Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-12
THE LUCKY MAN.

Old Mrs. Graham smiled over her
gold spectacles at her nephew Cecil, and,
with Just a touch of humor, asked:
"Why?"
"Well, you know I've been paying her
some attention"--
Sand before committing yourself you
wish to get the opinions Of your friends"
.You state it bluntly, aunt, but sup
pose that is about the truth"
"Then, Cecil, cannot give you my
opinion"
Cecil withdrew. AS may be inferred
he was an indecisive fellow, and of
course was not now satisfied. Praise of
Bessie from Aunt Mildred would have
decided him. But he was left exactly
as before, except that he could draw the
opposite inferences First, that if his
aunt had not favored his suit she would
have advised against it; second, that her
refusal to give an opinion meant that she
opposed it.
Such men as he adopt tests, but he
had not ingenuity to invent one. The
secret of such doubt is usually self es-
TEEN, whicE conjures an ideal worthy
of affection. Oddly enough the lumi-
nous point in Cecil's ideal was fidelity
Bessie's social position was level with
his, but would she be true? Wasn't she
a coquette?
Tom Plotton was down city commits
sion merchant-one of those men who
forge ahead on the voyage of life, and by
the twin propellers, energy and deter
mination, reach port of commercial
success. Cecil and he had been college
mates, but their late acquaintance had
only been casual, confined to chance
meetings at social gatherings An out
spoken man, but withal thorough gal
liant, acquainted with all the marriage
able ladies worth knowing, he was just
the man to- render the opinion Cecil
craved. g
He was found in his glass inclosed
Office, millerishly white from flour he
had been examining before buying.
'Tom," began. Cecil, after greetings,
Il came to get your candid opinion of
Bessie Fallington."
Plotton looked s'fool" at him but re-
piled: s
well, it depends on what the opinion
is based. As commission merchant,
say, she'd be a prime failure; as sea
captain, ditto; and as"-
"As wife, for instance"
''That depends on the man who gets
her"
"Well, for me, say?"
"Ohop exclaimed Plotton, running his
finger through some coffee grains in tin
box, you're in love with her, are your
Frankly, yes"
'sAnd before you put yourself in dan
ger of making matrimonial blunder
you're around getting opinions"
''Well-bluntly, yes. The same as you
look into Bradstreet's before selling to
stranger"
1.-THE strangers credit is doubtful
when ]. do"
'sWell?'
4iYou doubt Bessie Fallington?"
Good gracious, nor
Then what do you want an opinion.
of her for? If you don't doubt her.
you're sure of her. That's as plain as
A BIC. If you love her and are sure
of her worth an opinion isn't worth a
coffee grain or shouldn't be. If youlove
her you'll pitch in and move heaven and
earth to get her."
''But ask your opinion, nevertheless"
whether it cuts or not"
Eyes"
"Give her up"
"Why"
eFirst, if you doubt her, she won't
suit you"
"I don't grant that"
1sSecond, she's pronounced coquette;
wants wealth in husband; is willful;
demands continual petting; admires
men Of distinction, men who can cut
dash and especially men of decision, but
will quarrel with him if her way is
crossed; doesn't know saucepan from
griddle, etc., full Of faults-but pretty
as spring morning."
Graham rose pettishly.
"You don't believe my opinion, see.
Very good; it's one sign you love the
girl. OF course, you're invited to her
progressive eucher party next week. Go
and criticise her-if you can in sight of
her beauty. Then we'll meet and COM
pare notes."
"Agreed. Good morning"
The next Tuesday evening found
Cecil in Bessie's fashionable home. He
had exactly poised his mind, but the
first sight of her unbalanced it in her
favor. She was rarely beautiful, and
her welcome rang with genuine hos
pitality. 1t seemed impossible to criti-
else her; a good, true heart must be
the center of such physical lowell
ness. but doubt whispered, "Wait and
watch"
OF guests, there were seven ladies and
eight gentlemen. Bessie had, therefore,
to choose her first partner, and Cecil
watched eagerly to see which this would
be. 1t was Alfred Donaldson Hughes,
who had lately won literary fame. Bessie
smiled brilliantly upon him as they took
seats at the ace table.
'.She's flirting with that fellow NUT
tered Cecil, as the bell rang for play.
When it rang again for changing
tables he was obliged to remain at the
lack table, because in watching he had
blundered stupidity. Bessie and the au-
thor won the game, and though they
were not partners in the next the merri-
ment between them continued, and he
saw her dart perfect coquette's smile
ot him as at the next he went down to