The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-22


Phyllis decide ID break the bond between
them
40ul be 6r-Cg1lg wife home with
yOu. Hart. perhaps, his sister suggested
with { smile, as he kissed her good-by.
Tn not SO SIRE about that as I'd like
10 be, Madge," Royal responded ruefuIly.
THE b-ll2ace IS about even / shall Try
20. az 81 events
''YoCl succeed, toe. If you try IN the
right way. sir knight of the sorTowfu
countelance. cne OF the first principles
Of success Is 10 believe IN your own anil
ity TO succeed That's an axiom, butiFs
a good one. Say VII and then do. Il
you love her truly and want her. tel her
SO as strongly as You can. and don't
listen TO word against II That's the
way 70 manage women Be masterful
through earnest loving"
That sounds forcible," Royal adj
mitted. LET me in. my love, OF III pull
the place about your ears. is as good
screed OF doctrine as any other In ordinary
cases In this. however. am at dis
advantage and can't exactly avail myself
of renchant methods"
.fHow at Disadvantage
Her tone was one of eager interest.
Its TOO long q story TO tel now,
Madge. | made fool Of myself last
Decalbar-as usual Wait until come
home with nv arms borne before me or
trailing a broken pennon. You shall
have the story II either event. promise
you"
lyon must bring Ii 20 me on the point
OF a victorious lance" she smiled: ANY
other method VIII rob il OF al charm.
There Is time worn p-Over0 anent faint
hearts and fair ladies 1 might quote. but
viii spare you arT..''-wish a swift
change OF exprezsion---I am consumed
with terror lest you forget 10 notify me
ii time about the young woman's taste
IN wedding gifts. II you Go I shall ger
something perfectly aIrocioUs..''
Royal nade u testing reply and went
on ms way insensibIy cheered His SIS
tiers confidence in his proves and good
fortune inspirited him and caused his
natural buoyancy TO reasserJ itself So
thoroughly did self confidence return,
indeed, that during a few hours deten-
ton - st. Louis he provided himself
with a pretty moss agate pi1 for Mrs.
Fart and diamond ring and bracelet
for PHYLLIS.
During the journey eastward ROYAL
conceived elaborated and discarded so
MANY interviews with his wife. and of
such ciTerse forms and endiags. that his
imagination developed rapidly under the
-z.s,.lsice. Hold he E,on-, .oTTa7 ~, - 49,
moment he could have furnished a dozen
thrilling and impossible situations and
still have had power remaining To evolve
ofhers-brand new and infinitely more
complicated And, as events in this life
rarely justify anEicipations. not single
one of the predicted situations at all tit
ted the reality.
An hour after his arrival IN Alexan-
dria Royal left the hotel and proceeded
to Mrs Harris house with the avowed IN
Dention of demanding an interview with
that genial lady and, from her, ascer-
tanning how the land lay. So filed was
he with this scheme-which appeared TO
him neaI-fhat when the servant. IN re-
Spouse 10 his inquiry, informed him that
Mrs. Hart had gone over TO Washington
and would not return until the after
noon he felt as nonplussed as though he
had led an ace and had II -umped IN the
first round.
WAS Mrs. Royal In"
The servant thought not. but would go
and see. Then she ushered him into the
pariOr and retired with grinning coun-
tenance. She had had substantial cause
TO regard DIR. Royal with favor during
his former visit.
Royal moved restlessly about the room
II was full Of signs of feminine occupancy
pretty bric-a-brac, dainty embroideries. |
an open piano with a lace handkerchief
on the keys, fancy work basket heaped
with scraps of silk and ribbon, and dolls |
of al sizes IN various stages of prepare
ton for church fair, an open copy of /
'Hypatia" on a little table, and books /
here, there and everywhere.
The street door opened and closed, /
quick footsteps advanced along the hall, /
word or two was exchanged with some
one outside the parlor door, and Royal /
faced around IN time to see his wife en-
ter the room.
Could that be Phyllis He had never
pictured her thus, and could scarcely /
credit his eyes or believe that they re-
ported a living verify. Slender, radiant,
clad Still IN black from crown to instep.
but worn, somehow, differently from his
recollection of 1t, with clear gray eyes
ahght with pleasure, soft rings of hair
clustering about a white forehead and
cheeks aglow with health and exercise,
she seemed TO Royal totally new Great
ue.
She advanced at once with outstretch-
ed hand and manner totally devoid of
embarrassment. 1t was all very differ
ent from that which he had expected,
but by the time he had taken her hand
IN his Royal had become conscious that
whatever she might decide IN regard to
their future relations there would be no
danger of petty misunderstanding or
Judgment with TINS woman He
Lifted his head and squared his shoulders
as though load had been removed from
them
When did you Gomez" she was saying;
Tins morning? And you came at once
TO Us. That was charming Of you. i