of Intimacy in tho Cella household. John wnsan attractive fellow, and Leoni was, to say tho least, very innch Inter ested in him. Thero would Ihj no harm In this if John wero not engaged to Amy Dayliss. Poor little Amy! Hush thought of her big bluo eyes and baby face, lie would like to thrnsh John," if ho was going to throw the confiding little thing over after winning her directions so thor oughly. And Leoni whut would bho say If bho know of John's engagement? But perhaps, nftcr nil, Rush was magni fying the affair. Perhaps if Rush hud seen Amy Bayliss sho might havo told him that there wns no fulling off in John's attentions. His letters were frequent, but short, and his flowers camo regularly. Amy felt quito happy, for John had named their wed ding day in ono of his early letters. To bo sure, he hud mado no allusion to it lately, but tho thing onco settled, why harp upon It? John had not faltered In his affection for Amy, but a now affection had sprung up in his heart, and ho was madly in lovo with Leoni Cella, IIo was ono of those men who nro so constituted that they can lovo two women nt tho same timo, but not nllko. John was moro In love, per haps I should say moro wildly in love, with Leoni than ho was with Amy. Her dark ltajlan eyes fascinated him, nnd thero wu bomcthlng in his nature that enjoyed ovlng a woman who wus Iwforo tho pitOl'c. IIo liked to sit in thothentro nnd Bayto hiuibclf ns sho came tripping down tUo Btugo, "Thut Is tho girl I lovo; you nyiy clap your hamU nnd snout yourselves hoarse, gentlemen, but she (Iocmi t euro a button for one ot you. i am tho man of her choice!" Now, Rush, on tho contrary, was not nt nil attracted by tho professional llfo of the woman ho loved, lie couldn't bear the Idea of her leiiig a "public character" ono whom every one felt nt liberty to seak of with eifcct free dom, nud whoso photograph any mnn could buy. If ho could have afforded it, he would havo bought every photograph uf Helen thut had been taken, nud havo hidden It away where no one but he could see It. He could hardly keep his hands olT n man he met in n Nassau street shop one duy, The man wns mak ing n,C(!ectlon of stage favorites, and he hud a lot of Helen's photographs ipreud out on the counter leforo him. These he picked upaud criticised In turn. He didn't mean to say anything out of tho way, but Hush wondered, when ho thought it over, why he had not stran gled htm on the sKt, Instead of that, he hurried out of the shop, after shooting glances nt the man thut must have left him with the impression thut his vls-a-vis wns a luuuHu. Hut John enjoyed seeing lcoiii's photographs In tho shop windows. She was tho favorite dancer of Now York; why shouldn't her picture bo for sale? The ofteucr lie saw It tho better ho was pleased. IIo was nlTcc tlounte, but there was nothing senti mental about him. RiihIi tried to sec his brother the day after the meeting nt tho Ccllus', but he couldn't find him. It must have beeii a fortnight before he met liiui, and in tho mean timo he had taken his first Italian lesson from the ex-caunon ball tosscr. Leoni was not at homo. Sho wns at tending a lehearsal at tho Academy of Music, and Hlgnoru Cella was out in Third avenue, marketing. Rush tried to find out, without prying too deeply Into his brother's affairs. Just what John's po sition in tho household was. He did not tell Slgnor Cclla that Mr. Stono, as ho called him, was his brother, but ho said that ho knew him, nud ho booh found that ho was answering Cella's questions rather than Cella his. The old man seemed very anxious to learn all ho could about "Mr, Stone," Ho had been Introduced to Slgnor Cella and Leoni by nCol. Mortimer, whom tho ballet master at the Academy vouched for ns being a "perfect gentletnnn." No sooner had Mr. Stone met Leoni than he fell in love with her. Leoni was used to lovo at first sight, and sho knew that it usually passed away as suddenly as It came. But In tho enso of John Hurlstono (or Mr. Stone, ns she bollovcd him to 10 it wns different. Ho had not tho familiar assurcd-of-succcss manner of tho men she had been in tho habit of meeting U'liind the scenes. Ho was gentlo and deferential, nud ho showed her ns much rosject us ho would havo shown nny lady in her drawing room. His manner to her mother completely captivated that excellent woman; and one rainy night, when ho took her and her daughter homo in his enrringo, she invited him in to get warm, and ho ac cepted tho invitation with alacrity. A few days Inter ho culled to seo if they had suffered nny iucouvenlcnco from tho rnin, nnd from that time on he hud been a regular visitor at tho Cellas', whero ho won nil hearts by his amiability and gentleness. IIo was moro desperately in lovo with Leoni than ho had ever been wltli nny other woman; but I will not say that ho could not havo changed his affections with a chango of scene. IIo saw lieforo ho had talked with her many times that bho was ns good n girl as hud ever lived, and that If ho wanted to tie her friend ho must treat her with projicr respect. Sho was a ballet dancer, to bo sure, but she had leen well brought up. Although she was deeply In lovo with him, sho gave him to understand, as Juliet as sured Romeo, that ho need pay no court to her unless tho lent of his love was honorable and his purposo marriage, John accepted the position of lover on these terms, forgetting for tho timeleing Amy Bayliss and the wedding day that was not far otL Ho had fixed It for the 1st of June; but after n while ho wroto her tho tendercst Mter a nun ever wroto to a woman, postponing it till tho fall. Amy was crfcctly satisfied with tho reasons, and loved him moro than ever for them. Sho did wish that ho could get back to Farm Bted, If only for n day; but dear John was working so hard, and all for herl In tho fall thoy would bo married, nnd then sho would go with him to Now York. The would llvo nt his rooms tho first winter, nnd tnko their meals any where they chose. That was tho way many young married couples did. It wns very Bohemian ami very jolly, and Amy, who had spent all her duys in a country rectory, looked forward to it with the keenest anticipation. "Poor little Amy!" John said to him self, as ho sat in his private room at the Mutual Dividend Mining company's ofll ccs, smoking its beht cigars and sipping its Hpccial brand of cognac. "Poor little girll Shu loves me so, nnd 1 lovo her; but I love Icoiil more." And hobliut his eyes and ave himself up to dreams of Ieoni. Such beauty, such grace, and a depth of love for him thut Amy could not know. "I bellevo she would kill any one who came between us. I can beo her soft eyes grow hard nnd flush fire it hlie heard of a rival. Women aro ntrnngo creatures; thoy novcr blaiuo tho man! but Heaven help tho woman If thoy get hold of her! 'She led him o(T,' thoy say. Ah, if they only know how willing ho was to be ledl" JoIiu'h reveries wcro brought to nn cud by tho entrance of Col. Mortimer, who camo In with somo certificates of stock for him to sign ns secretary of tho company. IIo had just got hold of a guileless merchant from n distant New J2uglund (own, and was going to givo liliu ten Iteautlfully engraved certificates of stock In the Mutual Dlvident Mining company for ten oue-thouMiud-dollar bills. John felt a slight twinge of con science as ho signed tho certificates; but a man muM havo money to live! "You will get twenty par cent, on this Investment In six mouths, Mr, Oorhum, and twenty in six months mure," John could near uul. Mortimer tell his victim as ho liowcd him to tho front door. "Forty er cent. Is better than letting your money llo Idlo. You may consider yourself fortunato in having got nny of this stock. I don't like to bco It going out of my own hands; but I havo a very friendly feeling towards you, and am glad, after nil, that you have thoso cer tificates," "And I theso greenbacks," he might have added, ns tho door swung to on Its well oiled hinge. Col. Mortimer returned to his desk, nud, taking nine of tho bills, rolled them up ami placed them side by sido In his capacious wallet. The tenth ho took In nnd handed to John, "There, you lucky dog, that Is your share of the day's receipts. I tako ns much myself: tho rest goes for ofllco ox louses." John was fool enough toboliovo him; for, with nil his worldly minded iiess, he wns very credulous. IIo thanked Mortimer, folded tho bill neatly nnd put It In his waistcoat ocket. Thero It be gan burning a holo nt once. "How long beforo you're going up town, colonel?" ho asked. "Not for somo timo yet. I havo somo matters of Jinportanco to look over bo foro I go." "Then I won't wait for you. I havo an errand or two on my way up. I'll seo you nt tho club this evening." Closing his desk and throwing a light spring tocoat over his arm, ho put his hat raklshly on his head and stepped lightly out of tho office nnd down tho stairs Into tho street. There ho hailed n passing cab and springing in gavo the order "To Tiffany's," nnd Bettlod himself back on the seat to think what ho should buy. He wolild get something for Leoni for love's sako nnd somothlng for Amy for tho sako of pity. Poor Amy I IIo would get hor something very ntco. The cab drew up at tho famous jeweler's and John entered tho place with tho air of a bank president. Ho went direct to tho diamond counter nud asked the obliging salesman to let him see some solitatro rings. After looking over do.ens of them, of nil sizes nnd all prices, he se lected a small white stono for which ho paid threo hundred dollars, throwing bis thousand dollar bill carelessly on tho counter. This wns for Lconl; but eho must not tell who gave it to her yet awhile. How they would enjoy tho se cret together! "Can I show you anything else?" asked tho salesman. "Yes, If you will bo so kind. I wnnt to send a present to a lady in tho country somo little trifle. I don't know ladies' tastes very well. What would you eug gestr "Really, sir, I can haidly say; you havo shown biich excellent taste In tho selec tion of that ring that I think tho lady will furo very well at your hands. But, ns you nsk me, what do you buy to n funl n handsome hand tainted fan? We have somo lienuties selling nt a great sacrifice." "Capital!" said John. "Tho summer is coming on, nud a lady is never without a fan." So they walked over to tho fan counter nud John bought a (x-arl handled, feather trimmed, hand painted absurdity for 200 (It was ono of tho great "sacrifices") and sent it off with the most nffecttouato Ilttlo note to Amy, It was her wedding present, cery ono In Parmstcd said; for they know that a wedding day had been named, nnd John certainly could not send her anything handsomer. Amy knew liettcr; but sho was delighted with tho gift, and, kissing the feather tips, bho put it back in its satin box and laid it away in her bureau drawer with tho tortoise shell boxes and other expeusivo knlckknucks thut John hud sent her. After John had bent tho fun to Amy, ho sat down at his writing desk nnd wroto a most impassioned letter taaif) uvea Hill! ;d letter Jr. Kew loved hvr, nndC proof of bin in- oui, telling her how ho that ho sent tho ring in proof tentions; "but, my darling," ho wrote,' "wear this where it wont bo been for. the present. Cruel circumstances pre vent my coming out boldly and claiming' you as my love before all tho world; but have faith in me, ditrllng. us 1 havo in you. Don't even tell your good father nnd mother too much; though you may assure them of my honorable Intentions. Oh, Leoni, you do not know what it is to 1h n creature of fate! I must wait qui etly for a while, but I can go on loving you and trusting in your lovo for mo, unworthy as I uui; and you may bollovo that, como what tuny, I nm nnd n!wn,ya will bo your own John."
