The west Tennessee star. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1888, 1888-11-16

OF the sunday morning CtTcte- lie
gathered from their conversation,
however, that Richard Stanwood had
been ensnared into a matrimonial en-
gagement with one Virginia Lester, a
Kentucky belle, while summering
among the lakes. One Of the girls OBJ
served that Dick StanwoOd was so
nice, she had met him at the Bement
House, while two others asserted in
the same breath that Virginia Lester
was the dearest girl in the world, in
every way worthy of him, that her
father was just determined that she
should marry her cousin whom she
hated, but that she would not listen
to such proposition.
These two pieces OF information
greeted the ears OF the astOnished
society editor simultaneously and re-
solved themselves into the following
bit of news which appeared in next
mornings paper:
The engagement of Mr.. Richard
Stanwood and Miss Virginia Lester
has been announced. Mr.. Stanwood
is n rising young railroad attorney
and has a host of friends in this city,
who tender their congratulations"
On Sunday morning, as Mr.. Richard
Stanwood seated himself in his favor
lite arm chair in his luxuriously fur
nished Apartments, he took up his
morning paper; he glanced at the tele-
graphic column, read a few patent
jokes. skipped the poetry and finally
settled down to read the Personals, -
which the Social Circle made q spe-
cial feature.
As he came to the middle OF the col
umu he began to read mechanically:
THE engagement of Mr.. Richard
StanwoOd-" Presently he began to
realize, in a dazed way, that the name
was familiar to him. Then he re-read
it carefully, and exclaimed:
''The deucel This is some of that
scoundrel Gus Landers' work. I'll
hunt him up and cane him" Stan
wood was one Of the many Cleveland
bachelors who pride themselves on
their impervious hearts, and his dis
gust and anger we're deep and sincere.
He would be guyed TO death by his
friends; il was too bad of Gus. And
who was Virginia Lester? He had no
acquaintance among the famous bellies
OF the Blue Grass region, and had
never set foot in the State. He was
sure to meet Gus at the club some
time during the day-they both be-
longed to the "POcahontasn-and he
would make him explain.
For many days the name Of his sup
posed iancee haunted him; he won.
dered what sort of a creature she
could be- At times he imagined her
tall and dark-a typical Kentucky
beauty-with the grace and refine
ment peculiar to her class; again he
pictured her bold, assertive and mas
culine, until, between his desire to
settle his score with Gus and to know
who she really was, his mental dis
ouietude interfered seriously with the
transaction OF business.
He was that anomaly found only in
the United States-a devoted society
and club man, and at the same time
attorney for one of the largest railroad
systems centering in Cleveland.
He did not meet Gus that day, MOI
until several days afterwards. Then
he found him at the club, standing al
a window smoking, gazing medita-
lively out on the avenue. Approach
ing him, he said:
'Confouud It, Gus. you have made
my life a burden for the past three
days. What imp Of mischief possessed
youP"
What do you meanp' asked Gus
innOcently.
Il refer to that personal in Sunday
paper. Who under Heaven is Virgins
Lester?"
II don't know, I'm sure. You are the
one 20 enlighten me-" Gus replied, for
he was used to being taken 70 task on
every conceivable subject.
I've been bored to death. Every
one I've met has congratulated me.
I've denied il, but they won't Ia.
lieve me, said Stanwood, with a deeDly
injured air
IN make a retraction," interruptef
Gus, cheerfully.
"RetraetiOn be hanged. I lspov
what youh say. The retractlon vii
be worse than the original offense."
When Gus saw that his friend wa