The Press., 1892-12-15
nose. A graceful, we'll rounded figure it was full length portrait-and min iaturo hands and feet.

uOScs A SIdtCCAuA, WCA iOuuooO ASu1c it was full length portrait-and min iaturc hands and feet. The iinpressionable Spooner was posi- lively enraptured by the photograph. It far exceeded his highest hopes, and he hurried off, with the greatest eagerness, to show it to Dick Bolus. Bolus ad- mired it quite as much as he did. In fact both young men agreed that, even allowing for embellishments on the part of the photographer and possible trifing imperfections which might appear in q photograph, the original must be a ''dev- ilish pretty gal" .~
 "Of course," said Bolus, after loudly congratulating Spooner upon his good fortune-"of course you mean to keel, this appointment with the young woman at the Metropole?" ...
 "L-I-suppose l must," answered Spooner undecidedly, wavering between his sentimental desire to make the per sona acquaintance of so lovely girl and the fear of involving himself in a hopeless complication.
 II should rather think so," replied Bo- Jus emphatically. "Why, man alive, if you were already married to Miss Mo Snarey, instead of being merely engaged to her, should find no fault with you for being seduced by beauty like this"
 While he was speaking he held the photograph in his hand, and gloated, with his little bloodshot eyes, over Miss Sibyl's charms, as depicted ill her DOT trait
 "But-but-don't you see," expostu- lated Spooner, who was, however, clear ly very anxious to attend the interview, "it will involve mean engaged man in very awkward consequences, if let this matter go too far" .....-.,
 Consequence be d-d," rctorted Bo- lus, who could be amazingly reckless where other people were concerned. "If you are 8 lad of sense and spirit, you'll let Miss McSnarey go to the-I mean you'd chuck her over, and marry Queenie without hesitation. Have you written to say you'll keep the appoint ment yeti"
 Spooner replied in the negative.
 'sWell, then," continued his friend, "by all means do so at once! There are pens, ink and paper on the table to your right"
 Spooner wavered little longer, just for the sake of appearances. But his mind was really made up, and he soon sat down and wrote the letter. Of course it was very wrong, not to say dis honorable, of him to behave in such q manner. But he was weak and vain, as well as silly and sentimental, and Miss Coombs' gushing letters, added to her beauty, as represented in her photo graph, had quite turned his head.
 The next forty-eight hours he spent in 8 state of feverish excitement. And when the time of his appointment drew near he made the very choicest toilet that his wardrobe would permit. Then, at last, after standing on a chair in front of the pier glass and carefully surveying his reflected person, beside rehearsing a series of taking attitudes and engaging smiles, he started off for the Metropole. His heart beat faster and faster as he neared the hotel. Indeed, when he reached the entrance and had to inquire of the porter for Miss Coombs' apart ments he could scarcely articulate the words for the futtering sensation at his heart. And when the waiter, who was showing him up, paused just outside the door to inquire his name, he actually could not speak for excitement, but could only hand him his card and leave him to read it for himself.
 With sudden sposmodic movement, of which your genuine waiter alone has the secret, the man threw open the door, announcing in sonorous tones, "Mr. Gal livant Spooner."
 Positively trembling with combined shyness and expectancy, the young man entered to find himself face to face with Miss McSnarey and her father.
 The latter's face wore peculiarly omnous scowl, and he carried in his hand heavy, knotted crab stick of most formidable dimensions.
 Let us draw veil over the painful scene that followed. Suffice it to say that, while Captain McSnarey's crab stick was not called into requisition, MT. Gallivant Spooner was only permitted to leave the hotel after fixing an early date for the happy event. And he was mar ried to Jane McSnarey just three weeks later.-True Flag. s4eFa v