The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-09
A LOVE TEST.
Why Arthur Remained Steadfast
in Adversely.

Arthur Ferris was tall, blonde, hand.
some, and twenty-eight. He was also
the posscssor of long head, inherited
from the maternal side of the house.
He was likewise dutiful son.
1t was the two latter circumstances
that had, on more than one occasion,
saved him from making q triumphant
ass of himself. just fancy! If it had
not been for his long head, it is more
than likely that lie would have fallen
desperately in love with that bewitch-
ing governcss of the Hastings, with
whom he had spent several weeks in the
mountains one summer five years ago.
But he had given himself time to think,
and had fled between two days, much
to his later satisfaction.
Then there was that dear little Miss
Dixon, whom he had met at the seaside.
1t had been glorious cvening-that
last. They wore sitting on the veranda,
where they might see and yet be I'M
seen. The soft, dreamy strains OF u
Strauss waltz floatcd out from the ball
room. There was the pale, silver light
OF the moon, the murruring ripple of
the waves on the beach-aud all that
sort of thing, which you have read
81 JtlllcS IlltlC you nave
learned to skip it in the novels.
Wcll Elsie was going away-too,
too soon. They had talked in signs
and murmurs for half an hour; Arthur's
left hand claspcd Elsic's dimpled right
one, his right arm was about her waist;
both hearts beat vigorously, as hearts
will on such occasions, and Arthur had
just opened his mouth TO tell Elsie
what she had been waiting for for two
weeks when there was Il step close ut
hand, a rustic of skirts, and the cooling
voice of the maternal Ferris said:
IL beg your pardon, but will you
please excuse Arthur Il few moments?
There are those miserable business af-
fairs that must be attended to in time
for the late mail"
And thus was lie saved II second time.
For Elsie had not Il cent, and neither
had heat least. not many of them.
There. were several other occasions
when his own long head, or his mann
mas, had helped him out-for Arthur
was somewhat susceptible. But it is
not of these have to tell
His time had come. The in-cvcry-
way-desirablc young person had pre-
scented herself. True, she was not so
young as she had been; but, then, that
was a mere triflc. She was just his
own age, of as good Il family as his
own, and an hciress of considerable de-
gree. She was not-wcll, not exactly
handsome, and was rdther inclined to
what is politely called plumpncss; but
Arthur's mamma and Arthur's long
head give their approval-and Arthur
did not care who she might be, so long
as she possessed the above qunlifica-
'tions, particularly the one involving a
very neat fortune in her own right
Besides, Arthur was getting q bit
desperate. In fact, he had so far ex-
ceeded his own salary and the maternal
allowance (Which, by the way wac az
large as Mrs. Ferris could afford) that
nothing short of miracle, or n matri-
monial alliance, such as he had been SO
long seeking, could save him from get
ting intovery deep water.
And thus it came to pass that this
winter found him engaged to Miss
Bcrnice Field, much to the satisfaction
of his mother. who was visiting in New
York, and to whom he had, like the
.dutiful son he was. sent the gratifying
news at once.
lie WAS disappointed, however, on
one point. lie had pleaded artfully for
an carly wedding, but Miss Field had
set her foot down with much firmness
and said he must go through n long
proba tionary pcriod-all of which
Arthur failed to understand. He had
always been noted for his persuasive
powers, and had flattercd himself that
Bernice, with her gentle, clinging, bud
like ways, would succumb at once.
Now, be it known that Miss Bcrnice
Field had not arrived at years of dis.
erection for nothing. Neither had she,
n not mnprepossessing young person,
with nearly half-million in her own
right, passed through the experiences
of ten seasons without gathering unto
herself much knowledge of the ways
and wiles of wicked man. She had
had, as might have been expected,
offers to a high number; but, thus far,
the gentlemen concerned had failed
by reason of their unanimous desire to
tonch her purse-to touch, in the first
place, the all-importantl key to it, which
was hidden away in her plump bosom.
And Miss Bernicc field was worldly
wise in her day and generation.
She was certainly IN love with Ferris
there could be no doubt of that. 1t is
quite as certain that she was very seri-
ously in love with him; but, with the
wisdom born of experience, she did not
let him know one-half nf what she felt
for him.
If anyone had told Ferris that he was
just now in very shalSy position, he
would have scoffcd. Ills chum, Ed
CrosS, who was spending the winter at
the house during Mrs. Ferris absence,
had once suggested that .therc's many