Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-12-27

INIutIVutruts W tbo yoou8 tsoy !" e''ty
particular. he addeii "Come and wh ,
the letter 1t once. u would be madness
% throw Az ~ such . chancey-
Before spooner hal time to further
hesitate Bolus drvw his arm through his
friends and lei him toward m adjoining
table. Spooner suffered himself ~ le
conducted thither. with only the fainte-t
show OF resistance. For he was. ~ We
have aid. really very far from disliking
the notion. b~sids the fact that he had
his r~putation for gAllantry 10 sustain.
"Mind you. Bolus. le said. NJ he drop
p~si into chair at tho table. IL shan't
push this matter 20 any length. T'u
merely writing for the fun Of the thing
Just TO 80 what the young kiy's an.
swer will he
"Oh. Of course.- tho other soquiesce'i.
Though. u you really get chance o'
marrying her ani don't clo~c with u,
you'll be an awful fool. YET the tell you. :
"Then fear ahail have 20 be fool
rrjoin~i Sy ,nrr. "But." taking up .
pen and spreading out sheet of note
paper. "what Am 10 ayr
By the joint efforts VI the two men .
very elegant. " somewhat exaggerated.
description of Spconer's various fascins-
tons wAs concoct~d. And this. after u
had ben Rad through scorv VI tiineN,
touched mp and carefully copie'i cut In
Spooner's finest handwriting. wAs duly
inclospi In an envelop-. sddrr-se'l.
STAMPED and post~i. When this had
b--n done they proceeded To discuss the
probable outcome of the affair. sTsculai.
Ing - TO whether Spooner would get
any answer at all. and u be did. what
that answer ws likely To he. lie hal
not very long to wait Two mornings
later the answer actually reached him.
Tearing u oIru with trembling fingers.
he eagerly perussd 70.
Il wAs very much more nattering than
he had ventur-i 10 expect. aud the en.
prr~sion of his f.c. gradually RELAXED
into Q seN satisfied smile a. be read 70.
The young lady stAt~i (her letter IL too
long 20 b. detailed IN full that of the
numerous answers abe hal received Mr.
stoouer's pleased her the most. and she
should b. Glad 10 improve her Acqusint.
anoe with him. She wished. however.
that he would hrt forward his photo
graph to her under her real name Mis-
Sibyl Coomls. postofiice. Richmond. Sur.
rvy). on receipt OF which. u IL Tailed
with his verbal description OF himself.
abe would send him hers In return snd
arrange for personal interview.
Spponer rad this letter through sew
erai times. and WAS - much elai-i 10y
its contents that. instesl Of deciding. ~
he should have done. to push the matter
no further. he at once looked out cabi.
net portrait % him~lf-A very fattering
one. by tho way-and dispatched II. with
. neatly worried note, to Mis- sib.l
Coomba Then he went around To Dick
Bolus rooms TO tell him what be- hid
done and Ia show him the young lady's
letter.
"You lucky begsArr- exclaimed Dick,
when be hal pcrus~l IT, Fancy your
getting such y favorable rrply-and by
return too, When I've answered. Adv~r.
tis~ments I've never hal any rc-ponss
At all. But some fellows DO get all the
luck. Five thousand dollars year. by
Jupiter' Why. with your own little
fortune thrown In you'll he able 10 live
quito In style when you're mArrici.
Well. don't turn your back on an old
friend. but ask mo 10 dinner sometiines.
won't youy'
"You know there's no question Of my
marrying herr Spoouer replied. 81
have only entered into correspondence
with her for . Joke.
my dear boy" r-joined Dolus, with
Q aagv shake Of his heal. "in thcss hard
tiInes i've thousand . year IL not to be
treated - . Joke. I ran tell you. And
the fellow who throws Away that income,
and pretty wife into the bargain. merv-
~ b-causs be is engaged TO somebody
else. IL nothing short Of . confound~d
fool!-
After o great deal moro conversation
In that strain. Spooner denying that HE
int~n.iors were serious and Bolus In.
sisting that they certainly ought TO
he, the former took his departure.
promising u bring Miss Sibyrs photo
graph arouni to his friend ~ soon - is
should arrive.
by return of post IL reached him. sure
enough. accompanied by . short. bat
very gushing letter. Spooner looked
through the letter first II wss well cal.
culAted TO dsttsr his personal vanity. Tor
Il informed aim that Miss Coombs wS
quite aatished with his portrait. which
answerei her highest expectations. and
it requested him 20 call upon her person
ally at the Hotel Metropole the ne1t day
but one. when she would b In town.
lie then turned his attention 10 the pho.
togrzph. which he unpscked rather anI.
iously. What would shs be likel Would
she really b. prvttyi Yes. yesi shs was
very prvtty-nsy. morv than that. love
ly! Large vyes nny mouth. . delicate
.oss. A graceful. well rounded hsure
III wa full length portrait-and min
aturs hands and feet
The impresAionable Spooner was posi.
lively enrapturrd by the photograph.
Il far exceeded his highest hopes, and he
hurried on. with the greatest eagerne-s.
10 show Il TO Dick Bolua Bolus cd.
mir~d Il quite - much A. he did. In
TACT both young men Agreed that. even
allowing fur embellishments on the part
Of the photographer and possible trifins
Lnperfections which might appear In n
photograph. the. original must be . "dev'
Lish pretty GAL
"of course.- said Bolus. after loudly
songratulating Spooner upon his good
iortune-"of course you mean to keep
this appointment with the young woman
1T the Metropoley
"l-i-suppose ! must answered
Hpooner undecidedly, wavering between
his sentimental desire to make the pr.
ponal acquaintance OF % lovely . girl
and the fear Of involving himself In
hopeless complication.
81 shouId rather think 60" replied 10
los emphatically. "why. man alive, II
you were alrrady married 70 Niss Nc
Buarey. instead Of hing merely engAaed
to her. I should hnd no fault with you
for being seiuced by bsauty like thia-
While be was speaking he beld the
photograph In HE hand, and gloated.
With his little bloodshot eyes, over Mias
sibyis charms. - depicted In her por'
trait
"But-but-don't you So" sxpostu'
lated Spooner. who was, however. clear
u very anxious to attend the interview.
.sit will luyolye mean engaged man