The Arizona sentinel., 1890-01-04
TOURNAMENT OF LOVE.
How Gladys the Fair Betrayed the Coh-
 fidence of Two Admirers.

How Gladys the Fair Betrayed the OoH
 fidence of Two Admirers
 The two vounp men had called al- most simultaneously. George sat on the sofa; Albert on the little reception chair with the gilt legs. Between them, in the great armchair, sat the fair girl whom they had assiduously courted during the whole summer at the salubrious resort of Squillville Springs. The two young men glared at each other, and each stole furtive glances at the lovely Gladys. Conversation Ian guished. A pail of gloom had settled down upon the stately parlor, crowded with luxurious furniture and rare bric- a-brac. At last Gladys spoke, with resolution in her silvery tongue.
 "Gentlemen," she said: ''this thing has gone far enough. Business, it is generally conceded, is Business. Am in error in assuming that each of you has called here tonight with a special object in view, and 1 am the special ob- ject.
 Miss nderdonk-Gladys-" began both the young men at once.
 IudJ VIII uO. lnbeTrupGeu 0AAO ~ girl; ''that is the usual formula. Let us waste no time. If you have any propo- sitions to make and specifications to submit. you might just as well do it while the furnace fire holds out to burn. It is as fair for one as for the other. May I suggest that the arbitrament of coin, heads or tails, might appropriately decide who is to have the initial in- ning?"
 "Will lyou match me?" inquired George, covering with his hand the quarter which he had laid upon his knee.
 ''I will, now or any time,'' responded Albert, fiercely, as he fiattened his palm over half-dime with hole in it.
 They lifted their hands. Albert had not matched.
 ''Gladys," began George, with a height ened color, 'I love you. Whatever wealth can do to make you happy shall be yours. If I were the lowest, the humblest, the most hopeless of all suit orS, would not be more your slave"
 Do you mean that?" queried the girl, with dOwncast eyes.
 'Indeed dol" cried the young man, with vehemence. 'If were-why, if I were William Bliven, that poor devil you used to snub so at the Springs, I could not be more at your mercy"
 And you, inquired the lovely Gladys, | turning toward Albert, whose heels were | working nervously and rubbing all the | gilt off the legs of the reception-chair; ''what have you to say?'' Gladys" he began, 'T can not daz- gle you with visions of wealth and splen- dor. l am not rich"
 "You are not" interrupted George: ''you and William Bliven might just | pair up on wealth, and then you may be | you'd be able to buy one beer between | you"
 ''I may not be Mir. Bliven's superior | in worldly goods, retorted Albert, flush ing proudly; ''but certainly am in man. ners; and l wish could say that much | for yOu."
 ''Indeed?" returned the young pluto crat, superciliously: ''I always supposed that you and Bliven got your manners together, in the same place that you got | your clothes. They always struck me as being ready-made.'
 ''You appear to know more about Mir. Bliven than do," was Albert's icy re- sponse; ''ycur taste for low associates was well known at the Springs, But, as l was saying, Gladys, while I have not material wealth, if the devotion of a heart that is wholly yours"
 ''Say no more, gentlemen" said Gla- dys, rising and smiling swee tly. ''It is but yesterday that MT. William Bliven wrote me, asking me for my hand. I had just written my acceptance of his when you arrived, and I thought it was only just to give you both chance. You have had it. Here's the letter. Will one of you gentlemen do me the kindness to mail it? If NIT. BGven is not here by nine o'clock to- I shall have reason to doubt the affection you have so eloquently ex- pressed. Good evening, gentlemen" And as the fair young girl swept gracefully from the room, the fire in the furnace collapsed with chilly thud.- Puck