The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-01-25
we are going to MAKE an Apr,l TOO, Of

NE S;m are + going TO MAKE an Apr. 1901 Of
! asked how they intended to proceed.
"Ohl the simplest thing in. the world,''
he said; II have written 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 ia
anxious that he should renew his ad.
dresses" r
.'Does 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 lark it will be to see
little Perkins hoaxedw
tainly shall be there to see." -.
1 went to the PARTY on the first of
April, and arriving rather early. found
Mr.. Bevington and the wi low 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
q second declaration, and that the guests
should all come in at the moment, and
lind 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 plot; but as allthe guests who were
IN the secret looked upon it as a great
piece of fun ] said nothing, and let
matters proceed.
Perkins arrived, was announce 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-
motest way entered into the conspiracy
against him. I could not have imagined
Mrs. Honiton to be so consummate an
actress. She returned his warm grasp
III 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
!nantel-plece, convulsed with suppressed
laughter. Mrs. Honiton saw him, and
frowned gravely, sustaining her part to
perfection. When Revington 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
ae Faint heart never won fair lady,"
"Fortune favors the brave" go in
and win, she loves You. Perkins,"
The moment anne. it was after SUD-
per and after the first Quadrille Mrs.
Honiton, who had been Perkins part.
ner, led him 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 UP and down the room
arm in arm, talking softly. Every now
and then we could hear Perkins make
mention of his heart" his "devotion,"
his "long attachment" his "unalt .rable
devotion Mrs. Honiton was silent,
and looked modestly, with admirable
| art. Perkins handed her to chair. He
sat down beside her; he whispered more
words of love-he fell upon his knees at
her feet.
"Now is the tjme," said Bennington and
he rushed into the room and burst into
roar of laughter. Perkins rose in haste
and confusion. Mr.. Honiton rose also.
butlooked calm and serious. She turned
coldly to Bennington and said:
"Pray, what are you laughing at, sir?"
Capital! capital!'' cried Bevington;
chow admirably she acts her part!'
"Mr. Bevin2ton," said Mrs. Honiton,
in the same cold, earnest manner, 1.-The
part am acting is one in which I am
prompted by my heart and my incl.na-
ton, and not by your cruel and unman-
ly designs. Mr.. Perkins has made me
an offer of his hand, and l accept it,
confident that he also bestows upon ire
| a heart capable oflove. capable offeeling,
and capable Of kindness and generos.
ity."
Mr.. Bevington was still trying to
laugh, but it was little on the wrong
side of the mouth now. Mrs. Honiton's
acting was little too deep, too subtle.
too profound for him. She continued:
"You mnst remember, Mr.: Beying'
ton, that, l am widow, and that am
privileged, while very young, to acquire
encc has not come too late for my hap
pinesss. ! have thought it possible, sir,
that person who has acted with such
deliberate and wanton cruelty to the
most kind-hearted and inofensive Of
men, might at some future time feel no
scruple in -practicing that cruelty up
on a defense1ess woman; ana /
have thought it most probable
that man who has invariably, and
under many trying circumstances,
shown himself to possess all the DUAL.
tiles which make up the character
of the true gentleman, will prove him
self to be kind and devoted husband.
Sir, ! have made my choice" And Mrs.
Honiton gave her hand IT, Perkins, led
him into the ballroom among the COM
pany, and there openly announced to
her guests that she had made choice of
q husband.
And so Mr.. Perkins, instead of being
made an April fool, was made the
happiest man alive. And the village
wondered, and refused to believe it's
eyes, until it saw Mr.. and Mrs. Perkins
roll away in the bridal chariot.