The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1885-03-27
MISTAKEN.

some might have found IA tone of
ironical contempt in it; but TO
Clement Vane it was simply a ques
ton, no more.
"l'd stake my head on it, either
of them will SAY yes the moment |
ask her. | wish / WASN'T so snre.
There'd he something agreeable to
a fellow OF my temperament IN reg
ulaily having to WOO, you know,
but | cant account for it. They
all set their caps for me at the first
meeting. It's bore, too, don't you
know; IA decided bore when one
gets too much Of it,"
Then why don't you tell them
s07-Or better still-insert an AZ
licle in one Of the papers request
ing the ladies to give you fewer at
tentiOus. Say frankly that they
embarrass you; that they bore you;
that you are tired Of it,' etc.
"Oh, bat don't you know that
wouldn't do. There are times, you
see, When-when-"
"Just so. When a fellow finds a
fool among his acquaintances, and
feels like pulling his nose and re-
strains the impulse, don't you know,
of 'mimickiug the others drawl to
periectiou.' Yes, ] know all about
it; but the question is this: These
two girls are madly in love with
YOU, over their pretty ears, you
know, and you think you'll ask one
Of them to Marcy y0u; | am TO help
YOU to decide which. Miss Lee is
DARK, beautiful, OF good family, an
heiieSS; Miss Holmes is fair, sun-
ny, fascinating, aud an hereSs also;
you're moi III love with either, but
they, poor girls! are hopeleSSly in
love with you; yon i0iH have to
break one heart, choose as yOn
may; yOu are inclined to try your
fate 10 night at the ball at DE Val
LOUIS, say Miss Lee.
"Well, so be it. III ask Miss
Lee. What a bore it will be; but
a fellow mnst marry some time and
she's TO my fancy and-I'il do it.
But Tm sorry for poor Jessie
Holmes; it will quite break her
beart.f
"Oh, beyond doubt. But say,
Vaue, you can offer your band to
her, don't yeu know, when Miss
Lee has-laughed at you.'
ooh you don't know, there's not
not the slightest dangerf TIA, ia,
Tom; you can congratulate me to-
night, old boy"
''l'd like to kick you now, you
fOp," was Ton Leon
ards inward comment, as he watch
ed the other lounge atiectedly from
the club-rooms in which the CONVEX.
sation had taken place.
Tom was a late arrival at the De |
VallOu'S ball, aud almost the first
couple be ran acI Oss was Hortense |
Lee and Clement Vane. The young
lady gave him a laughing glance,
to him gayly, and made a
commonplace remark. Vane screw
ed his glass in his eye and vouch-
safed him a languid greeting, aud |
Tom watched them 30 slowly |
the throng, "A smile of real |
enjoy ment on his lip.
An hour later he came upon
Vane, standing alone aud melan-
cbOly on the terrace.
"SeaIcely the correct expression
for brave wOOer, my FRIEND" he
said pleasantly; "but you are ac-
are you mott But Of course
you are. That gloom on your man
~ conntenance is caused by your
regret at giving Miss Holmes the
PAIN you must f; but | congratulate
you most heartily; rm not used to
this sort Of thing, but don you
know"-languidly-"I hope you'll
be awfully happy.
But Nane was pulling the faint {
down on his upper lip quite saw /
agely for him, considering the care
be usually bestowed upon it; be-
sides, he looked slightly uncom-
'Jove l wish yon'd not meution
It, be said, petuiantly : "any fellow
can be mistaken, don't you know.
| have been rshamefully treated by
Miss Lee. Do you know how she
received the honor l did her r
"Fell on ber knees aud thanked
heaven, l dare say" Tom said, sol
emnly. at was a strange thing to
10, bot then, consider bow delight
I'd she must have been.p n
"YOu are guile mistaken the