The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-28
change your dress, dear; and you, Jacques,

CIlrIS are CorbstluiJ Ouu Cf6dtuACst oai0
Jacques to himself, as he lighted cigar on
the doorstep that afternoon. "Fancy CRYING
like Niobe, because somebody whom one
doesn't care about wants to marry one!
What an excess of hearth"
He strolled into the park, presently, at an
accustomed rendezvous, met his friend
Hugh and forthwith related the episode,
$50 you think she has refuse him def
nitey?" asked the elder cousin when the
story was finished.
81 understand so certainly. And it is
easy to see that by so doing she has greatly
vexed my mother. 1t was an excellent pro-
posal, you see."
81 see nothing of the kind" replied Hugh
with some heat. "Confound Col. Gordon!
never liked the fellow from the begin
ning.'
''Sapristir' calculated Jacques; "what
can he have done to you? He's capital
fellow, and never had bad word for any
man"
Hugh threw away the cigar he was smok-
ing
81 don't mean to say he ever offended or
injured me personality" said he shut |
mean that never liked his being SO much
with your sister. She ought to marry
young man, Jacques"
"Well, dare say she WILL" returned
Jacques carelessly. "Pauline is great
IdFOrite. Dub buell, you kuOWt tlC Ootou0i
position is really first rate"
Hugh turned on his cousin almost wrath
fully.
Cant you leave the Colonel alone?" he
cried. ''She's said No, and / suppose
there's an end to the thing"
my good Hughes, don't be in such a
deuce If rage about it. Upon my word, If
didn't know how matters stood between
you and Pauline, would swear you were
Jealous"
'sI-jealous what!-of Pauline! Con-
found it all, I've dropped my cigar some
where Give me light, old man."
.'Yes," repeated Jacques steadily, look
ing his friend full in the face as they
paused a moment while Hugh kindled
fresh cigar, ''to tell you the truth, should
certainly bave thought you were jealous.
Come; is it SOP Have you betrayed your
self?'
Look here, Jacques, old fellow" said
Hugh, after pause of brief duration occu-
pied by several violent pHffs at the cigar, Il
don't exactly know what it is feel on this
subject, and upon my honor, if | am jealous
you have found it out first. The fact is,
Jacques, can you keep secret?'
81 can when it's necessary returned
his cousin laconicaly
swell, when they wanted me to marry
Pauline, you know, she took considerable
please her, and, as you know also, she ex-
pressed that opinion to her mother. In fact,
she was so extremely distant and cold and
and unaffectionate, and put on such an air
of nOli me tdngere toward me that l thought
her q very unpleasant young person, and
felt much relieved to find my antipathy re-
ciprocated But the first time / met her in
town-at Lady Leigh's, you remember-she
was totally changed-charming vivacious,
r..ll hn hac
SINCE l have seen her during the last six
weeks under perfectly new aspect. and
perhaps, old man, If she hadn't been Pat
line, might have been jealous OF the Col
onelr'
ssWhat drama in two actsr' cried
Jacques "But is the fact of this delightful
young woman's identity really an insupera-
Bile obstacle? Why not speak to her or to
my mother, now?"
'sWhy should go and make fool of my
self? Don't you know that Pauline made
up her mind long ago to look on me as
cousin only?"
81 know she did-long agow cried
Jacques, as a sudden light broke in on him;
s'but why may not she also have come to
look on gou in a new light? Do you know,
it seems possible to me that just such
change on her part may be the explanation
U
certain tragic utterances of my mothers
which caught my ear as opened the door
SO opportunity, 'C'est trop tdrd! she said.
What could be too late if not tardy It PEN
lance on Pauline's part and futile willing
ness to accept something she had once re-
jected? Hugh, old man, are you really in
earnest this time? Do you really think you
would be happy with my sisterr'
"Upon my word, Jacques" answered
or;t I'D HARM fn think
that | cannot be happy without her; but If
it hadn't been for this COMPOUNDED Colonel,
declare don't believe / should ever have
found out the true state of the case!'
''Then follow my advice, man, and let me
take you home to dinner this evening. Now
is your time; for, judging from my own OBJ
servations of Miss Pauline and the present
general aspect of affairs, would not mind
venturing considerable sum on the success
full issue of an appeal suit. Only be sure
you know your own mind this time, for
Pauline may not be inclined to let you off
again, and you might find your last state
worse than your first if another repentance
were to set in on your part.
''Don't congratulate me too soon. old fellow.
OF myself am sure enough, but of Pau
line, alb, Jacques, perhaps if your people and
mine had not been at SO much trouble to
bring us together, we might have found
As it is, you see"
"My good Hugh, see nothing but a very
logical and comprehensive state of things.
Four months ago, when you were
strangers, you chose to exhibit yourself
forgive me-in very unpleasant light; now
Pauline knows you better. and she has seen
through the fraud you put on her. Our
people made mess of the thing, as folks
always do when trying to manage the matri-
monial concerns of Others. Love should be
led, not driven; and when my turn comes
let's hope they will show that they've learned
wisdom and not get maneuvering on my be-
half with any desirable young person. Well,
it's $50, and if we are to be home in time
for dinner, we ought to be making tracks"
Later on that same eventful day, in a re-
mote corner of the drawing rom, over two
cups of post-prandial coffee, Hugh and
Mademoiselle Pauline privately arranged
their own love affairs very much to their in
dividua satisfaction, and to the subsequent
joy and graduation of the parties secondari-
ly concerned.