The Globe-republican., 1890-04-16

Ihe letter OF invitation was duly as
patched, and that of acceptance re-
ceived. Belle wrote:
have some thing very particular to tell
you, but shall not enter into particulars until
see YOU Now, aren't you dying to know: l
will tell you just this, to whet your curiosity
the more: Harry is sure to be on the best of
terms with his future brother-tn-law.
'Isn't it too bad?' demanded my wife;
'.just as had decided who was the mic
est man we know, Belle has to write
that she is already engaged. It's some
horrid fellow, who will never come here
to live: and I'm sure don't know who
will buy Mr.. Edwards's lawn"
''If he is in any kind of business-and
il he's Of any account-of course he is
he could not very we'll pick up and move
here. just to oblige Mr.. Edwards by buy
ing his lawn. Our neighbor is very
pleasant man. and most Of his friends
would do much to oblige him, but Bellies
fance probably never heard of him."
To this elaborate bit of consolation
my wife paid not the slightest attention,
but purposed her own line of thought.
Il had quite set my heart on it," she
said. plaintively; land you yourself
know that he is really nice-a!most nice
enough for Belle"
Perhaps if l knew who you had in
mind ventured.
why, your particular friend, Charlie
Mitchell, of course. Who else should it
be? don't believe there ever was such
stupid man.
81 never found him So" 1 returned;
land did not know that stupidity was
any element of niceness.,
Although said this with all the grav-
ity at my command, it was not consider
ed worthy an answer; my wife merely
improved upon nature by fitting her
nose little higher than usual.
1t was some days before she recovered
from the effects Of the disappointment;
but before Belle arrived she had settled
to break the existing engagement and
bring about match between my siSt.r
and my most intimate friend.
81 am afraid" remarked few ever
ings after she had come to this doughty
determination, that there are more diff
ficulties in the way Of making a match
between Belle and Charlie than you
have reckOned upon"
"What do you mean?"
Mitchell dropped in to see me. to-
day about that very piece of ground of
Edwards. He wants to settle down. he
says; and as he has no one dependent
upon him, that can mean only one
thing. He looked pretty sheepish, too,
like an engaged man is apt to-
''Why didn't you ask him all about
it? 1 hope it isn't that horrid Clara
Manning, but I'm afraid it is. Well,
there's one consolation: he'll soon get
tired Of her. And I'm sure if he knew
Belle better, it would all come right.
They just seem made for each other"
From this it would appear that she
was not daunted by the prospect before
her: she had two engagements to break.
and another one to make; but she did
not doubt her own ability in the least.
l had one or two other short talks
with Mitchell which confirmed me in
the belief that he was going to be mar
ried, and that very speedily; but he
seemed to take it for granted that l
knew all about it. SO that did not like
to confess my ignorance. Once, indeed,
he said to me:
Wait until your sister comes, and
then you'll hear the full particulars"
knew that he had made occasional
visits to the small town where my rela-
tives live, and at once concluded that
his ladylove was some one whom Belle
knew: but rejCined:
Il reckon Belle will be so taken I'D
with her own affairs, that she will not
have much time or thought to devote TO
others
Il hope not" returned Mitchell. with
a queer smile; and just then we were
interrupted.
l duly communicated thu result of
these conversations TO my wife: for she
closely questioned me regarding my in
tercourSe with him. She had been I'M
able to ascertain from outsiders the
name of Mitchell's .fancs;; but as Miss
Manning had simpered and bridled when
the subject was limited at, she was firm
ly convinced that her original SUPPOSE
ton was true.
Like wise general, she had her plan
of campaign arranged beforehand. She
TAI made up her mind to ignore both
existing engagements. and throw Belle
anG Charlie together as much as posi-
BILE. was sworn to secrecy regarding
ho- intentions.
FOR ifeither one of them should get to
hear of it-shoIld get even a suspicion of
disposition would be aroused at once.
and might as we'll give up. am sure
that if they are together great deal.
each will learn to like the other a great
deal better than those that they are en-
gagged to now"
With much ungrammatical conclusion
she rested content until Belle came.
am afraid to say how far ahead she !
had planned for this intercourse: know |
that she had written down her projects !
for at least three weeks, four or more |
evenings in each week; Charlie was to |
be invited to the house-without Miss |
of course; we were not sup
posed to know of their engagement-or |
asked to be one of a party bent on some |
expedition; when, of course, he was to |