Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-27
MISTAKEN.

MISTAKEN.
"You are quite sure, VaneP"
The question was lazily put, and some
might have found tone OF lrohicei
contempt in it; but to Clement 'ane IL
was simply a question, no more. =.
"rd stake my head on it, either OF
them will say yes the moment ask
her. | wish | wasn't so sure. Ihere q
be something agreeable to a fellow of
nv temperament in regularly having
TO WOO. YOU know, but | can't account
for it. They all set their caps for me
at the first meeting. It's bore, too,
don't YOU know; decided bore when
one gets too much of il"
.Then why don't you tell them so?
or better still-insert an article in
one of the papers requesting the ladies
| to give YOU fewer attentions. Say frank
| " that they embarrass you; that they
bore YOU; that you re tired oft, etc.
"Oh, but don't you know that
wouldn't do. There are times, you
| see, when-when-
..Just so. When a fellow finds fool
among his acquaintances, and feels like
| pulling his nose and restrains the i'm
1 DulSt. uDu Nou hho"- vi
| the others drawl to perfection Yes,
| | know all about it; but the question is
this: Those two girls are madly in love
| with you. over their pretty ears, you
know, and you think you'll ask one of
them to marry you; am to help you
| to decide which. Miss Lee is dark.
beautiful, of good family, and an heiress;
| Miss Holmes is fair, sunny, fascinating,
| and an heiress also; you're not in love
| with either. but they, poor girls! are
hopelessly in love with you; you WtH
| have to break one heart, choose as you
may; you are inclined to try your fate
tonight at the ball at DeVallou's; l say
| Miss Lee"
| "Well, so be it. I'll ask Miss Lee
| What a bore it will be; but a fellow
must marry some time and she's to my
| fancy and--Tll do it. But I'm sorry
for poor little Jessie Holmes; it will
| quite break her heart"
"Oh, beyond doubt. But l say,
Vane. you can offer your hand to her,
don't you know. when Miss Lee has
laughed at you.n
| ..Oh, don't you know there's not the
slightest danger. Ia, ia, Tom; you
can congratulate me tonight, old
boy"
:rd like to kick you now. you insult
ferable fop,' was Tom Leonard's in
ward comment, as he watched the 9TH
er lounge aflectedly from the club
rooms, in which the conversation had
taken place
Tom was late arrival at the De
Vallou's ball, and almsst the first coup
le he ran across was Hortense Lee and
Clement Vane. The young lady gave
him laughing glance. nodded to him
gayly, and made commonplace re-
mark. Vane screwed his glass in his
eye and vouchsafed him languid
greeting. and Tom watched them go
slowly through the throng. smile Of
real enjoyment on his lip.
An hour later he came upon Vane,
standing alone and melancholy on
the terrace.
''Sear ely the correct expression for
brave wooer. my friend" he said pleas
antly; "but you are Sccepted are you
notp But of course you are. That
gloom on your manly countenance S
caused by your regret at giving Miss
Holmes the pain you must; but l con-
gratulase you most heartily; I'm not
used to this sort of thing, but don't you
know"-languidly-.I hope you'll b
awfully happy"
But Vane was pulling the faint down
on his upper lip quite savagely for him.
considering the care he usually bestow-
ed upon it; besides he looked slightly
uncomfortable.
..Jeve / wish you'd not mention
it." he said petulsntly; ''any fellow
can be mistaken. don't you know. 1
have been shamefufly treated by Miss
Lee. Do you know how she received
the honor did her?'
"Fell on her knees and thanked
heaven, l daresay," Tom said, solemnly.
at was a strange thing to do, but then,
consider how delighted she must have
BEEN"
"You are quite mistaken" the ex-
quisite said, with dignity; ''she actual
ly took it all as good joke; positively
made fun of me. don't you know"
"You don't tell me!'' with pretended
astonishment. "But now l think of it,
she's engaged to young De Vallou.
Shows her bad taste, now. doesn't shei
He's not pretty dancer at all. and
never puts flower in his coat But
what of Miss Holmes?"
| I'm to dance the next waltz with
her. And think. don't you know,
that she's more to my taste after all. l
Ike fair girls best"
| 80 do l; there's the waltz; I'm not
going in just yet; come back here when
IT'S all over, and I'll congratulate
you"
II will. You're swfully kind. Tom.
don't you know?" and he hurried off,
while Tom burst into low laugh, IS
he drew forth and lighted cigar.
II really think am kind" he said.
! I'm doing my best to let you find out
| what IA donkey you are. you conceit-
ed imbecile."
| He paced back and forth, thoroughly
enjoying his cigah He finished that
and commenced another. A quadrille
had followed the waltz and a waltz the
quadrlle before Vane made his appear
ance, and when he did his face was
flushed and his eyes angry.
| why didn't you tell mep" he asked,
walking straight up to Tom. who paus-
ed in his walk and waitOd for him.
Here have made a fool of myselftwice
tonight, and you might have prevent
ed it. By Jove! l call you a pretty
| sort of a friendr'
| What's the row." Tom asked east
iy. HAS your good fortune turned
your brain, my boy, or is it the cham
pagne? You seem somewhat lacking
in that repose which marks the caste
| OF We're de Vere.' What's amiss with
our irresistiblep"
"You ask that coolly, upon my word
you do. Don't you know what fool
I've been making of myself tonight
Now, don't blame yourself. Vane;
censure nature; she did it, nv boy.
You haven't done anything. What's
the rowp'
'.I-I proposed to Miss Holmes"
said Eapa in a tome that UaS apythipn