Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-01-03

y&A< EisA with Lucia, never
AwS~ 7tn against that young
~kNA lady's inclination
K ]: j: !: E: :
eAyZ~E IN that perhaps some
HA w >//INJ people were belIev-
INN W. MNA\ ing him engaged u
yigN,A fZil'RN her, or SURF. to 1t.
3hh%9>\ LTfhIt t'FN This impression be-
~ came more distinct
when some c: lis new business acquaintance
rallied or r0;nplimented him. and when he
occasionally declined an invitation. given
viva voce, by explaining that he had prom
ised to escort Miss Tran lay somewhere that
evening If this expla iation were made to
a lady, as was usually lie case, q knowing
smile, or at least sic lifcant look, was al
most sure to follow. 1t began to seem to
Phil that the faces Of the young women of
New York said great deal more than their
tongues, and said it in n way that could not
be answered, which was quite ANNOYING.
II lie was to seem engaged he would prefer
that appearances might not be deceitful.
Again and again he was on the point of ask
ing the question which be little doubted
would be favorably answered, but he always
restrained himself by the reminder that he
was only n clerk on n salary that could not
support We, bred like Lucia, in New York,
G. ;.i... villa Plots at Haynton Bay were not
selling as rapidly as they should if he were
to become well to do; indeed, they scarcely
were selling at all Who could be expected
to bcco.ne interested in Building sites on the
sea shore when even in tho sheltered streets
of the city the wind was piercing the thickest
overcoats. And who could propose to girl
while another man, even were he that stick
Marge, was offering her numerous attentions,
all Of which she accepted Aconfound Marge
end his money!
That Marge also was Jealous was inevita-
bic. Highly as he valued himself, he knew
womnnkind well enough to imagine that O
handsome young fellow just past his major.
ity might be moro gratifying to the eye, at
least, than q man who had reached-well,
who had not mentioned his age since be
passed his thirty-fifth birthday. He had in
bis favor all the prestige Of a good record In
society. OF large acquaintance and aristo-
cratic extraction, but he could not blind
himself to the fact that the young women
who were most estimable did not greet him
as esfusively and confidentially as they did
Phil His hair was provohngly thin on the
top OF bis head, and farther back there was
tell tale spot that resembled tonsure; he
could not quickly enter, like Phil, into the
spirit Of some silly, Innocent frolic, and al
though he insisted that his horses were as
good as Pills, he could not bring himself to
extending an invitation for q morning dash
through the park, as Phil did once or twice a
week. So he frequently said to himself,
Confound the country habit OF early rising,
which his rival bad evidently mastered.
As for Lucia, except for tho few happy
hours she spent with Phil, and the rather
more numerous hours devoted to day dreams
regarding her youthful swain, she was really
miserable In her uncertain condition. Other
girls were getting engaged, on shorter &C
quaintance. and ten times a. many girls were
tornscnting her with questions a. to which Of
the two was to be the happy man. She de-
voutly wished that Phil would speak quickly,
and finally, after long and serious consulta-
ton with Margie, she determined to adopt
toward Phil the tactics which only two or
three months before she had tried on Marye:
shc would encourage his rival With Marge
i; llcd had the unexpected effect of making
bar yield her heart to Phil; on the other
hnnd, it had perceptibly quickened Marge's
interest in her; would not a reversal of the
factors have corresponding result
She had but eJear, but that was grow
ing iutense Agnes Dinon continued to he
fond VI Phil; there was no other man to
whom she ever saw Agnes appear 20 cheerful
and unconstrained Could It be that the
teiieAs was playing q deep game for the
fs-.zr that to Lucia seemed the only one In
views She had seen wonderful successes
Llnt's by girls as old a. Agnes. when they had
any money a. . reserve force, and she trem-
bled as she thought Of the possibilities Agnes
was old-drsadfully old-it seemed to Lucia,
but she was undeniably handsome, her man.
nerx were charming, and she was smart BE-
yosd compare She had declared that her
intsress In Pm was only In his position -
LuciaS adnirsr; but-people did not always
tell the truth when they were in love. Lucia
hegself had told number Of hes-the very
whitest Of white liss-about her own regard
Tor PHI; suppose Agnes were doing likewisei
II she were Lucia's little finger nails made
deep prints on the palms Of her hands a. she
thought Of It
She told herself, In her calrner moments,
that such . thought was unworthy Of her and
insulting to AQSss, Who rsally had been frisnd-
y and even affec4icnato to her. In waksful
hours 1t night, howsver. o. n some idle hcurs
during the day, ahe fell into Jealousy, and
each successive tumble made her thralldom
the more hopeless She tried to escape BY
raIlying Phil about Agnes, but the young
man, suppodng her 10 u merely playful In
her teasing, did bis best to continue the Joke,
and was utterly blind 10 the result2
At last there came an explosion. At .
party which was to Lucia unspeakably stupid,
there being no dancing, Mis- Dinon mouopo-
Hzed Phil for full hour-a thousand hours
Il seemed to Lucia-and they sat on q sofa
too, that was Ear retired In an end Of room
which once had been . conservatory. Lucia
watched for an opportunity to demand IN
explanation; 1t seemed Il never would come,
but finally an old lady who was the head and
front Of . small local missionary effort In the
south called the young man aside. In an In
slant Lucia seated herself beside Agnes Dinon.
saying, a. she gave her fan vicious twist:
"You seem to find Mr.. Hayn very sutsr-
tainingr
"Indeed do, !" said Min Dinou; II haven't
spent 70 pleasant IN hour this season, until
this evening"
"Ohr exclaimed Lucia, and the unoffend-
ing ian hew into two pieces.
my dear grill" exclaimed Agnes, picking
up one OF the Fragments "Its really wicked
% Be - careless"
THANK you" said Lucia, with grand air
for % small . woman. III thought It was
about time for an apology"
Mis- Dinon looked Sideways In amasement
Tho subject Of conversation must have
been delightful" Lucia continusd
"Indeed Il was," said Agnes
Lucia looked up quickly. EortunaAely for
Mis- Dincn. the artificial light about them
was dim.
"You told me once, said Lucia, collecting
hsr strength for q grand effort, "that"-
Eyer
~You dear little thing" said Agnes, sod
denly putting her arm about Lucia and press-
ing bar closely as a mother might seize .
baby, what We were talking Of was you.
can't you understand. now, why enjoyed
Il 70 muchF
There was tremor and convuldve move
meut within the older womanS arm, and
Lucia seemed to be crying.
Darling little GIRL" murmursd Agnes,
Kissing tho top Of Lucia's head, II ought 70
% Killed Tor teasing You, even for . moment,
but how could you be Jealous Of met Your
lover has been a great deal more apprsda-
i've: he has done me the honor to mako NJ
bis conidante. and again my Il was d. |
I'm awfully mean" sobbed Lucia
stop crying-at once" whispered Asnea |
.how wiz your eyes looki Oh, In, what |
lucky girl you areI"
For cryingf' said Lucia. after . little |
choke.
For having such o man to adore you.
Why, be thinks no such woman ever walked !
the earth before He worships the door you
tread, the air you breathe. the rustic Of your |
l. Al -