The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-05-07

crowd Is SO great LnaC there rs. not mucn
opportunity for confidential talks. If
will write to you tomorrow. will you
favor me with a reply?"
''Certainly!" and the brown eyes
smiled sweetly, and perhaps uncon-
sciously, at him, as he rose to relin-
quish his seat to another admirer.
'There-that was neatly DONE" was
his mental comment, mo fuss, no love-
making to undergo-nothing disagree
able, and, if the fates are kind, I shall
have one of the finest looking and one
of the richest women in c. for my
wife,
|. He threaded his way carefully among
the crowd, replying to q kindly greet
ing here and there, and presently found
himself in the conservatory.
But it was occupied.
Standing under tall palm, a radiant
vision in blue and gold, stood Blanche
Wellington. ~ j..
His face frightened as he approached
her, for anything beautiful always ap-
pealed strongly to the artistic side of
his nature, and what could be more
beautiful than this tall, queenly woman
with crown of golden hair, and the
deep blue of violet lurking in the cool
depths of her eyes!
What an opportunity there was to
win for his own this lovely girl!
His conversation with Miss Sturte-
want, few moments ago, crossed his
mind, but he dismissed it with q
thought.
He could easily explain to her his
request. Thank Heaven, he had not
committed himself!
Miss Wellington turned to him with
a smile.
so you are here this evening. Do
you enjoy it?''
II have not-untl now"
What did it matter if that sweet
speech was false, it was very neat. At
any rate it brought beautiful color to
the soft cheek of the maiden before
him.
SIS it not beautiful in here?' she
said.
"Yes," fervently, lit is fit setting
for you.'
Nov you are hattering me-"
Indeed am not, am always
truthful" and he threw world Of
counterfeit tenderness into the dark
eyes he turned upon her.
1t was only step from that to some
thing more-and he took it.
Holding her soft, white hand in his,
he began:
Miss Blanche, am growing very
tired of a lonely life. wait some one
to share my griefs and joys. Will you
be my wife?''
"Really-I-I hardly know" she be-
gan.
At that moment gay voices were
heard coming in their direction, and
she drew her hand away from his clasp.
In another moment the lively party
were in sight, and he had only time to
murmur: II will write Tomorrow
will you reply?''
"Yes," and presently the cool, re-
tired place was invaded by the merry
makers, and Laurence Weston beat a
basty retreat.
The next day he wrote the two let
tiers he had promised-for he was a
man of his word.
To Miss Sturtevant he wrote this:
MY DEAR MISS BLANCHE-I wish to apologize
to you for some remarks I made to you last
night, and to say that have changed my mind
concerning the matter spoke Of. II was real
! ~ Of no consequence, and beg you will not
give 1t any thought. It was only an idle ques-
ton, which merely amounted to nothing, and in
the fact cause which existed for my request no
| longer exists. Please treat the whole affair as
| joke, and oblige. Yours, L. WESTON.
''There,'' he said, as he pushed the
sheet to one side, II fancy that disposes
of Miss Sturtevant very easily. She
! will think it was some foolish joke
] will never fancy intended to ask her
to marry me-for she thinks me a con-
frmed bachelor. She is lively, good
natured girl, and will soon forget the
whole affair. Now, for Miss Yelling
ton"
On another sheet of the fine cream
note paper he always used, he wrote to
Miss Wellington thus: : -.
| MY DEAR MISS BIANCHE-Had time permit
ted last night should have urged you to &C.
| cept my hand and heart. But the crowd was 50
great and the opportunity for private converse
ton SO limited, thai 1t was impossible. You
promised to write to me-may hope for q
favorable answer! II 20, please appoint time
for me to call and tell you all I would say, more
fully than can commit it to paper: Yours,
| l.. WESTON.
''There," as he folded both letters and
placed them in their envelopes, II feel
pretty sure of her reply, and now for q
smoke
This was in the morning, and in the
evening Fred Bent dropped in, as was
his custom. 20 S.. - .. 8 --r 4-~ 70,
For a few moments the two men
smoked in silence. 49,
| Then there was knock on the door,
which Mr.. Weston answered.
| When he came back into the room he
held in his hand two letters. s.
IF you will excuse me, Fred, will
read these" he said.
.'Oh, certainly-go ahead. From the
fair charmers, suppose?''
Laurence Weston opened the letters
at random.
The first read like this:
DEAR Mr.. WEsTON-Although your proposal
was 3 great surprise to mo, for I always
thought you were not . marrying man, can
say that am inclined to regard lt-and you
favorably. II you will call tomorrow at ten
shall be glad to receive you. Yours, Is. / =
E7 Y BLANCHE STURTEvANT.
Blank dismay was pictured on his
features as he opened the other and
read: ~ -s='a
Mr.. WESTON: Dear Sir-It is entirely imma-
terial to mo whether your Language Of last
night was joke or not, and no apologies ore
necessary. Allow me to advise you, though,
that in well:resnlated society such Jokes ere
considered Insults TO woman. Yours.
BLANCHE WELLIkc1cN.