The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-06-30
A LOVE TEST.
Why Arthur Remained Stoadfast
In Adversely.

Why Arthur Remained stoadfast
In Adversely.
Arthur Ferris was toll, blonde, hand
some, and twenty-cight He was also
the possessor Of long bead, inherited
from tho matcrnnl side of the house.
He was likewise dutiful son.
It was the two latter circumstances
that had, on more than one occasion,
saved him from making triumphant
ass Of himself. just fancyl If it had
not bccn for his long head, It is moro
than lilxoly that he would have fallen
desperately In love with that bewitch-
ing governess Of tho Hastings, with
whom he had spcnt several weeks in the
mountains one summer five years ago.
But he had given himself time to think,
and had fed between two days, much
to his later satisfaction.
Then there was that dear little Miss
Dixon, whom hc had met at the seaside.
It had been glorious evening-that
last. They were sitting ON tbs vcranda,
where they might see and yet be un-
seen. Tho soft, dreamy strains OF a
Strauss waltz foated 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 nway-too.
| too soon. They had talked In sighs
and murmurs for half IN hour; Arthur's
left hand clasped Elsie's dimpled right
one, his right nrn was about her whist;
both hearts beat vigorously. us 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 q step close at
hand, rustic Of skirts, and the cooling
voice OF the maternal Ferris said:
n beg your pardon, but will you
please excuse Arthur few moments?
There ore those miserable business If
fairs that must be attended to in time
for the late mail"
And thus was he saved q 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. OF his mann
mas, had helped him out-for Arthur
was somewhat susceptible. But 1t Is
not Of these have to tell.
His time had come. The in-every-
way-desirable young person had pre-
scnted herself. True, she was not SO
Young as she had been; but, then, that
was O mere trifc. She was just his
own age, of as good 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 core who she might be, so long
as she possessed the above qualifica,
tions, particularly the one involving 6
i very neat fortune in her own right.
n Besides, Arthur was getting bi'
desperate. In fact, he had SO far ex
cecded his own salary and tho matcrna
allowance (which, by the way, was as
large ns Mrs Ferris could afford) THAI
nothing short Of o miracle, or q matri
monial alliance, such as he had been sc
long seeking, could save bin from get
ting into very deep water.
And thus it came to pass that thi:
winter found him engaged TO Mis-:
Bernice Field, much to the satisfaction
of his mother. who was visiting In New
York, nnd to whom he had, like tht
dutiful son no was, sent the gratifying
news at once.
He was disappointed, however, oy
one point He had pleaded artfully fo'
an early wedding, but Miss Field ha<
set her foot down with much firmnes:
and said he must go through lons
probationary peiod-al Of which
Arthur failed to understand He ha<
always been noted for his persuasive
powers, and had fettered himself tina
, Dernice, with her gentle, cliaging. bud
like ways, would succumb at once.
Now, be II known chat Miss Bernic'
, Field had not arrived at yeors Of dis
cretion for nothing. Neither had she
. Q not unprepossessing young person
, with nearly q half-million In her owl
right, passed through the experience
l of ten seasons without gathering unit.
herself much knowledge OF the way
, and wiles Of wicked man. She ha'
had, as might have been expected
offers to high number; but, thus far
the gentlemen concerned had failed
by reason Of their unanimous desire T.
touch her purse-to touch, in the frs
place, the all-important key to 1t, whicl
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 Ferri
there could be no doubt of that. 1t
quite as certain that she Yves very seri
ously in love with him; but, with tn
wisdom born Of experience, she did no
let him know one-half of what she fel
for him.
If anyone had told Ferris that no wa
just now in q very shaky position, h
would have scoffed. His chum.. E
Cross, who was spending the winter q