, 1886-01-01

'''By love and on her morning wais
to Idey, he continued.
Il glanced at the speaker and said,
strange, Tank, that no man seems to
have ever approached, much less az.
tempted to woe, Lady Maud
"'She is proud" returned Tanker.
Vile, and his eyes dropped u little.
Frightening up; however, he looked in
tho direction of lund, and, with tho
faintest twinkle of the left eye, ex.
elaine with emphasis, "A thousand TO
fiyo that not q man in Oxon will kiss
Lady Maud without offending her.
"'Ill take your wager. replied Chris
topher L-und quietly, and what is moro
will accomplish the feat publicly and
within thirty minutes. -"
~ need not say how the boys stood
apart and gazed at Lund in utter won
derment. There was silence, but only
for an instant longer. Tankeryille and
Christopher shook hands. Lund for A
moment scratched his forehead and half
s~oliloquizing, said, But where to raiso
the five pounds
30, Chris, never mind that, We all
said in one voice. Here old fellow,
we'll loan you the sum.
Well, boys, | never saw a lad loo1
rs he did for fully a minute. His eyes
were literally alight and his whole
being seemed strangely animated.
Within three minutes later our
plans were completed. Tankerville and
your humble servant were to follow
Christopher at a safe distance, while he
was to approach Miss Maud Cavaliers
midway up the Iiey road No sooner
said han done. The other fellows
agreed 10 remain in the shrub garden,
aud for more than an hour smoked,
chatted, and s%peculated widely as to
Christopher venture We walked
leisurely tehind while Lund bounded
forward with a light step. For fully n
quarter of an hour all was suspense.
Our heroine had advanced far ahead;
but Christopher was quick in his move
ments and presently was within a few
yards of Lady Maud.
I'VE saw him gracefully remove his
cap and walk to her side. Lightning
like we observed her draw up and face
Lund as in Indignation. AS watchers
only, myself and Tankerville were too
far behind to overhear anything. In
less than an hour, however, tho latter
soon Lecame convinced that he had lost
tho wager. Yet for months afterwards
he pestered me to obtain all the partic-
ulars associated with Lund S daring a t.
1t last | gave in and obtained an intro
ductlon to her ladyship, then a wife.
Her account of the little episode of
that July morning was touching /
shall never forget it. In her own
words, softened o and again by a
smile, she said:
mr. Lund, on removing his cap,
bowed low, and said Madam, you are
a lady; | am a gentleman. AS such,
the laws OF etiquette forbid me to APP
proach you without due introduction.
When, however, you havo heard my
speech, | know full well that your
mercy and gentleness of spirit will sus-
pend all law in my behalf. A wager of
loo pounds sterling has this day been
laid that no man in Oxon will dare APP
proach and tender you a kiss without
giving you otfense. | have undertaken
to succeed and my claims upon you are
these; l am the poorest among the poor
law students at Jesus college. l have
an invalid sister at a home in Wales.
Her life hangs on a thread and 1000
pounds sterling may aid in sparing her
to me. | love her with a devotion that
exceeds desperation and should she die
l feel that my life will be a blank
of course, | allowed him the kiss
an act he performed with a grace l
shall never forget. On hearing his tale,
and as his lips pressed my cheek, l felt
a teal quiyering beneath my eye-lid. l
turned quickly TO brush it of and the
young man was gone. The wager, you
will see, was well won. And now, MIR.
Clifton, you know the rest. My Chris
is TODAY the dearest the p~antlest and
among the most unselhsh of husbands. "
e = =
Boys" said Paul Clifton, drawing
himself up, my story is told. My old
friend is no more r struggling law stu
dent. His sister lives and is in joyous
health at this hour. Lady Lund leads
our best society and is adored by poor
and rich. And Christopher, why, he
is no less a parsonage than the squire of
well you fellows never mind where. ~