West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-12-13
STELLA'S ENGAGEMENT.

''It's too bad !"
Pretty Mrs March, sitting on the edge
of the bed in her handsomely ly-furnished
Teom, gave vent to the warmth of her
supposed feelings in this time. .honored
declaration OF displeased people. She
SAID u with excitedly flushed cheeks,
and with tears in her fine, black eyes.
What's too bad f" Philip March de.
manded, striding in from the hall, with
ms hat In his hand and overcoat on his
ann.
"This," said his wife, in a voice that
trembled touchingly.
She indicated the album lying on her
lap.
'sWell. what's the matter with that,n
said her husband, putting a sympathetic
arm about her.
They had been married only four
years, and he was still guilty of an oc-
casional act of the sort.
Look at thatm was the tragic re-
sponse
Mrs. March's finger touched, with
shrinking repulsion, the photograph OF
gentleman.
1t was gentleman of apparent middle
age, with an astonishingly broad face.
above which forest of hair stood in
perpendicular stiffness. The chins-
there were two istinctchins-wereo orna-
mented by an ungraceful tuft of scrag0y
beard. The eyes were so light In color
that they had made no particular impress
sion on the photographers plate. The
nose was broad and fat, and the ears
prominent
Pretty tough customer. odd he
didn't break the camera" Philip OBJ.
served. well, what about himYp
"Whati Stella's engaged TO him /"
Mrs. March burst forth.
Her husl and stared at her in silent
CONSERVATION.
The notes Of piano and the sound of
two voices, in talk and laughter and
snatches Of aduet, floated up from below.
"Oh, do wish hadn't invited her
herep cried Mrs. March, TREMENDOUSLY v.
Hear her down there with Avery Will
son How ran she7 It's perfectly plain
that he's awfully in love with her, and
she's bcen deliberately encouraging him
and leading him on ever since she's been
mere. 1t will just break his heart, and
be the ruin Of him I'm perfectly sure
he'll either take 10 drink, or shoot him
self-and he's 30 mic and ali for that
heartless girl don't care II she s nv
cousin, she's heartless creature. And
she's seemed so sweet and lovely all this
time.n
We'll, but you don't mean it?, said
Philip, slowly, gazing down incredu.
lously at the photograph
''Ch, there's no mistaken said Mrs.
March, with the hardness OF despair.
''she was showing me her album Just be-
Tore Avery came, and when she got to
Shis--this thing (she's got her own op-
posite it-soe )-she stopped and said
ION, haven't told yon about dear old
Blumonberger, have ~ BlumeaBsy0sr.
Philip And she said that he's the
orgsnist Of the choir Of which she's
soprano, and that he got her the position
IN the first place, and how perfectly
lovely he ig-yce, she called him lovely.
Philip, and fairly raved about him. and
declared she thought everything
Of him But / hope she doesn't
think ! believe that. And she
went on TO say-it made me almost
faint, Philip-that they're engaged. and
are going TO be for q year longer. +
should want TO be engaged fifty years
before married him. Engaged, Stella
HaTveyP ] sad, just gaspinQ. why.
yes she sad, iut rs sweet you
don't think I'd have refused an offer
IKE tnat, DO you, dearf Pm q great
deal too mercenary.f Those are her
very words. And she looked go sweet
and innocent How wanted 70 shake
her oh, Of course it's his money
You'd know that when you'd seen his
dreadful photograph, u she hadn't said
20. Listen 70 them down there in the
parior. ] just don't know how I'm no.
Ing 10 stand itfn
Well, Fmup stump said her hus.
band, with fnrceful iueleQance. looking
in dazed astoBishment from the elderly
and strikingly ugly countenauco Of Mr..
BlumenberRer 20 the round, fresh.
charming face opposite
'It isn't Stella Pm concerned about
horrid girl I" said Mrs. March, severely.
swapping tho album together. sIts
poor Avery
Poor Avery stayed 70 lunch; he very
commonly did since Stella Harvey had
been IN tho house. lie was nice-a
blonde young man, rather stout and ex-
fegdingiy jolly. Hs .wes in o lively