Show Y AN UNKNOWN RIVAL AL r- r i l s A few days after my arrival in California I was invited to attend a picnic party I had often heard of the magnificent scenery of Del DelMonte DelMonte DelMonte Monte but never expected to find it half so gr grand nd A lake of clear clearwater clearwater clearwater water spread before me like a great mirror and fishes darted merrily to and fro in its pearly depths The ground was carpeted with grass and flowers and on all sides tall stately oak trees could be seen lifting lifting lifting lift lift- ing their trembling tops to the lofty skies I was there introduced to Julia Rodgers a young lady whom I admired admired admired ad ad- mired for her rare individuality and also for that quality that wins the approval of all gentlemen gentlemen beauty She was tall and slender with a graceful figure dark hair that was drawn up in dainty ripples and her face was more beautiful than lillies that grow in the Conser Conservatory atory She had a low brow and eyes of the clearest darkest violet that looked almost black under the dark fringed lashes I was very much impressed by her manner and andI I wondered if I could win her love I learned that she was out on a summer excursion and that she was staying at a hotel I intended to ask to call on her never doubting for a moment that she would refu refuse e me I fj H j. j i if f c it k Ezi t 1 l 2 e v i U 1 Yak bU t W s t 4 W J 11 V fl 3 ww ASt J G r L 1 j t c cr cI I Two weeks passed away before I saw her again and during that time parties had no charms for me and society did not offer its in inducements inducements inducements in- in as it did when I was free to think of all the fair damsels To my great joy I received an invitation from Miss Parkes t to be present at a lawn party and knowing that she was a dear friend of Miss Rogers' Rogers I knew I should meet that night the object of my ad ad- Oh my how time did seem to drag along when I was waiting waiting waiting wait wait- ing for that hour to come when I could again immerge into society and have my dreams realized I The evening however arrived and I went with my mind full of thoughts and a firm determination to win her approval Yes and I Idid Idid did try to be attentive to her but by so doing I found I was intruding intruding intruding ing upon what seemed to be Jacks Jack's rights Jack was a tall handsome fellow and met in the re requirements requirements requirements re- re of a ladies man he appeared to be a great friend and companion for Julia During the evening of the party 1 I I left the people that were gathered gathered gathered gath gath- ered around in large crowds on the lawn and strolled to a place in inthe inthe the garden unmolested to meditate upon my misfortunes and upon some device I 1 could use in obtaining Julias Julia's favor for I thought without without without with with- out her my life would be incomplete While I was sitting there in inthe inthe inthe the shadow of a large rose bush I saw Jack coming towards to a secluded secluded se se- spot in th the garden with Miss Julia Rodgers upon his arm Envy Envy Envy En En- vy and hatred soon arose in my breast and I at once turned my eyes towards them and tried to listen to their conversation As the light from the lanterns streamed through the branches of the great trees and the bright silvery rays of the moon cast a clear shadow over the cool earth parth I saw between the branches the faces of ofT T Julia and Jack Never before had the face of woman appeared so beautiful They sat down on a little elevation covered with grass engaged in what seemed to be a very interesting conver conver- I listened as only a man can who is envious of his rival and andI I heard him say to her I shall have the desire ot of my heart and I IThe IThe I- I The last words seemed to die away in the air like the echo of some far off strain of music and I sat there for nearly half an hour all the time my interest became deeper and my hatred towards Jack increased in my heart until I felt as though I would have to break in upon 5 them I however conquered my selfish desire and remained to hear all I could Suddenly J Julia ulta said I must go II and started up as though a thought had suddenly passed through her mind that she was out in the moonlight talking to a gentleman and trifling with his affections They walked back to the lawn laYn and I followed shortly afterwards u F and during the remaining part of the evening I was wass with her as much f f j as I could well be and was impressed with her r more more and more more for foras foras as we conversed together it seemed to me as though thour h I had known herfor herfor her for years and I threw all formality aside Are you not from Europe Mr Lavaine Yes I came here this summer Well I hope you will be able to enjoy yourself in the West we t think ink it is a beautiful place and especially here at Del Monte I usual usually usually al ally y spend my summers here and I al always ays meet v very ry co congenial genial friends Well one is not apt to meet the same same friends often at at a place like this for people generally come and nd go at different times Yes that is quite true but I have been more fortunate in that way than most people I have several friends here this evening that I see only when I come here for we all live in different parts of the country Did you meet Mr Jack Barlow here Yes two years ago He and his mother al always wa s spend their summers summers summers sum sum- mers at Del Monte but Mrs Barlows Barlow's home is in New York I think By this time the guests were to leave and as Miss Rodgers entered the veranda with Jack she turned to me and said G Goodnight Goodnight Good od- od night Mr Lavaine I have enjoyed myself in your company very much and I hope to be able to see you again before you leave r Ten days passed away and as I was passing through the park I y saw a lady whom I recognized as Julia As I approached her I saw by her countenance that she was in a state of unhappiness and walking walking walking walk walk- ing nearer I saw her give a quick start and close a locket that hung on ona a gold chain from her neck I did not recognize the picture but I r saw however the face of a man and to my joy saw that it was was was' not Jack A thought arose in my mind and I wondered red who the face was was was' she sat there viewing but was content to let it pass knowing as I r I did that it was not Jack We walked around the park until the twilight changed into darkness and as we turned our steps towards the hotel where she was staying saying I asked if I might call on her and very cheer- cheer she answered Yes Mr Lavaine for I enjoy having friends call on me now that I am away from home for it seems to make the evenings pass away more pleasantly The words II Yes Mr Lavaine fell sweet on my ears and I imagined I could hear them every time I thought of of her and I f hoped that the time would soon come when it would not not- be Mr Lavaine but Lavaine-but but Alphonse It did not take me long to decide what evening in I J. should call for forI forI for I was willing and anxious to devote all my time to her I called on the evening following our walk walk through through the park and as I t entered the j. j parlor of the hotel I saw her sitting in a large easy chair reading a F 1 letter She did not see me as I 1 entered presently she looked up and ana started forward to meet me How glad I 1 am to see you Mr Lavaine come in and sit down How Howlong long have you been standing in the doorway II Not long I 1 answered II I 1 hope you will pardon my seeming neglect but I 1 was so interested interested interested inter inter- ested in my long expected letter that I 1 did not hear you when you entered How I 1 longed to know something of the he writer r t tr r of that large plain handwriting but then I 1 realized I 1 had not yet the right to ask her for her confidence A thought arose in my mind in regard to the picture I 1 saw in the locket and I I. wondered if even another shared her love but I J smothered the thought saying to myself that it was only a fancy o or fit of jealousy prompted by my tny uncontrollable love for her How much longer do you e expect to remain in Del Monte II Perhaps I 1 shall remain two weeks longer a at home you see it is isI isso isso I so lonesome for during the day time I 1 have no one to convene converse with excepting the servant and you know how much comfort and enjoyment there is in talking to one in whom you have no social interest Our evenings however were always spent pleasantly and that is why I 1 3 miss home so much when I 1 am here for the evenings seem to drag along when I 1 have no one to talk with t Have you no sister II Oh Oh ye yes I 1 have three sisters at home r I 1 wondered how strange it was that she was left alone in the house all day when she had so many sisters with whom she should W have found it a pleasure to talk But I 1 said nothing to her about itI it a. a I I met Mr Barlow or Jack as I 1 hear you calling him all the time up town today J II Oh Oh did you Jack is such a nice young man and andI I admire him himy y f k so much for his manliness of character and then you know he showed r S r himself such a hero in our last war I 1 never did know that a young Y man could do so much and say so little about it as Jack can If she knew h how w little I 1 enjoyed hearing her talk of him in that F way she would not tire me by telling me such things about him Just here our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the fy f hotel messenger boy who said Madam Rodgers here is a Dl note te for 5 you it just lust came r P She She stood up thanked the boy and read the note Turning to tome tor F me she said This is a 3 note from Miss Parkes statin stating that she will willbe willbe be unable to go for fora a drive with me tomorrow afternoon on account of j the expected arrival C of Miss Parkes her cousin from Chicago k The evening passed by very pleasantly and when I I 1 was about to leave I asked if I might have the pleasure of calling again and very cordially she answered II Certainly II As I walked home home I thought to myself how strange it was for the messenger boy to call her madam and for her to let it pass by un un- heeded A second thought told me how foolish I was to let such a trivial thing make any impression whatever upon my mind And I said to myself II I I do love J Julia and I shall have to see Jack and settle this affair and have some definite understanding as to which one of us us' us shall be the fortunate man But if Jack loves her as much as asI I do how can he stand to give in He must do so for she is the only woman I ever loved and if I am unable to gain her love and confidence I might as well consider the remaining part of my life as a blank Three evenings later I called on her again and was treated with every respect that could be shown a gentleman I had not been th there i imore more than five minutes when to to tomy my great sorrow Jack entered It was with great reluctance that I stood up and grasped him by the hand Turning to Julia I handed her a bouquet of flowers and received a very grateful Thank you Mr Lavaine Oh how I hear her call me Alphonse for Mr sounded altogether too formal coming from one in whom my future happiness depended She excused herself from the room to get a vase and some water for her flowers When she left I turned to Jack and said Jack perhaps you think it is strange that I am here this evening but I have learned to love Julia Julia no no that is not true true true-I I never learned to love her for ever since the day I first met her she has had all my love and sympathy I have heard her speak of you and now that I see you here I should like to ask you one question Have you any intentions intentions hons of making Julia your wife wife wife- I had a great deal of trouble in getting a vase to put my flowers in said Julia for each tine time I asked the waiters to get me a vase vase they the stopped to admire the roses and carnations I. I held in my hand You see I was kept in suspense a long time waiting for an answer answer answer an an- for just at the moment when I was to know the answer to the question that had long weighed heavily on my mind Julia entered with a smile on her face that would have attracted and subdued the most agitated mind An hour and a half passed by during which time we all engaged in conversation How I did wish that Jack would leave for I was determined to make her see how dear she was growing growing growing grow grow- ing to me The color rose in her cheeks and her eyes danced as she related adventures and anecdotes How she held us spellbound by her conversation conversation conversation con con- She had just finished telling of her drive through the park that morning when the door opened and a tall handsome man stepped in Sure it was the same face I had seen a few days ago in her heri i L. L t locket He grasped her hand and tenderly called her name II Julia II then rather embarrassed at finding himself in the company of more than Julia II he seemed to restrain hi himself self fr from m any further demon demon- f I was seized by the terrible thought II was was there still till another between between between be be- tween her and me II The stranger turned slowly around as Julia presented to us usher usher usher us- us her husband The room whirled round where was I I have a recollection recollection recollection lection of staggering to my feet to respond to the introduction and hearing Mrs Rodgers say something about her friends making the thelong thelong thelong long evening pass away more swiftly The wind began to blow against the window and to avoid the approaching storm and particularly our unpleasant situation J Jack and I excused ourselves and hurried down the road trying to console each other by repeating the good old adage II It It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all II Th next day business called callei me aw away y from Del Monte and I have 4 never never seen Miss or Mrs Julia Julla Rodgers since Mabel Miner Miner nei f J t L r n 1 1 |