The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-09-16

himself that, since he was now resolved
TO break with Mrs. Martindale, one
pretext would serve as well as another.
Nevertheless, it was not without trepi-
dation that he threaded his way across
the room towards the recess where
that rouged, powdered. and be-
diamonded little lady had for some min
utes been scrutinizing him suspiciously
through her eyeglasses. Matters had
gone rather far between him and the
fascinating widow; he foresaw that
there would be trouble, and his antici-
pations were speedily verified.
Let you Off? Oh, dear, yes; I will
do hat with the utmost alacrity, if you
| wish to be off," Mrs. Martindale said,
in answer to his hesitating request;
"only you must please to understand
that you won't have a second chance of
leaving me in the lurch. am not ac-
customed to being treated in hat way,
and / I don't like it."
Il believe I accepted the Eltons' in
vitation before l had yours" Lionel af-
frmed, boldly. Anyhow, Miss Elton
swears l did"
~ u SiiC ID L NPdISu w o"CdI
to anything. But | really don't care a
pin whether l was first in the field or
not. You can throw these people over,
and you will have to throw them over,
if you value my-friendship. l have
reasons for making a point of it."
"Tm awfully sorry, but I'm afraid I
can't throw them over"
Just as you like" she rejoined. care
lessly. "You must make your choice
between them and me. that's all"
That was exactly what he had done,
and he did not regret his choice; only
it "a 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 if the scene of this in
terview had been laid elsewhere than
in a ball room; but, as it was, the ad-
vent of an impatient partner drew Mrs.
Martindale away, and very little more
passed between them than has been re-
corded above.
Descending the staircase shortly af-
forwards. it was his good or i'll fortune
to overhear a fragment of a dialogue
between two ladies who had put on
their wraps and were waiting for their
respective carriages.
$50 l shall not have to surrender MY
fan to you after all, you see, Nellie"
Miss Elton was saying. Talk about
men being imbeciles.-A qui h dHes-
rous? A little humbug and Aattery,
the least little crack of the whip, and
he was crawling at my feet, withhis tail
between his legs. OF course he is com
ing to our picnic, and I believe he went
straight off to quarrel with Mrs. Mar
tindale."
so much the better" returned Miss
Leighton, good-humoredly. "You are
very welcome to keep your fan, and ]
hope that IN Friday morning you will
have some good news for me-"
Maud shrugged her shoulders. ssThat'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 tc
Miss Elton, whose mother was already
reckoning to her from the porch. Dur
ing the short transit across the hall hi
found time to say to his companions:
81 can't thank you enough for having
delivered me from Mrs. Martindale;
wanted an excuse to break with her