Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-12-13
4 MN AND HIS OWN WAY.

4 a
| halmy air and the fresh, bright toilets
of the ladies made q kind Of gala day,
| even on broadway, Philip Hays stood
III his Office door. thoughtfully pulling
on his neatly fitting gloves. say
th0ughtfullyrbe that word just
| describes his state of mind, which was
that Of hating between two opinions
1 whether to go for his usual stroll up
/ town have u comfortable dinner at his
hotel and little Irritation with Jessie
/ Mabin afterward; or to cross the river
and take train to his brothers place
| in Jersey. He told himself, as he was
carefully buttoning his right-hand
glove that the berries were ripe and
that he really needed a little fresh
air, etc.
But he knew far better reason. if
/ he would only have acknowledged it !;
and what is more, other people knew it,
| too. Brother Will was wise enough to
credit his pretty sister-in-law with
| Philips excess of fraternal affection !;
and little Mona Zabriski herself had a
| shrewd guess as to what kind of ber-
ries Mr.. Philip Hays came to the
country to taste.
Well, ON this particular afternoon,
! the country proved the most powerful
attraction, and in an hour and half
after the gloves had been fitted to a
nicely, they were taken off again to
clasp the hands of the dearest, sweet
est. brightest little country maiden
| that any man with the right kind of
eyes could desire to see.
Everybody pretended to believe the
story about the berries. and that, of
course, gave him chance to go with
Mona to gather them.
What Philip said to Mona, and what
Mona said to Philip. the berries and the
evening star probably know; but it
was very delightful and so satisfying
that the young people came back to the
house without any berries at all, and
/ presently there was great deal of
Misunderstanding and kissing, which
ended in bottle Of champagne and
mutual good wishes.
Well, after this, for a couple Of
1 weeks, there was no hesitating at tho
Office door, Philip said peaches, -
now, when his friends rallied him about
his sudden passion for the country,
and the peach'' excuse did just as well
as the berries.n
Philips mother and sister were
! going to some fashionable Virginia
springs, and he greatly desired that
his little Mona should 20 with them.
| For, TO tell the truth, he did wish she
were little more stylish, and would
put up her curls, and abandon aprons,
and dress like Jessie Mabin did.
i He went about his plans with that
tact which young men who have sisters
acquire: a little present from the
1 jewelers., modest check, "just for
spending money! made his sister Ce-
celia sufficiently interested in his pro-
ject
Mona is dear little girl, Cecile.r
he said; all she wants is more
stately manner and stylish dress"
Ii that is what you like, Philip,
why did you not marry Jessie Mabin
| thought you liked her well enough.n
Because, Cecile, / want heart in
side the dress-a pure, loving heart.r
1t seems to me-o but here Cecile
stopped She was wise enough to
know she would be throwing words
| away
The next difficulty was to make Mona
| understand his wishes and induce her
to accept the invitation sent by his
| mother and sister He approached the
subject under the most favorable cir
| circumstances; the moonlight did not
4
arm held her so close that he had no
fear of securing her attention if argu-
ment or persuasion was necessary.
am so glad, Mona, that you are
| going with Cecile. / am sure it will
do you good,v he said.
And then he stopped and kissed her
| for emphasis.
am going to please you, Philip,
for | am quite well, thank you.n
Oh, | don't mean about your
| health, you little witch Who could
have such bright eyes and red lips and
not be quite well | mean about dress
and department and that kind of
things.n
There was a little ominous silence,
and then low, grieved voice:
!" don't think / understand you,
Philip"
No, dear; and, upon the whole. I
am glad you have never understood
so far; but when we are married. we
shall live in the city, and we must
dress and behave as city people do.
Cecile will show you all about it, dar-
ling. so don't trouble your pretty little
head.v
Il thought you liked me Just as I
am, Philip. What is wrong in the
city that is proper and pretty in the
country? VIII you tell me?
Certainly, Mona. Your loose, flow
ing hair and short dresses and white
aprons; your frank ways, all so per-
fectly charming here, would cause I'M
| pleasant criticisms in the city. | want
my little girl to be az stylish and
fashionable as-as-well, as Miss Jessie
Mabin, for instance.n
All she il your ideal, il she 20
Much more to the same purport.
mingled truly with compliments and
kisses, was said; but it did not deceive
the wounded woman's heart; for
Mona, though not fashionable woman.
was . true woman, nevertheless and
understood both all Philip said aud all
| that ii inferred.
/ Philip thought he had managed
cleverly, and when he next saw Mona.
In most perfectly appointed travelling
suit he congratulated himself on his
tact and wisdom. It was not possible
for him to leave his business entirely.
but it had been arranged he was to
come at intervals for few DAYS. and
be regularly refreshed and comforted
| BY plentiful supplies OF letters.
The supply was pretty fair the first
week. but fell of gradually, until sew
eral days passed without any word
| from Mona Still he was not much
troubled. for he relied with implicit
/ confidence on The effect which philiu