Morris tribune., 1883-01-25
we are going to MAKE an April Dol of

him."
I asked how they intended to proceed.
"Ohl the simplest thing in the world,''
he said; 81 have written a letter to Per-
kins, as if from Mrs. Honiton, inviting
him to the party, and giving him to be-
lieve that she relents toward him and is
anxious that he should renew his add
dresses"
docs Mrs. Honiton know of it," I
asked.
"Oh! yes, of course she does, and en-
tiers into the joke with anticipation of
rare fun. What n lark it will be to see
little Perkins hoaxed!"
at will indeed" / sud, "and I GER
tainly shall be there to see."
| went to the party on the first of
April, and arriving rather early, found
Mr.. Bennington and the wi !ow %concocting
an elaboration of the plot for making an
April fool OF Perkins. 1t was arranged
that Mrs. Honiton should give Perkins
great encouragement, and lead him to
a second declaration, and that the guests
should all come in at the moment, and
find Perkins on his knees at her feet. ]
thought this going rather too far, and
was somewhat surprised that Mrs. Hon
ston should be so eager to join so heart
less a plot; but as allthe guests who were
III the secret looked upon it as a great
piece of fun | said nothing, and let
matters proceed.
Perkins arrived, was o d, and
was ushered into the drawing room in a
faultless evening suit, evidently purchas-
I'd for the occasion. He went right up
to Mrs. HOniton, shook her by the hand,
and looked his thanks with an express
ion ofhonest earnestness that made me
ashamed of myself for having in the re-
hottest way entered into the conspiracy
against him. | could not have imagined
Mrs. Honiton to be so consummate an
actress. She returned his warm grasp
in the most impressive manner, and put
on an expression of delight and pleasure
which it mould have been impossible to
suspect. Bennington was holding by the
mantel-piece, convulsed with suppressed
laughter. Mrs. Honiton saw him, and
frowned gravely, sustaining her part to
perfectio2. When Bennington could con-
troll his laughter, he went up to Perkins
and whispered words of encouragement
into his ear; and all the evening he fol-
lowed him about, muttering such things
as Faint heart never won fair lady,"
Fortune favors the brave" Go in
and win, she lovesyou. Perkins"
The moment IN 1t was after sup
per and after the first Quadrille. Mrs.
Honitor, who had been Perkins part
ner, led MIN out of the drawing room
into an adjoining apartment. Beving-
ton gave the initiated the signal, and we
followed. Mr.. Perkins and Mrs. Honi
ton were walking I'D md down the OOm
arm in arm, ticking softly. Every now
and then we could hear Perkins make
mention of his "heart," his devotion"
his long attachment" his ''unalt4rable
devotion :" Mrs. Honiton was silent,
and looked modestly, with admirable
art. Perkins handed her to a chair. He
sat down beside her; he whispered more
words of love-he fell upon his knees at
her feet.
"Now is the time" said Bevington and
he rushed into the and burst into
a roar of laughter. Perkins rose in haste
and confusion. Mr.. Honiton rose also.
butlooked calm and serious She turned
to Bennington and said:
pray, what are You laughing at, sir?"
Capital! ~capital!' cried Bennington;
chow admirably she acts her part!'
"Mr. Bevin4ton," said Mrs. Honiton,
the same cold, earnest manner, 1.-The
part | am acting is one in which [ am
prompted by my heart and my inclna-
ton, and not by your cruel and ulman-
v designs. Mr.. Perkins has made me
an offer of his hand, and [ accept it,
confident that he also bestows upon me
4 heart capable O~flove, capa' lie ~offeelirg,
and capable of kindness and generos-
.ty."
Mr.. Bennington was still trying to
hut - u-nC a 1tt1n fn tho Irropr
side of the mouth now. Mrs. Honiton's
90 profound for him. She continued:
"Iou mnst remember, Mr.. Beving-
on. that [ am a widow, and that I am
privileged, while very young, to acquire
experience Of your sex. The expert
ence has not come too late for my hap
p~inesss. I have thought it possible, sir,
that a person who has acted with such
deliberate and wantOn cruelty to the
most k~ind-hearted and ~inoffensive OF
men, might at some future time feel no
in .practicing that cruelty up
on a Gefense1ess woman; ana i
have thought it mot probable
that a man who has invariably, and
under many trying circumstances,
shown himself to possess all the quail
which maxi up the character
of the true gentleman, will prove him
self to be a kind and devoted husband. |
Sir, l have made my CHOICE And Mrs.
Honiton gave her hand t. Perkins, led
him into the ballroom among the COM |
.any, and there openly announced to
her guests that she had made choice of
husband.
And so Mr.. Perkins, instead of being |
made an April fool, was made the
man alive. And the village
wondered, and refused to believe its
eyes, until it saw Mr.. and Mrs. Perkins
roll away in the bridal chariot.