Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-06-16
A LOVE TLST.
Why Arthur Remained Stoadfasf
In Adversely.

some, and twenty-eight lie was also
the possessor of long head, inherited
from the maternal side of the house,
He was likewise dutiful son.
II was the two latter circumstances
that had, on more than enc occasion.
saved him from making a triumphant
ass of himself just fancy If it had
not been for his long head, it is more
than likely that he would have fallen
desperately in love with that bcwitch-
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 ut the seaside.
1t had been glorious evening-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 floated out from the ball
room There was the pale. silver light
of the moon, the murmuring ripple OF
the waves on the beach-and all that
sort of thing, which you have read
about so many times that you have
learned to skip it in the novels.
Welll Elsie was going away-too,
too soon. They had talked in signs
and murmurs for half an hour; Arthur's
left hand clasped Elsie'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 20 tell Elsie
what she had been waiting for for two
weeks, when there was a step close at
hand, a rustic of skirts, and the cooling
voice Of the maternal Ferris said:
Il beg your pardon, but viii you
please excuse Arthur a few moments?
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 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-every-
way-desirable young person had pre-
scented herself. True, she was not so
Young as she had been; but, then, that
was a mere triAe. She was just mis-
own age, of as good a family as his
own, and an heiress of considerable de-
gree. She was not-well, not exactly
handsome, and was rather inclined to
what is politely called plumpness; 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 qualifica-
tions, particularly the one involving
very neat fortune in her own right
Besides, Arthur was getting Dit
desperate. In fact, he had 30 far ex-
ceeded his own salary and the maternal
allowance (which, by the way, was as
large as Mrs. Ferris could afford) that
nothing short of miracle, or matri-
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
Bernice 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.
He was disappointed, however, on
one point. He had pleaded artfully for
an early wedding, but Miss Field had
set her foot down with much firmness
and said he must go through a long
period-all of which
Arthur failed to understand. He had
always been noted for his persuasive
powers, and had flattered himself that
Bernice, with her gentle, clinging, bud
like ways, would succumb at once.
Now, be il known that Miss Bernice
Field had not arrived at years of dis
erection for nothing. Neither had she.
a not unprepossessing 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
touch her purse-to touch, in the FIRST
place, the all-important key to it, which
was hidden away in her plump bosom.
And Miss Bernice Field was worldly
wise in her day and generation.
She was certainly IN love with Ferris
there could be no doubt of that. IL is
quite as certain that she was very scri-
ously in love with him; but, with the
wisdom born of experience, she did not
let him know one-half of what she felt
for him.
If anyone had told Ferris th:t he was
just now in very shalSy position, he
would have scoffed. His chum, Ed
Cross, who was spending the winter at
the house during Mrs. Ferris absence,
had once suggested that there's many
a Slip" but Arthur merely SHE'D shoe
at him, and whistled serenely.
1t was IN this frame of mind that,