Smyrna times., 1880-06-23
Engaged"

81 like ladies' society,"" said Mr.. DafFo-
dill. 81 always did"
"And suppose" Hugh Rexford retorted,
with SOFT of grim humor, " that they like
yours p
Mr.. David Daffodil simpered and pulled
his straw.colored moustache.
Now, really, upon my word" said he,
"thats asking fellow to turn evidence
against himself If they don't like IT, their
manner decidedly bellies their oplni"n, ha,
ha, ha! You should have heard 'em APP
paud me in private th"atricals, the other
night! I'm not vain. but ! really think
carried off the the laurels OF the evening.
was invited to Mrs. Petheralfs morning
concert to-day just come from there, i'll
fact"
You must be very popular" said Rex
ford.
There, again, | can't commit myself"
said the 6eau,generaL, smelling dalntlly at
Jouto,,,icrc of tuberose and sweet geranium
leaves, before he pinned it into his coat.
" But l have several calls to make-calls
that positively can't be postponed-or |
should deem it duty to devote myself to
you, my dear Rexford, on this first evening
of your stay in town.
g suppose l couldn't accompany you !"
said Hugh.
Mr.. Daffodil cast a shocked glance at
\ Rexford's rough-andready coat, hair that
was cut by the scissors of no metropolitan
barber, and loose silken cravat, knotted
carelessly at the noble throat.
| Well-to tell you the truth" he hesl-
tated, " the young ladies to whom propose
to pay my compliments this evening are
ahem very exclusive"
"Oh I" said Hugh.
And shouldn't like to introduce any
friend without especial permission.
Z" Mop"
And besids-you'll excuse my mention
ing it-your dress is hardly the thing for
evening calls in our most aristocratic cir
cles."
"Oh, it isn't, ELI? ~
Not exactly"
"And yours-is?' laughed Hugh. "Well,
all right, old college mate. I'll manage to
console myself with newspaper until you
come back-or perhaps I'll drop i'll on one
of the theatres, if find myself at all lone
some."
Mr.. Daffodil stepped into the waiting
coupe, and drove away. Hugh Rextord
smiled grimly to himself
"When he came to spend the Summer
weeks at the old farm" he said to himself,
"I don't remember being at all particular
as to the cut of his coat. But city life is so
different u
And he lighted his cigarette, and took up
the uncut pages of a novel to beguile the
time.
The Misses Maurange were at home-in
fact it was their at home evening-and the
drawing room was full. Mr.. Daffodil was
| in his element; but presently he became
aware, by a sort of magnetic prescence
that there was half suppressed ripple o
. merrimsnt throughout the entire room.
"I hope Mr.. DafFodil isn't afraid Of 9
general siege on the part of the ladies p
said Katherine MaurRnge, roguishly.
"I?" echoed Mr.. Daffodil.
"Though certainly it is leap-year," added
Miss Ballou, plump heiress, with hair thu
. color of buttercup and very pink cheeks
Ladies l am always your humble slave,
said the brave general. Leap.year car
make no difference in my allegiance"
"But if you're an engaged man." sale
Helen Hartwick, who was literary, ant
wrote verses which her friends pronounced
Z to be "swest poetry" for the magazines
E" But assure you am not u
HTben," said the youngest Miss Mau
range, gigglipg behind her pocket'hand
y kerchief, you've NO business to be sailinI
= under false colorsl'
At this there was general upbubbling O
the wave of laughter.
Two or three gentlemen came in JUS
then, and Mr.. Dafodil took his leave ur
certain whether or not he was bein
laughed at.
~ hate these young ladies who set u
for being WITS" said the gentleman, pee
yishly, to himself,
w Old Miss Mixcell was his second cal
Why people called on Miss Mixcell, nobod
knew. She was cross, and old, an
caustic, and never took any pains to max
herself agreeable to any one; but, neve
theless she was the fashshion. Her parlC
was full Of old dragon.china, specimens {
y blue crackle.ware, carved wood, rare se
shells, coins in velvet cases, and bits I
choice tapestry, which might or might NJ
have been wrought by Lady Jane Gray {
Queen Elizabeths maids Of honor. Mi
Mixcell's afternoon teas were always pa
ronized by the word of fashion, and it WI
considered CONNIE IL faut to have ones car
III on her quaint Japanese receiver.
Miss Mixcell stared hard at Mr.. Daffodi
Humph u said she. Engaged al
your"
rEh2n said NJ. Daffodil.
Well, yoH needn't haye taken 80 mue
pains to tell me Of itn spluttered the ol
lady. "I haven't any designs on your
81 assure you, madam"
"You needn't assure me anything" So
Miss Mixcell, turning her black satin III LAC
upon him. No, Morris, you needn
bring the cake, don't receive any mo
calls to night The door, Morris ~
And SO Mr.. paa0dil found himself on,
moro In the street,
8" can't understand 1t at ALL" said he
himself "Who has been spreading imp
tations about me |"
q, General MacJones and his handson
wife and three pretty daughters were
!. hovoa--I, I,isatta in hl,Ia dnmaaaa Corinu