The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-03-18
A PLAN THAT WOULDN'T WORK.
BY EDEN E. RExFoRD.

bl EDEN L. 1hEAEOhD.
Belle BrowDiI had a good many pc
cuii rites. she was fond of reading
novels for one thing, and liked to have
things happen TOmanucally. Anything
that did happen ia that way-and she
had lived Long enough to know that that
wasn't often-Was If much more i'm
portapee in her estimation than the
common run of occurrences. And then
another of her little peculiarilies was
that she liked to have her own way and
make other people do pretty nearly as
she wanted them to. Her tsmper was
rather pecul ar, too. Sometimes she
was all sunshine and sweetness; some
times she wasn't. After having given
you this brief description of some of
her peculiarities you will readily under
stand that Belle wasn't very unlike a
good many girls you know. q.
When a party OF our young people
were out boat-riding one day the boat
caps zed AID Belle, among the others,
fell into the water, taking the starch
out of her ruffies and the crimp out of
her hair. But she didn't care for that
because the affair was 30 romantic.
There wasn't the least bit of danger.
for the water wasn't more than three
feet deep in any place. But Belle
scrCan1' q for some one to save her, and
Raj h Loring picked her up and swan
to shore with her, she told her friends,
just as she was going down for the sec
ond time. 1t must have been queer
swimming, but then it did to tell. In
fact, IN the way Belle told it it made
quite pretty story, and il you hadn't
known the circumstances of the case
you would have been quite apt to think
lph Loring a hero.
Belle had had quite liking for Ralph
for some time. He was qood-lookine
smart and we'll to- do. In fact, he was
one of the best "oatches" 10 the place.
When the very romantic episode of the
boats being capsized took place she
declared that he had saved her life, told
herself that she owed him her gratitude
and love and proceeded to make herself
agreeable. The result of it was that
Ralph suddenly became attentive and
by and by proposed marriage and was
accepted.
Matters stood in that way when Capt.
De Vaux came to town. Where the
captain was from and what he WAS cap
tam of no one knew. He was good
looking, stylish and well dressed. He
bad any amount of assurance and in
- AhhNNh AAAAAnClA lAlAO NiiG ptbL SOCIETY,"
at once, and nobody asked for his ere.
dentials.
'Heis such romantic looking fell
low, declared Belle 10 Ralph one day
don't you think sc? ?"
"No, / don't" answered Ralph. de-
c'dedly; Il think he is q very cheeky
looking fellow, TO say the least and Pm
considerably mistaken if he would be
willing to have his affairs inquired into. Z"
Ralph had taken n strong dislike TO him
from the very first.
hope you aren't Jealous" said
Belle, with a provoking laugh.
Ralph. f'VlI-T =
Belle determined tn havs some snort
She would flint with De Vaux and make
Ralph terribly jealous. When she got
ready t. do so he would seud the cap
tain ahoui his business and let Ralph
see that she had been amusing herself
at his expense.
tn be just iolly," declared Belle.
The very next time they were out in
company together she blset Capt. De
Vuux with her destinations, aud that
gentleman proved an easy and willing
victim. Ralph watched the progress of
affairs with n keen eye.
" Belle" he said to her one day, edo
you think you are doing just riRht?"
Doing just right ?" replied Belle.
"What do you mean ?"
You know we'll enough. f" answered
Ralph. Flirting with De Vaux and
making him believe, like enough, that
you are in earnest.
oh, it's such fun !" laughed Belle.
carelessl ~. Did you see how devoted
he was last nightP''
4" saw how thoushtless you were. -
answered Ralph, gravely. "You may
not like what / am going to say. Belle.
but shall run the risk of your displeas-
urc.. 10 doesn't seem Just the thing for
young woman who is engaged to be
married to be flirting with a stranger as
you are with De Vaux." $500
Indeed y said Belle, lifting her
eyebrows 81 don't think that remark
exactly original. Seems to me 1 have
heard it before somewhere"
Do be in earnest for once, Belle %
Ralph exclaimed, really provoked. "If
you would ouly stop TO think you'd see
how foolish your conduct is. You'd
1T occurs to me that you have as
sumed the right to lee .1re me quite
early in the day." retorted Belle, with
dignity, before he could go on. Don't
go too far.
81 am not lecturing you," he an.
swered, a.
to know"
am merely giving you little ad-
vice" replied Ralph.
II wasn't aware that anyone had
asked for any," said Belle, with a good
deal of sarcasm il her tones.
No, but then people who don't ask
advice often reed n" answered Ralph,
meaniugly. "If they we're only sensi-
BILE enough to take Tit would do them
a world of good sometimes"
Bellies eyes dashed hre. - haven't
asked any advice from you, she said,
Indignantly, and. what is more. !
Don intend to. know what I'm about
-"
81 doubt it." interrupted Ralph.
And know enough to naind my
own business, too, 4" weat on Belle, az
wish other reople did"
That was their first quarrel. Ralph
left her, feeling very angry. He had
tried TO reason with her and found her
wholly unreasonable. She rather en-
ioyed it. In novels lovers alwaysuuar.
relied. Their courtship would have been
humdium enough without some spice Of
that character in il.
"Ill show him who's MASTER" she
said when he was gone. 1.-THE idea of
his debating to met tn make him
moro jealous than he is now before I'm
through, and I'll bring him to my terms,
too" Which assertion was a rather
broad one to make, considering the cir
clmstauces of the case.
Ralph had hoped that Belle would
look at the matter sensibly after her
anger bad cooled butt not being To-