The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-26

anv one should wish to be rid of his So
ciety. and even in the most improbable
event he felt sure that not even SO young
lady as Miss Aston would resort to
such an undignifed, childish and alto
gether improper method. The disap-
pearance of these disagreeable suspicious
was of course aided by the sincerest re-
greet and sympathy, expressed in voice
which would have made the fortune Of
an orator or an actress.
"Of course that ends our rowing"
said Alice decidedly. "Mr. Beall can
go to the house with you, and l will row
out and find Constance ana Mr.. Alexan-
DER
But Dunn, now thoroughly appeased
and not over anxious for unsympathetic
male companionship in his rather alb
surd condition, demurred emphatically.
How the conclusion was reached he
never exactly understood, but somehow
after considerable argument and protes-
tation he found himself damply on his
way toward the house, while Miss Al
ston and Mr. Beall had departed on what
seemed to him an utterly useless search
for the remaining members of the party
The two rowed on in silence until the
sound of Mr.. Dunn's creaking steps had
died away, then Beall broke the silence
by an Intellectual offer to change his seat
to the stern.
s'This seat is far enough aft to balance
the boat" said Alice, with unconscious
technicality. "And you may upset her
moving about. We don't want any more
accidents. I am sorry Mr.. Dunn fell
over" she added, after slight pause.
If she smiled her face was turned away
from Beall and he could not see its ex-
preston. 81 like him very much," she
continued.
$50 do l." said Beall, with bitter,
youthful irony. II like his high ideals,
ard his modest truthfulness, and his
calture-don't you?"
"He is my guest" responded Alice
coldly.
BeaU might have replied that, consid-
ering the recent occurrence, her ideas of
hospitality were extremely recent and a
trife suspicious. But having no abso-
lutte proof of the cause of that happy
accident he refrained, and simply asked:
HE has another claim to your consider
alton, hasn't her.
Alice disdained equivocation. 81 sup
pose," she said, "you mean to ask
whether the report of my engagement to
him is true"
Beall briefly assented.
''And by what right" she asked.
+ 81 had the right once" he said sadly.
'sSuppose we do not talk about what
you once had said Alice. 'sYou didn't
seem to care much about it then"
This startling perversion Of the facts
bewildered Beall too much for any at
tempt at defense. He could only ask
once more for an answer to his question.
.sAnd if I told you," said Alice, II
suppose you would do as you did on
similar occasion once before-threaten
to do something desperate, and then not
do it. And should be so disappointed.
Beall took this rather aggravating re-
mark rather good naturally. "No; I've
learned something since then,'' he said.
s.I wished to know about this simply be-
cause if you are not engaged to Mr..
Dunn I have an important piece of news
to tell you.'
81 suppose you will pardon my saying
that I don't take as much interest as
most persons in important pieces of
news" said Alice. "But it is due to Mr..
Dunn for me to tell you that the report
isn't true.'
"Then," replied Beall, ST can tell you
my news. But if you don't mind l
would rather not tell it to the back Of
your head" So saying he calmly took
possession of half of the rowing seat.
"What wished to tell you," he contin-
ued, sis that I am going to be married
in few months"
Alice started. "You arel And to
whom?"
"That's just the difficulty" he said
contemplatively. "I've arranged every
thing else satisfactorily. My business
affairs are all right-right enough for
me to marry seven or eight girls If the
law permitted. I've thought of every
thing else. haven't spoken to the diff
ferent people, but I suppose there will
be no trouble. The only problem is, as
you Suggest, dDouG Inc Drl0o. DO cdue
over mainly to ask you to occupy that
position"
Alice turned suddenly. "Mr. Beall,"
she said, s'this is a most unpleasant form
of joke
SIT isn't a joke at all, he answered
placidly. "You laughed at my vehe-
mence and romance about such things
once before, so thought would try
style you would like. But, on my honor,
1 never was more in earnest in my
life.''
Alice drew the blade Of her oar slowly
through the water for moment. There
was every reason in the world why she
should refuse q proposal made in this
COOL confident and irritating manner.
SO, being woman, she answered finally,
"Well, I suppose it would be pity to
break up all your arrangements"
AS Beall sat late that night in Mr..
Alexander's room enjoying to the ut
most the bitter end Of a long black
cigar, he said charitably, "Now there's
DUNN don't think he's such bad sort