Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-06-18

III ass OF himself. Ii 1T had not
been for his long head, it is more than
likely that he would have fallen desper-
ately in love with that bewitchinp
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 to think, and had
fed between two days, much to his later
satisfaction.
Then there was that dear little Miss
Dixon, whom be had met at the seaside.
1t had been a glorious evening-that
last. They were sitting on the vuranda,
where they might see and yet be unseen.
The soft, dreamy strains of a Strauss
waltz foated out 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 50 many
times that you have learned to 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 cilsped Elsie's dlmpled right one,
his right arm was about her waist; both
hearts beat vigorously, as hearts will on
such occasions, and Arthur had Just
opened his mouth to tell Elsie what sine
had been waiting for for two weeks,
when there was a step close at hand, a
rustic Of skirts, and the cooirg voice of
the maternal Ferris said:
81 beg your pardon, but will You
please excuse Arthur a few moments?
There are those miserable business affairs
that must be attended to in time for the
late mail"
And thus was he saved a second time,
for Elsie had not a cent, aud neither had
heat least, not many of them. There
were several other occasions when his
W long head, or his mammals, had
helped him out-for Arthur was some
what susceptible. But it is not of these
| have to tell.
His time had come. The in.every-
way desirable young person had pre-
sented herself. True, she was not Sc
young as she bad been; but, then, that
was a mere trItie. She was Just his cwn
age, of as good a family as his own, and
an heiress of considerable degree. She
was not-well not exactly han 4some, and
was rather inclined to what is politely
called plumpness; but Arthur's mamma
and AIthur's lorg head gave their APP
proval-and Arthur did o care who she
might be, so long as she possessed the
above qualifications, particularly the one
involving a very neat fortune in her own
right.
Besides, Arthur was getting a bit des.
perate. In fact, he had so far exceeded
his W salary and the maternal allow
ance (Which, by the way, was as large a;
Mrs. Ferris could afiord), that nothing
short of Il miracle, or a matrimonial alli-
ance such as he had been so long seek
ing, could save him from getting into
very deep water.
And thus it came to pass that this
winter found HIM engaged to Miss Ber
nice Field, much to the satisfaction o.
his mother, who was visiting in New
York, and to whom he had, like the
dutiful son be was, sent the gratifying
news at once.
He was disappointed, however, Oh one
point. He had pleaded a~rtfully for an
early wedding, but Miss Field had sci
her foot down with much firmness and
said he u go through a long proba.
tionary period-alI of which Arthnr
failed to understood. He had always
been noted for his persuasive powers,
and had tiatterei himself that Bernice,
with her gentle, cllnging, bud like ways,
would succumb at once.
Now, be it known that Miss Bernice
Field had not arrived at years Of discre
ton for nothing. Neither had she, &
not unprepossessing young person, with
nearly a half-miliion in her own right,
passed through the experiences of ter
seasons without gathering unto herself
much knowledge of the ways and vile
of wicked man. She had had, as NIGH
have been expected, offers TO a higl
number; but, thus far, tine gentlemen
concerned had failed-by reason of thei
unanimous desire to touch her purse-tc
touch, in the first place, the all.import.
ant key TO it, which was hidden away ii
her bosom. And Miss Bernice Fielt
was worldly wise in her day and genera
ton.
She was certainly IN love with Ferris
there could be no doubt Of that. II
Is quite as certain that she was very seri.
ously in love with hun; but with tat
wisdom born of experience, she did not
let him know one-half of what she fell
for him.
II any ore had told Ferris that he va:
Just now in a very shaky position, he
would have scofed. His chum. E.
Gross, who was spending the winter al
the house during Mrs. Ferris's absence,
had once suggested tina. ''there's many
Il Slip" but Arthur merely shed a shoe
at him, and whistled s~erenely.
1t was in this frame OF mind that, one
evening in February, he ran lightly W
tine steps of the Field mansion to cali on
her whom Cross uateelingly referred to
as his %'iittle lady love 1t was warm,
and the front door stood ajar. The
little footman was not in his accustomed
place, so Ferris, with the air Of one vino
knew just where he was going, stepped
inside. From the open door of Papa
Fields stuiy came the sound of voices