The Press., 1892-12-15

less you decide to marry sQueenie.' And then you can snap your fingers in her face and dare her to have the law of you. For the damages you'll have to pay will be a mere flea bite to 8 man who has married five thousand dollars a year."
 Spooner took the paper from his friend and skinned the advertisement with his own eyes. To tell the truth he was of a sentimental, pseudo-romantic disposi- tion, and the notion of entering into ann atory correspondence with strange and beautiful young lady was by no means distasteful to him. Besides, he reflected, that to shrink from answering this ad- vertisement would be very like giving the lie to his former boastful stories on the subject.
 Bolus remarked signs of yielding about him, and always being in for lark in which his friends compromised them selves more than he himself did, he pro- ceeded to renew his persuasions, and after assuring him that he answered the requirements of the young lady in every particular, he added: Come and write the letter at once. It would be madness to throw away such chance?''
 Before Spooner had time to further hesitate Bolus drew his arm through his friends and led him toward an adjoining table. Spooner suffered himself to- be conducted thither, with only the faintest show of resistance. For he was, as we have said, really very far from dislikine the notion, beside the fact that he had his reputation for gallantry to sustain.
 'Mind you, Bolus, 1" he said, as he drop ped into chair at the table, .'I shan't push this matter to any length. Tn merely writing for the fun of the thing just to see what the young lady's an swer will be"
 'Oh, of course" the other acquiesced, 'sThough, if you really get a chance oi marrying her and don't close with it you'll be an awful fool, let me tell you
 'sThen fear shall have to be q fool, rejoined Spooner. '.But,"" taking up g pen and spreading out sheet of note paper, ''what am to say?'
 By the joint efforts of the two men $ very elegant, if somewhat exaggerated description of Spooner's various fascina tions was concocted. And this, after il had been read through score of times touched up and carefully copied out ir Spooners finest handwriting, was duly inclosed in an envelope, addressed stamped and posted. When this had been done they proceeded to discuss the probable outcome of the affair, speculat ing as to whether Spooner would get any answer at all, and if he did, what that answer was likely to be. He had not very long to wait. Two morning. later the answer actually reached him Tearing it open with trembling fingers he eagerly perused it.
 It was very much more hattering thar he had ventured to expect, and the ex pression of his face gradually relaxed into self satisfied smile as he read it. The young lady stated (her letter is toe long to be detailed in fulD that of the numerous answers she had received MT Spooner's pleased her the most, and-she should be glad to improve her acquaint ance with him. She wished, however that he would first forward his photo graph to her under her real name (Miss Sibyl Coombs, postofice, Richmond, Sur rey), on receipt of which, if it tallie6 with his verbal description of himself she would send him hers in return anG arrange for personal interview.
 Spooner read this letter through sev eral times, and was so much elated by it's contents that, instead of deciding, as he should have done, to push the matter no further, he at once looked out cabi net portrait of himself-a very fatterine one, by the way-and dispatched it, witt neatly worded note, to Miss Siby Coombs. Then he went around to Dicl Bo1us' rooms to tell him what he had done and to show him the young lady's letter. as
 'You lucky beggar!' exclaimed Dick when he had perused it. Fancy youl getting such favorable reply-and by return too! When I've answered adver tisements I've never had any response at all. But some fellows do get all the luck. Five thousand dollars year, by Jupiter! Why, with your own little fortune thrown in you'll be able to live quite in style when you're married. Well, don't turn your back on an old friend, but ask me to dinner sometimes, won't your"
 "You know there's no question of my marrying herr' Spooner replied. .s "1 have only entered into correspondence with her for a joke"
 'My dear boy" rejoined Bolus, with sage shake of his head, Sin these hard times five thousand 8 year is not to be treated as joke, I ran tell you. And the fellow who throws away that income, and a pretty wife into the bargain, mere ly because he is engaged to somebody else, is nothing short of confounded fool!"
 After great deal more conversation in that strain, Spooner denying that his intentions were serious and, Bolus in sisting that they certainly ought to be, the former took his departure, promising to bring Miss Sibyl's photo graph around to his friend as soon as it should arrive.
 By return of post it reached him, sure enough, accompanied by q short, but very gushing letter. Spooner looked through the letter first. It was we'll cal culated to fatter his personal vanity, for it informed him that Miss Coombs was quite satisfied with his portrait, which answered her highest expectations, and it requested him to call upon her person ally at the Hotel Metropole the next day but one, when she would be in town. He then turned his attention to the pho tograph, which he unpacked rather anx- iously. What would she be like? Would she really be pretty2 Yes, yes! she was very pretty-nay, more than sthat, love- lyi Large eyes, tiny mouth, "a delicate
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