The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-12-25
WON FOR A WAGER.
CHAPTER I.
~"


THE WAGER
1t was warm afternoon in June as two
well-dressed gentlemen were walking
down the shady side Of Piccadilly.
The elder Of the two could not have
been mistaken for anything but q soldier.
1t was not only his bronzed complexion,
lnxuriAnt moustache, and his erect bear
ing, but there is je ne sais q,soi about a
military man that always betrays him to
the careful observer.
AS a matter of fact, Harry st. Albans
was in the Guards, and was generally ac-
knowledged to be one Of the handsomest
Of that regiment Of Adonises.
His companion was Horace Austen, who
in order to avoid the stigma Of being
called An idle man, had chosen diplomacy
as a profession.
No doubt he would have been an honor
to it, and have left a we'll known name
behind him, but, unfortunately, when his
father died he had been left sole posses
sor Of about fifteen thousand a year, to-
gether with the patrimonial acres in Lei
eestershire.
OF course there was no necessity for
him to work under the circumstances,
and accordingly he enjoyed life after his
own fashion.
There was great difference between
these two men, and it was probably the
total dissimilarity of their natures and
characters that made them such staunch
friends.
st. Albans was firm and determined, but
seldom lost his temper. He was studious
for . soldier, and cared but little for the
empty chit-chat Of society.
He vaY.x 7,y,o,,H ba4 can
sitive, and would rather suffer anything
than it should be imagined that he feared
TO embark In any enterprise, however
hazardous, OF that he considered anything
impossible.
1t was a favorite apho11sm Of his that
there was no such word as cannot in
the English language.
Horace Austen, on the contrary, was
weak and vacillating, hasty and irritable,
and would as soon have thought Of run
ming mile as of reading for even an
hour He was as big gossip as the pro-
verbal ''old woman" and was never hap
pier than when detailing the latest on
dts.
With all this he was good hearted and
generous to a fault; his defects arose
chiefly from want of thought, and were
"she is certainly most beautiful girl"
observed Austen, curling the tips of his
rather weakly little black moustsche.
"Yes," replied st. Albans, rather alb
sently EE 4
4 "But awfully proud" continued Austen.
I 81. didn't think So" answered the
guardsman.
"why, my dear fellow" exclaimed the
- l1,c,x-1
edge she declined to dance with between
twenty and thirty of the best parts in the
room last night. and kept her card hall
empty. And when l said, My dear Miss
Carlton, may l take the liberty Of en-
quiring why you have refused so many
dancesT she turned her big eyes full up
on me-yOu know the way she has, as
though she were piercing you through
and through-and replied: you may
take the liberty, Mr. Austen, but l don't
think 1 should, If were you why not
Miss CarltonT 1 asked. Because it will
be so much more pleasant for both of us
if you will mind your own business"
A low laugh escaped from st. Albans as
his friend concluded, and he observed:
''That was awfully good! You must
have felt rather sat uponY'
Good, do you call q" cried Auster
with mock Indignation. by Jove, did
not think so, and know il she hadnT
been such deuced pretty girl 1 should
have said something rude"
you'd only have been sorry after
wards" remarked st. Alhans.
Il suppose 1 should" replied Austen
Besides, Isabel Carlton has something
about her that seems to keep fellow
within bounds. you know"
Has she, indeed 2" observed st. Albani
with languid interest. Il must pay NOR,
attention to her. 1 was only introduced
to her last night, you know"
And didn't you think she was charm
mgr
Il only noticed that she was remark
ably pretty girl. and waltzed better thai
any one I have danced with this year,
answered the guardsman. "But yol
know, old man, 1 am not so impressibl
as you are, and don't go into rapture
over every pink and white complexion
come across"
"You are cold-heArted wretch, Har
ry," laughed Austen. Here are half tn
loveliest girls in town sighing for you
$ and you don't care a Bit"
! ! ITO tell you the truth" replied ST. Al
t bans, "although it may sound conceited,
strongly object to being run after. ik
a woman to be perfectly feminine, and di
rectIy she begins to set her cap at, or en-
courages q man, she loses her chic
charm"
"You needn't be afraid Of her doin
. thatm exclaimed Austen. "She's = yer
. different sort of girl to that"
D "Indeedw
Don't YOU think sol" asked Austen.
Z Il haven't thought much on the sui
/; ject," replied the guardsman carelessly
!. But honestly. old man." said his frien
: earnestly, what is your opinion Of her
= 'Oh, 1 think she is very much like tn
/, rest Of her sex answered st. Albans
"easily won il a man only goes the righ
way to work"
"You are wrong, Harry" cried Auste1
81 am persuaded you have made mis-
take this time. OF course l know the en-
perience you have had among the ladie
but Isabel Carlton is very different to tn
majority Of girls"
"AIl right, Horace, if you like to thin
90" replied St Albans; "but when yo
{ know as much about them as l do, yo
@ will agree with me that they are a
alike Some are little better, some
= little worse; but"
r All at once somebody paused just
front of them. and voice they both kne
: exclaimed:
$ "How are YOU. dear boys7 What ma
: he the subject of conversation 1t mus
be wonderfully interesting, for you hav
cut about half s-dozen people who hay
bowed and nodded to you, knocked dow