The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-25
LOVE OR MONEY?

house. He was likewise a dutiful son.
1t was the two latter circumstances
that had. on more than one occasion.
saved him from making triumphant
ass of himself just fancy! II it had
not been for his long head. 1t is more
than likely that he would have fallen
desperately in love with that bewitch-
Ing 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 he had met at the sea-
side. 1t had been a glorious evening
that last They were sitting on
the veranda where they might see
and yet be unseen.
Well! Elsie was going away-too
too soon. They had talked in signs
and murmurs for half an hour; Ar
thurs left hand clasped Elsie's dim
pied right one, his right arm was
about her waist both hearts beat Wig
orously. as hearts will on such oc-
casions, and Arthur had just opened
his mouth to tell Elsie what she had
been waiting for for two weeks. when
there was u step close at hand. a
rustic OF skirts and the cooling voice
OF the maternal Ferris said:
Il beg your pardon. but will. you
please excuse Arthur few moments9
There are those miserable business
affairs that must be attended to in
time for the late mail"
And thus was he saved second
time. for Elsie had not cent and
neither had heat least not many OIL
them.
His time had come The n.every
way desirable young person had pre-.
sented herself. True she was not sc
young as she had been; but then.
that was mere trifle. She was JUS
his own age, OF as good family as hi:
own. and an heiress OF considerable
degree She was not-well not ex.
actly handsome. and was rather in
clined to what is politely called
plumpness; but Arthur's mamma and
Arthur's long head gave their ap-
proval-and Arthur did not care who
she might be- SO long as she pos
sessed the above qualifications par
ticularly the one involving very neat
fortune in her own right
And thus it came to pass that this
winter found him engaged to Miss
Bernice Field. much to the satisfac-
ton OF his mother. who was visiting
in New York. and to whom he had,
like the dutiful son he was, sent the
gratifying news at once.
He was disappointed, however on
one point He had pleaded artfully
for an early wedding. but Miss Field
had set her foot down with much firm
ness and said he must go through a
long probationary perlod-all OF
which Arthur failed to understand.
He had always been noted for his per-
suasive powers. and had battered
himself that Bernice with her gentle.
clinging. bud-liko ways would sue
cumb at once.
Now, be it known that Miss Bernice
Field had not arrived at years OF dis
erection for nothing. Neither had she.
a not unprepossessing young person.
with nearly a half-million in her own
right passed through the experiences
OF ten seasons without gathering unto
herself much knowledge OF the ways
and wiles OF wicked men. She had
had as might have been expected.
offers to a high NUMBER but thus far,
the gentlemen concerned had failed
by reason of their unanimous desire Ia
touch her purse-to touch. in the first
place. the all-important key to it
which was hidden away in her plump
bosom. And Miss Bernice Field wa:
worldly wise in her day and genera
tion.
She was certainly in love with Fer
ris-tbere could be no doubt OF that.
1t is quite certain that she was very
seriously in love with him; but with
the wisdom born OF experience she
did not lot him know one half OF what
she felt for him.
II any one had told Ferris that he
was just now In very shaky position.
he would have scoffed. His chum. Ed
Cross. who was spending tho winter
at the house during Mrs. Ferris alb
sence. had once suggested that
there's many slip" but Arthur
merely SHE'D shoe at him. and
whistled serenely.
1t was in this frame OF mind that
one evening in February. he rar
lightly up the steps OF the Field man
sion to call on her whom Cross un.
feelingly referred to as his 'little
lady-love." It was warm and the
front door stood ajar. The little foot.
man was not in his accustomed place,
SO Ferris, with the air OF one who
knew just where he was going. stepped
inside. From the open door Of Papa
Fields study came the sound OF voices
in earnest discussion. and one OF them
spoke his own namo
He halted. irresolute. rs would any
one else under like circumstances
Papa Field was speaking:
'Of course my DEAR you are your
own mistress. and can only advise
you 1t seems to me- however tina,
you have done a very foolish thing t.
engage yourself to this young Ferris.
True. he seems an exemplary young
fellow. and he comes OF an excellent
family; but Is Is we'll known that M