The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-09-15

through her eyeglasses Matters had
gone rather far between him and the
fascinating widow; he foresaw thai
there would be trouble. and his antici-
pations were speedily verified.
Let you on? Oh dear. yes; will
do that with the utmost alacrity, IL YOU
wish TO be of, -" Mrs. Martindale said.
In answer 10 his hesitating request;
only You must please 10 understand
that You won't have a second chance OF
leaving me in the lurch. am not ac-
cushioned 10 being treated in that way,
and ! don't like it,"
II believe accepted the Eltons' in
vitation before had yours" Lionel af-
frmed, boldly. Anyhow, Miss Elton
swears did"
NO doubt she is prepared to swear
10 anything. But really don't care q
pin whether was first in the fie.i or
not You can throw these people over,
and you will have 10 throw them over,
II You value my-friendshp. l have
reasons for making point Of it,"
She had. indeed. and IL sounded like
an audac.oUs proceeding on her part To
say so; but she was an experienced
woman. and she had found Mr. Fal-
coner yielding on previous occasions. IL
was an unpleasant surprise To her TO
hear him reply now.
I'm awfully sorry. but I'm afraid 1
can't throw them over
Just as you like" she rcjoincd. care
,esSly. ''You must make your choice
....e. ..,I . II
That was exactly what he had done,
and he did not regret his choice; only
it can never be a very pleasant thing to
tell a woman TO whom you have been
making love for several weeks that you
have changed your mind. Perhaps
Lionel Falconer would not have escaped
quite SO easily IL the scene of this i'm
tervicw had been laid elsewhere than
in a ball room; but. as il was. the add
vent of an inpatient partner drew Mrs
Martindale away. and very little more
passed between them than has been re-
corded above.
Descending the staircase shortly af-
forwards. il was his good or i'll fortune
to overhcar 4 fragment of dialogue
between two ladies who had put on
their wraps and were waiting for their
respective carriages
80 shall not have TO surrender MY
fan 70 YOU after all. you see. Nellie"
Miss Elton was saying Talk about
men being imbeciles.-i qn Il dfes-
roUs' A little humbng and hattcry,
the least little crack Of the whip. and
he was crawling at my feet, with his tail
between his legs OF course he is conn
ing to our picnic. and believe he went
strai rht off 10 quarrel with Mrs. Mar
;indale."
80 much the better" returned Miss
Leighton. good-humoredly. You are
very welcome to keep your fan. and l
hope that on Friday morning you will
have some good news for me-
Maud shrugged her shoulders. That's
as may be-. The money and the pros
pective title are solid advantages, l adj
nit; but it is poor sport to capture
such a simpleton-"
At this juncture the simpleton adj
vanced and politely offered his arm to
Miss Elton, whose mother was already
reckoning to her from the porch. Dur
ing the short transit across the hall he
found time TO say to his companion:
II cant thank you enough for having
delivered me from Mrs Martindale:
wanted an excuse to break with her.
and il was awfully good of you to pro-
vide me with one. By the way. shan't
be able to turn up at your picnic on
Thursday, because | have just remcm-
bercd there will bc racing at kempton
park that day; but you won't miss me.
I'm rather too much of simpleton to
shine on such occasions. you know
She withdrew her hand from his arm.
stared at him for moment and forced
out disconnected laugh
ibid you hear what said to Nellie
leighton just now?" she inquired.
.'Sincc you ask me. did 1t was
tolerably conclusive. wasn't ito
II had been so conclusive that she
could think of no adequate rcjoinder
and silently submitted To be helped into