Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-02-18


standing alone and melancholy on the
terrace
Scarcely the correct expression for
brave wooer, my friend" he said,
pleasantly; "but you are accepted, are
you not2 Butof course you are, That
gloom on your manly countenance is
caused by your regret at giving Miss
Holmes the pain you must; buE con-
graduate you most heartily; I'm not
used to this sort of thing, but don't y,
know"-languidly-"I hope you'll DO
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 quite I'M
comfortable.
"Joye! i wish you'd not mention it,"
he said petulantIy; "any fellow can be
mistaken, don't you know. Ihave been
shametully treated by Miss Lee. Do
you krow how she received the honor
I did her?'
"Fell on her knees and thanked
heaven, I dare say" Tom said solemnly.
at was strange thing to do, but then
consider how delighted she must have
been"
"You are quite mistaken" the exqui-
site said with dignity; "she actually
took it ali as a good joke; positively
made fun of me, don't you know"
"You don't tell mep with pretended
establishment. "But now think of it,
she's engaged TO young De Vallou.
Shows her bad taste, now doesn't she?
He's not pretty dancer at all, and
never puts a flower in his coat. But
what of Miss Holmes?"
"I'm to dance the next waltz with her.
And I think, don't you know, she's
more to my taste, after all. like fair
girls best"
$50 do I. 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 awfuIly kind, Tom,
don't you know?" And he hurried off,
while Tom burst into a laugh, as he
drew forth and lighted cigar.
Il really think [ am kind" he said,
I'm doing my best to let you find out
what "a donkey you are, you con-
ceited imbecile."
He paced back and forth, thoroughly
enjoying his cigar. He finished that
and commenced another. A quadrille
had followed the waltz, and waltz the
quadrille before Vane made his appear
ance, and when he did his face was
flushed and his eyes angry.
why didn't you tell me?" he asked,
walking straight up to Tom, who
paused in his walk and waited for him.
Here have made a fool of myself
twice tonight, and you might have pre-
vented it. By Jove! [ call you a pretty
sort of a fTiend!"
whats the row2" Tom asked easily.
"Has your good fortune turned your
brain, my boy, or is it the champagne?
You seem somewhat lacking in that re-
pose which marks the cast of We're de
We're What's amiss with our irresist-
ible?"
"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, my boy.
You haven't done anything. What's
the row."
TT proposed to Miss Holiness" said
Vane, in tone that was anything but
lover-like.
"And-"
"And she told me she was engaged to
you'll"
$50 she is; but I was willing to free
her, seeing that she was so much in love
with you"
@Oh, you're sarcastic" Vane said,
angrily; "but you might hove told me"
"You didn't ask, and if Jessie loves
you as you have declared to me-"
But Vane had turned away with a
muttered imprecation and gone in, fol-
lowed by low laugh of thorough en-
joyment ftom Tom.
They were both so very much in
love with him-oh, yes!" he said cheer
fully. @His highness has received
lesson. We will see now much good it
will do him."