The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-01-30
HIS LIFE-PLANS,

leather-bound book, on the cover of which
was engrossed thestitle, " Life Plans, " over
heard the following conversation
/" How very nlethodical Mr.. Sparks is"
said the elderly lady boarder, who had the
back parlor, to her landlady.
:" Oh, no, replied that excellent matron,
shaking her head solemnly; I'm told he's
an Episcopal
Mr.. Sparks was methodical He had a
place for everything and everything in its
place He had written plan for his life Mt
twenty which he had carried out in. every
particular. At fifty he had decided to have
made one hundred thousand dollars. to re-
tire from business and live upon the interest
of the sum. This he had done. He then
began to read the poets and learn the flute
and the next thing on the programme was
to marry and buy house out of town. He
was now looking for wife, g both yirtuous
and beautiful y and to make himself more
attractive in the eyes of the ladies, dispensed
for the first time for many years with his
near-sighted glasses. am afraid he lost
rather than gained by his vanity. Certainly
this was so with the young lady he most adj
mired for after carefully thinking the mat
ter over, he decided, without doubt, a more
perfect creature never existed than Miss
Efie Fell. e H
Effie ,Yas certainly pretty and accomplish
ed, and also rather amiable but she had
; no great sympathy for Affections. She liked
healthy people, young people, happy people;
above all, bright people. Mr.. Sparks, with
his glasses, she might have found too old;
but without them he was awkward There
fore she snubbed him-a fact which he was
too near-sighted to discern, for since her
words were always civil the expression of
her face had no effect upon him whatever.
When she said that she was engaged to
dance with some one else, he believed her.
When he asked her il he might see her
home, after a small social gathering, she
had always" just accepted Mr.. rs escort,
and was sorry to say no." He believed it
true, but he had so1ernnly determined to
conquer fate and this ia the way he set
about it
At Mrs. Perry's where about twenty
people had been asked to Ave o'clock tea,
he met Efie Fell, and had his usual tor
menting experience Of being just too late
for everything. sKA#&
1t was his fate to take down TO supper q
very bright, merry, plain, little old maid,
who talked to him without ceasing. She
was, without doubt, very pleasant, notwith-
standing the crime of being only five years
younger than himself and she, for her
part, found him charming. But he did one
curious thing. As they went mp stairs he
stopped at the door Of the library, in which
the ladies had left their wraps, and led her
in.
q / have an idea,p he said, . TINT ladies
always choose these things in reference to
their compilations, and TINT can tell which
belongs to any one know. Now this yell
low thing ought to be Miss Smiths"
. So it is, said Miss Ruth. z2He
And that black lace Miss Leon's.n
Why, you are a witch |" said Miss Ruth.
And this crimson, with all the tassels,
Miss Browns," continued Mr.. Sparks.
Z" There you've made your first mistake,
for that is Miss Efie Fells, said Miss Ruth.
'sI sha'n't guess any more, then," said
This artfnl bachelor, who had discovered
what he desired to know, and led Miss Ruth
away. ISL EHf3#f
But when the ladies went into the library
to don their wraps, he watched them from
the stairs, and as soon rs the vivid scarlet
wrap which had hood to it, vailed GER
tain dark head, and dropped over a pair of
pretty shoulders, he darted forward. He
could not see the girl without his glasses.
but he knew the color Of the wrap
q Let me see you home" he said.
Avoice from under the shadow q the
deep ball fringe answered:
why, yes, thank you," and he offered
his arm. H
The night was dark, the.face of the lady
beside him was quite invisible when once
out of doors, but he felt her little hand Oh
his arm, and could not help saying ~
" How delightfulsthislis !" ~
The hand fluttered little, but....was not
removed from his arm. 1t was the hand of
Miss Ruth, although the wrap was Effie's.
Effie had promised to stay oil night at the
Pery's, and had said to Miss Ruth, who
had worn what she considered insufficient
wrappings ..ef,ssy,errfa
Put ON this thing of mine, Missr Ruth,
or you'll have one of your face aches. You
can send it over by little Dinah in he..morn-
ing"
And Miss Ruth, who was too poor to have
pretty things of her own, though she was
always neat, rather liked to wear this be-
coming crimson garment, if only for an
hour after dark.
She was very happy under it, as this ami
able old bachelor said charming things to
her; but when at last Mr.. Sparks, taking
that little black glove in his, said;
81 know it is little premature, but yor
have always been so surrounded by admir-
ers that have had no opportunity before,
and my feelings are deeply interested. Can
you like me enough to be my wife ?"--Miss
Ruth actually uttered little scream.
:. Mr.. Sparks ~ she cried. :" 1t is so sud-
den IL don't know what to think we've
hardly met before. To be sure, no one
could be nicer, and suitable age. should
never be silly enough TO marry any one
younger than myself. But can't answer
such question on the very instant without
thinking.a ff#
Surely this was not Efie's voice. IT was
pretty voice, too, but lower in tone.
Surely this is Effie Fells wrap" he
said, gasping.
He notices even what have on" said
little Miss Ruth. " How much in love he
must bel" and she answereds
"Why, yes How bright you are about
everything, to be surel She would make
me put it ON, dear soul-so thoughtful!
Mr.. Paul Perry will have nice wife-a
nice, pretty wife, as told his mother.
They're to be married month from Thurs
day. ssa A34i5i 'saf
A moment before Mr.. Sparks had been
wondering how he could ever explain his
mistake to Miss Ruth now he thought