The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-01-14

moving abli;t. Me'dun want anymore
accidents. am sorry Mr.. Dunn fell
over, she added. after a slight puuse
If she smiled her face was turned away
from Bean and he could not see its ex-
preston Il like him very much she
continued.
$50 do J." said Beall with bitter,
youthful irony. II like his high ideals,
ard his modest truthfuluess, and his
cnlture-don't you:'
"He is my guest" responded Alice
coldly.
Beall might have replied that, cousid-
ering the recent occurrence, her ideas of
hospitality were extremely recent and q
triHe suspicious. But having no abso-
Lutte proof Of the cause of that happy
accident he refrained, aud simply asked;
He has another claim to your consider
alton. hasn't hey"
Alice disdained equivocation. II sup
pose" she said, lyon mean to ask
whether the report Of my engagement to
him is true.
Beall briefly assented.
"And by what right she asked.
81 had the right once, he said sadly.
suppose we do not talk about what
you once had, said Alice. "You didn't
seem to care much about it then"
This startling perversion of the facts
bewildered Besll too much for any at
tempt at defense. He could only ask
once more for an answer to his question.
"And if | told You, said Alice, II
suppose you would do as you did ON
similar occasion once before-threaten
to do something desperate, and then not
do it. And l should be 90 disappointed +"
Beall took this rather sggravating re-
mark rather good naturedly. mo; I've
learned something since then. he said
II wished TO know about this simply be.
cause if you are not engaged TO Mr.,
Dunn have an important piece Of news
to tell YOU
Il suppose you will pardon my saying
that l don't take as much interest AZ
most persons in important pieces Of
news, said Alice But it is due to Mr..
Dunn for me to tell you that the report
isn't true
Then" replied Beall, IL can tell you
my news. But if you don't mind !
would rather not tell it to the back of
your head So saying he calmly took
possession Of half of the rowing seat.
''What wished to tell you" he contin.
ued lis that am going to be married
in few months"
Alice started "Nou are! And tc
whom
That's Just the difficulty he said
contemplatively. I've arranged every.
thing else satisfactorily. Ny business
affairs are all right-right enough foi
me to marry seven or eight girls if the
law permitted I've thought of every.
thing else. haven't spoken to the diff.
ferent people, but l suppose there will
be no trouble. The only problem is, rs
you suggest, about the bride So came
over mainly to ask You to occupy that
position"
Alice turned suddenly. Mr.. Beall, ,
she said, "this is most unpleasant form
of joke"
at isn't joke at all" he answered
placidly. "You laughed at my vehe.
mence and romance about such things
once before. so l thought | would try 4
1 slYlt YOU Nuulu IKE Duk, bli liN IpuuIi
never was more in earnest in my
life"
Alice drew the blade of her oar slowly
through the water for moment. There
was every reason in the world why she
should refuse a proposal made in this
coOl, confident and irritating manner
So, being woman, she answered finally
"Well, / suppose it would be pity Il
break up all your arrangements,
As Beall sat late that night in Mr.
Alexander's room enjoying to the Mt
most the bitter end of long blscl
cigar, he said charitably, Now therei
Dunn-I don't think he's such bad sort
Of fellow after all.
Alexander looked up in humorous sur
prise from the valise he was packing
why" lie exclaimed, lyon said thii
morning ON the train that you had spen
long days in wondering how Dunn haC
escaped the penitentiary."
"Oh, this morning, answered Beall
"To tell you the truth, old man, WASH
feeling very well this morning. '-Har
per's Weekly.