The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-06-14

their backs toward Cecil, who was vel
screened from them.
Miss Fallington," said the author, II
the unmistskable voice of devotion, "dc
you like literature?"
al love it," she replies. I" Let me tell
you little secret that you must never
reveal. have lately had quite numbs,
OF poems published - anonymously, OF
course"
"Adorable," he cried, enthusiastically
"You must show them to me-"
by no means You would criticiss the
the poor little attempts"
"Not for worlds. They could not help
being full Of fire and genius. But would
you not like TO devote your life, yourself,
to literature?"
ooh! Mr.. Hughes, my humble talents
wouldn't last fortnight"
81 don't mean In that way; though
your talent would. ! mean would you
not like to live always in a literary at
mosphere - in fact, Miss Fallington, as
the wife OF an authorf"
"Pardon me, Mr.. Hughes" she ex-
claimed, but do believe this rare plant
is dying. Imust tell father at once"
"Don't turn me aside" pleaded the
author, trying 10 oatoh her hand. "I love
you to"-
"Hush, hush, Mr.. Hughes" she whis-
pered. Here comes some one."
The some one was Tom Plotton, a1d be
was coming directly for them.
"Mr. Hughes, "he said, "they are asking
for you in the parlor. They're discussing
the authorship Of late anonymous poem
They want you to help them out"
"Very we'll" replied Hughes, gallantly,
and think can make q good decision
on the latest and directest information. {"
Don't you dare" exclaimed Bessie,
with light laugh, the meaning OF which
came In words a. soon rs the author was
out of hearing.
"Ohl Pm SO glad you came, for, don't
you think, he was just declaring his love
for me-"
Both broke into hearty laugh. Con-
viction struck Cecil. II this wasn't an
evidence OF heartless coquetry, what
could be? He sincerely thanked his good
fortune that his doubt had kept him from
declaring his own love several months be-
fore In a similar place.
Sand have no doubt" |" he heard Plot.
son say, "that II I were now TO say that /
love you, you'd thank some one for inter-
rupting, and laugh as heartily over my
Stiffness, wouldn't your"
Perhaps should"
"Though you have given mo some en-
couragement, Bessie"
Have II Come, want to tell father
this plant is dying"
They moved away, and Cecil returned
to the parlor, thrilling with pleasure ut
mis- narrow escape. He rejoiced greatly
that Bessie Fallington had never had
chance to laugh at him. The heart and
head would not agree. The stronger be-
came the latter, the fuller was the former
Of regret that he could not have Bessie
Fallington.
Next morning he hastened to Plotton's
establishment and found that gentleman
in his glass Office looking quite happy.
Happy commission strokef" asked
Cecil.
Yes, an unusual one. Well, suppose
you have come to compare notes about
Bessie Fallington."
eyes"
"Well, what's your decisionf"
"That she is a heartless firt, and I
think I'll give up all thoughts OF her."
"You think So"
"Yes, only think, for still can't de-
eide, and came again to get your opin-
ion."
"Well, I'll let you have It. I don't
think she would make you Q good wife.
/ believe myself she is a flirt, and that
she has lots of faults. II I were you I'd
look elsewhere"
"This Is your earnest, sincere advice, is
it?n
at is. But there is another reason
why I'd give her up IL were you"
"What is it2'
"She is engaged"
Engaged, and flirting around the way
she did with you and Hughes and myself.
It's awful. Who tor"
"Well, it's something of a secret yet.
She engaged herself only last night"
"Last night? Not to Hughesi"
Plotton laughed heartily, and said
Guess again."
81 can't. Give me the name."
"Thomas ]. Potion"
Cecil sank into q chair, and stared.
Tom laughed boisterously, nine tenths of
1t being pure unalloyed Joy.
"But you said" stammercd Cecil,
"that she was fiirt, no housekeeper, and
full of faults"
az know / did, and say so still"
"And going to marry heri"
eyes, by all means, and wen be as
happy as any one can be on earth. love
Bessy Fallington, and II she had ten
times her faults, my love demands that I
must have her, and IL will have her. AsI
told you before, love will move Heaven
and earth to get its object. I've won her,
and let her faults be what they may, l
love her and must have her."--Yankee
Blade.