The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-08-25
A LOVE TEST.
Why Arthur Remained Steadfast
in Adversely.

Arthur Ferris was tall, blonde, hand
some, and twenty-eight. lie was also
the possessor OF q long head, inherited
from the maternal side of the house.
He was likewise a dutiful son.
1t was the two latter circumstances
that had, on more than one occasion,
saved him from making triumphant
ass OF himself. Just tancyl If it had
not been for his long head, it is more
than likely that he would have fallen
desperately in love with that bewitch.
ing governess 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 sc easide.
1t had been a glorious evcning--that
last. They were sitting on the veranda,
where they might see and yet be un-
seen. The soft, dreamy strains OF a
Strauss waltz tloatcd cut from tho ball
room. There was the pale, silver light
OF the moon, the murmuring ripple of
the waves on the beach-nnd all that
sort OF thing, which You have read
about SO many times that you have
learned to skip it in the novels.
Well! Elsie was going away-too,
too soon. They had talked in signs
and murmurs for half an hour; Arthur's
left hand clasped Elsic's dimplcd 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 n stop close at
hand, a rustic Of skirts, and the cooling
voice OF the maternal Ferris said:
II beg your pardon, but will you
please excuse Arthur a few moments? d?
There are those miserable business af-
fairs that must be attended to in time
for the late mail"
And thus was he saved a 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 NAM
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-evcry-
way-drsirablc young person had pre-
scented herself. True, she was not so
young as she had been; but. then, that
was Il mere trillc. She was Just his
own age, of as good IL family as his
own, and an hcircss of considerable de-
gree. She was not-wcll, not exactly
handsome, and was ruther inclined to
what is politely called plumpncss; but
Arthur's mamma and Arthur's long
head give their approval-and Arthur
Ill n rI,
a. she possessed the above qualifica-
tions, particularly the one involving u
very neat fortune in her own right
Besides, Arthur was getting a bit
desperate. In fact, he had SO far cx-
cerdrd his own salary and the maternal
allowance (Which, by the way, was as
large as Mrs. Ferris could atfOrd) that
nothmg short OF n miracle, or Il mntri-
mOnial alliance, such as he had been so
long seeking, could save him from get.
ting into very deep water.
And thus it came to pass that this
winter found him engaged to Miss
Brrnicc 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 tho gratifying
news at once.
He was disappointed, however, on
one pout. He had pleaded artfully for
an early wedding, but Misc Field had
set her foot down with much firmncss
and said he must go through 4 long
probationary pcriod--all OF which
Arthur failed to understand. He had
always been noted for his persuasive
powers, and had tlattrrcd himself that
Bcrnicc, with her gentle, cliIging, bud
like ways. would Succunlb at once.
Now, be it known that Miss Bcrnicc
Field had not arrived at years of dis
rrction for nothing Neither had She,
Il not mprcp0SSeSSinp young person,
with nearly IL half-millinn in her own
right, passed through the experiences
hf ten seasons without gathering unto
herself much knowlcdEc of the ways
and wilrs OF wicked man. She had
had, as might have been expected,
offers to high number; Int. thus far,
lhc gentlemen concerned had failed
toy reason Of their unanimous desire to
touch her purSc--to touch, in the first
place, the all-important key TO it, which
was hidden away in her plump bosom.
And Miss Rcrnice Field was worldly
wise in her day and generation.
She was certainly III love with Ferris
there could be no doubt of that. 1t is
quite as certain that she was very scri-
'uSly in love with him: but, with the
wisdom born OF experience, she did not
ct him know one-half Of what she felt
f0r him.
If anyone had told Ferris that he was
Just now i'll very shahy position, he
would have scotfcd His chum, Ed
ross, who was spending the winter at
he house during Mrs. Ferris absence,
lad once suggested that "thcre's many
l slip" but Arthur merely shicd shoe
1t him, and whistled scrcnely.
1t was in this frame Of mind that,
one evening in February, he ran lightly
up the steps of the Field mansion to
.all on her whom Cross unfcelngly re-
'crrcd to as his little lady love" 1t
vas warm, and the front door stood
ljar. The little footman was not in
lis accustomed place, so Ferris, with
he air OF one who knew just where he
vas going, stepped inside. From the
)pcn door OF Papa Eicld's studv came