Connecticut western news., 1893-03-09
which would have made the fortune of

an orator or an actress.
 "Of course that ends our rowing," said Alice decidedly. s.Mr. Beall can go to the house with you, and will row out and find Constance and Mir. Alexan- der"
 But Dunn, now thoroughly appeased and not over anxious for unsympathetic male companionship in his rather ab- surd condition, demurred emphatically. How the conclusion was reached he never exactly understood, but somehow after considerable argument and protes- tation he found himself damply on his way toward the house, while Miss AL ston and Mir. Beall had Departed on what seemed to him an utterly useless search for the remaining members of the party.
 The two rowed on in silence until the sound of MT. Dunn's creaking steps had died away, then Beall broke the silence by an intellectual offer to change his seat to the stern.
 "This seat is far enough aft to balance the boat" said Alice, with unconscious technicafty. "And you may upset her moving about. We don't want any more accidents. I am sorry MT. Dunn fell over, ,".she added, after @ slight pause. If she smiled her face was turned away from Beall and he could not see it's ex- pression. 1T like him very muoh," she continued.
 ''So do l." said Beall, with bitter, youthful irony. T like his high ideals, ard his modest truthfulness, and his cnlture-don't you"
 "He is my guest" responded Alice coldly.
 Beall might have replied that, consid- ering the recent occurrence, her ideas of hospitality were extremely recent and trif1e suspicious. But having no abso- lute proof of the cause of that happy accident he refrained, and simply asked: 'sHe has another claim to your consider ation, hasn't he2'
 Alice disdained equivocation. s'I sup pose" she said, ''you mean to ask whether the report of my engagement to him is true"
 Bea1 briefly assented.
 "And by what rightr she asked.
 ''I 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 1t then"
 This startling perversion of the facts bewildered Beall too much for any at- tempt at defense. He could only ask once more for an answer to his question.
 "And if I told you," said Alice, "I suppose you would do as you did on similar occasion once before-threatau to do something desperate, and then not do it. And I should be so disappointed"
 Bean took this rather aggravating re- mark rather good naturedly. "No; I've learned something since then" he said. sI wished to know about this simply be- cause if you are not engaged to MT. Dunn have an important piece of news to tell ypu."
 "I suppose you will pardon my saying that I don't take as much interest as most persons in important pieces of news" said Alice. But it is due to MT. Dunn for me to tell you that the report isn't true"
 "Then," replied Beall, '.I can tell you my news. But if you. don't mind I 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, "is that am going to be married in a few months"
 Alice started. "You arei And to whom?"
 ''That's just the difficulty" he said contemplatively. "Ive arranged every thing else satisfactorily. My business affairs are all right-right enough for me to marry seven or eight girls if the law permitted. I've thought of every thing else. I haven't spoken to the diff ferent people, but I suppose there will be no trouble. The only problem is, as you suggest, about the bride. So came over mainly to ask you to occupy that position"
 Alice turned suddenly. MT. Beall," she said, "this is most unpleasant form of joke"
 'sIt isn't joke at all" he answered plaeidly. "You laughed at my vehe-' mence and romance about such things once before, so 1 thought I would tryiR style you would like. But, on myIhonor, Ilnever was more in earnest in my Efe.'
 Alice drew the blade of her oar slowly through the water for moment. There was every reason in the world why she ououio xc1uS04 pIopOSdA Audu6 HI tIlio cool confident and irritating manner. So, being a woman, she answered finally, "Well, I suppose 1t would be pity to break up all your arrangements"
 As Beall sat late that night in MT. Alexander's room enjoying to the ut most the bitter end of long black cigar, he said charitably, "Now there's 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,' he exclaimed, ''you eaid this morning on the train that you had spent long days in wondering how Dunn had escaped theipenitentiary." "Oh, this morning." answered Beall. ''To tell you the truth, old man, wasn't feeling very well this morning. liar per's Weekly.