The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-08-12
A LOVE TEST.
Why Arthur Remained Steadfast
in Adversely.

Arthur Ferris was tall, blonde, hand
some, and twenty-eight- lie was also
the pOsscssor of q long head. inherited
from the maternal side Of the house.
He was likewise q dutiful son.
1t was the two latter circumstances
that had, on more than one occasion,
saved him from making triumphant
ass of himself. just fancy. If II had
not been for his long head, il is more
than likely that hc 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 10 think,
and had fed between two days, much
To his later satisfaction.
Then there was that dear little Miss
Dixon. whom he had met at the seaside.
It had been a glorious evening-that
last They were sitting on the veranda.
where they might see and yet be un-
seen The soft. dreamy strains Oh q
Strauss waltz foated cut 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 10 skip it in the novels.
Well. 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, "a hearts
viii 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 a step close at
hand 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 ne 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 II i
not of these / have to tell
His time had come. The in-eyery-
way-desirable young person had pre-
scuted herself. True, she was not 50
Young as she had been; but, then, that
was a mere triile. She was Just his
own age, of as good a family his
own, and an hciress of considerable de
gree. She was nOt-wcl, not exactly
handsome. and was ruti6r 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, 50 long
as she possessed the above qualifica-
tions. particularly the one involving q
very neat fortune in her own right
BESIDES Arthur was getting a bit
desperate. In fact, he had SO far eX-
cecdcd his own salary and the maternal
allowance (which, by the way, was Is
large as Mrs. Ferris could afford that
nothing short OF a miracle, or d 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 70 whom he had, like the
dutiful son he was, sent the gratifying
news at once.
lie was disappointed, however. on
one point. He had pleaded artfully for
an carly wedding, but AiisE Field had
set her foot down with much irmness
and-said he must 20 through q long
probationary period-aI of which
Arthur failed TO understand He had
always been noted for his persuasive
powers, and had fiattered himself that
Bernicc, with her gentle, cii1ging, bud
like ways, would succumb At once
Now, be IL known that Miss Bernice
Field had not arrived at years Of dis
cretion for nothing. Neither had she,
not unprcposseSsing young person,
with nearly halt-million in her own
right, passed through the experiences
of ten seasons without gathering unto
herself much knowledge Of the ways
and wilcs 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 il, 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. 1t il
quite as certain that she was very seri-
ously in love with him; but, with the
wisdom born of experience, she did not
for him.
If anyone had told Ferris that he was
Just now in very shaky 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 d shoe
at him. and whistled sercnely.
1t was in this frame of mind that,
one evening in February, he ran lightly
up the steps of the Field mansion to
call on her whom Cross unfeelingly re
ferred to as his little lady love" 1t
was warm. and the front door stood
aiar. The little footman was not in
his accustomed place, so Ferris, with
the air of one who knew just where he
was going, stepped inside. From the
open door of Papa Fields study came
the sound of voices in earnest discus
sion, and one of them spoke hrs own
name.
lie halted. irrcsolute, as would any
one else under like circumstances Papa
Field was speaking:
'-Of course. my dear, you are your
own mistress, and | can only advise
you. 1t seems to me, however, that
you have done a very foolish thing To
engage yourself To this young Ferris.
True, he seems an exemplary young
fellow. and he comes of an excellent
family; but il Is wen known that he
has only Il small allowance from the cs-
tate in addition TO a beggarly two
thousand dollars salary. How do you
know that it is you and not your money
that he wants? 1t is a brutal question,
know, but it is one you have probably
asked of Yourself a half-dozen times