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

Arthur, u in the hall, standing in
much the same attitude a child assumes
when speaking its first s%ipiece' in school,
WINGED, out waited for the answer. 1t
came, in serious, thoughtful tones, which
indicated plainly that Miss Bernice, also,
had considered this very matter.
"N-no, l am sure you misjudge MIN,
papa. OF course | understand how be is
situated financially, aud-and all that.
But | am sure he is honest and honor
able, and that he-he cares for me very
much. There is a thousand ways BY
which l can learn much that you cannot,
and"
"Yes, yes; 1 understand. But sup
pose you should put HIM to the test; do
you think he would come through-ah-
er-unscathed, as it were2 Suppose you
should tell him that [ had lost all your
money and mine in unfortunate specula-
tion-that we were beggars, and had not
a dollar we could call our own2 Are
you afraid to try him.
There was a brief silence. Then:
~ don't like to tell a faIsehood, papa;
but it would be only a white lie,' and
perhaps for the best. Yes, Ill try him
tomorrow night"
"That's my dutiful girl. Now run
along and let me WORK"
There was the sound of a kiss, aud the
perspiring youu. man in the hall
hastened to get out of the house. He
wanted time to think, but the first thing
that entered his head, as he reached the
sidewalk, was a f~anciful picture of the
petite Miss Field, with her one hundred
aud sixty pounds of avoirdupois "~runniug
along, and he smiled broadly. Then he
walked rapidly over to the next street to
catch a cab to his club, there to hold a
pow-woH with Gross.
On the steps he hesitate a moment.
"Had l better go back nowF he
thought. 'sNo, she won't have her lit
tie tale OF woe ready, and might be put
out if | call tonight. might give my
self away too. Better have time to get
my speech prepared" Aud this astute
young man went IN and proceeded to
make himself comfortable.
The mex evening, with his usual light
heart and good spirits, he rang the door
bell of the Field mansion. Yes, Miss
Field was in, Peter said. Ferris went
into the d~rawiug-room and sat down,
running rapidly over in his mind the
various tender speeches he nal prepared
for the emergency. Bernice WAS a long
time coming, he thought, for one WAC
expected him.
Presently she entered-slowly-heavi-
". Her head bent low over her bosom,
and her breath came short aud fast.
Ferris went forward to meet her, his
arms outstretched. He was something
of an actor himself, and he knew it.
''Bernice! Darlingl What is the
trouble with my little grip (Another
good stroke. Miss Field liked to be
called ''iittle.")
ooh, Arthur, Arthur! don't know
how to tell you. 1t is too dreadful!
Papa"
"'What! Has your father been
ooh, no, not that; but-but worse!
Arthur, we are-be5garsl'
And Miss Field, delivering these last
words with wonderful impresslveness,
hung her head and sobbed bitterly be-
hind her lace handkerchief.
Then it was hat Ferris, like the young
man of action that he was, put his arm
as far round his fearful tiaucee as posi-
BILE, and, with some difficulty led her to
"a scat and pulled her head down on his
glossy shirt front.
He was very, very sorry, as she must
know. But it was nothing. Her father
would recoup hlmself-he had many in
fuential friends. As for her, had she
not him-her Arthur He would not,
he once Interrupted her to say, permit
her, through a sense of false pride, to
cast him off now, when she most needed
him. No, neverl
He had three thOussnd a year. 1t was
not much, he knew, but they could live
on it. And did she suppose, for one
instance, that he had expected to live on
his wife's money! No! A thousand
times, no,
owe will have a real quiet, little wed
ding, dearest, and, after it is over, we
will 90 quietly to our own little Gotta e
in the suburbs, which you ami l will gel
ready in the meantime, aud there We
will be the nappiest couple in the world.
What! Bernice, an [ to understand that
YOU iauIh at my cherished pllns2'
For Bsrnice had ieaped to her feet and
was laughing heartily.
"Wny, yol foolish boy, l was only
teasing You a ont. D)n't yoa think I'd
make a good actress! Papa and haven't
lost "a"
Here was Mr.. Ferris's opportunity.
81 had doubted him; oh, cruel blow.
If she could not trust him now, how
could she have any faith in him when
they were married2 Perhaps, after all
it were best
And he strobe haIghtily to the door.
But this was not part of Miss Fields
programme, and she did what any very
much-in-love female would do under
like circumstances, Sc thai, In a very
few seconds, two people were sitting on
a divau in a very lover like attitu lie, iu-
deed.
An hour or so later, a young man
walking briskly down the street, was
rejecting on the vagarles of chance and
his own good luck.
If Peter had been at the door-if he
had been ten minutes later-if he had
sneczed in the hall-if-
alt was an awfully close shave" he
reflected, and be stopped and shook
hands with himself, much to the amaze,
ment of the policeman on the corner. =
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