The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-16
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Ianlllv us MS own, ana an helreSS at con-
She was not-well. not exactly handsome,
and was rather inclined to what is politely
called plumpness. but Arthur's mamma and
! Arthnrs long head gave Their approval and
krtnur did not care who she might be-
so long as she possessed the above uIaliti-
cations, particularly the one involving
very neat fortune Ill her own right.
BESIDES: Arthur was getting IA bit des-
perate. In fact. he had far exceeded
his own salary and the maternal allow
! aEce. which. by the way, was as large as
Mrs. Ferris could afford. that nothing
short of a miracle or Il matrimonial ALI
ance. such as he had long been seeking,
water.
And thus it came to pass that this winter
found him engaged to Miss Bernice Field,
much to the satisfaction of his mother, who
was visiting in New York and to whom he
had. ike the dutiful son he was, sent the
gratifying news at once.
Now. be it known, that Miss Bernice Field
had not arrived at years of discretion for
nothing. Neither had She not ,nprepos-
sessing young person. with nearly u half
million iii her own right passed through the
experience of ten seasons without gathering
unto herself much knowledge of the ways
and WieS of wicked man.
She was certainly in love with Ferris
there could be no doubt of that 1t is quite
as certain that she very seriously Ill
!! love with him, but with the wisdom born of
experience, she ul0 not let him KNOW
half what she felt for him.
One evening il February he ran lightly
UP the steps of the Field mansion to call
on her whom Cross unfeelingly referred to
as his little lady love" 1t was warm and
the front door stood ajar.
The little footman was not in his accus-
toned 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
of
name
"Of course, my dear, you are your own
mistress, and [ CIR only advise you. 1t seems
to me, however, that you have done very
foolish thing to engage yourself to this young
Ferris. True. he seems an exemplary young
fellow, and he comes of an excellent family.
but it is well known that he has only small
allowance from the estate in addition to
$1,000 salary How do you know that it is
you and not your money that he wants? 1t
is brutal question, | know, but lit is
you have probably asked of yourself d half
dozen times concerning other young men"
Arthur. out in the hall, standing in much
the same attitude a child assumes when
speaking it's first piece in school, WINGED
but waited for the answer. 1t came in seri-
Gus, thoughtful tones, which indicated plain
ly that Miss Bernlce also had considered
this very matter.
''N-no; l am sure you misjudge him, papa.
OF course / understand how he is situated
financially, and all that. But I am sure he is
me very much. There are a thousand ways
by which l can learn much that you cannot,
| and
Yes, yes; I understand; but suppose you
should put him to the test? Do you think
he would come Observation-Disclosures
| it were? suppose you should ten MIN mat
| had lost all your money and mine in unfor-
tunate specuation-that we We're beggars
and had not a dollar we could call our own?
Are you afraid to try him?"
Il don't like to tell falsehood, papa but
it would be only a''white lie,' and perhaps
for the best. Yes. Ill try him tomorrow
night
That's my dutiful girl. Now, run along
and let me work.
There was the sound of a kiss, and the
perspiring young man in the hall FASTENED
to get out of the house.
The next evening, with his usual light
heart and good spirits, he rang the door.
bell of the F'ild mansion.
Yes, Miss Field was in" Peter said.
Ferris went into the drawing room and So,
Bernice was a long time coming, he
thought for one who expected him.
Presently she entered-slowl y-heavily;
her head bent low over her ample bosom and
her breath came short and fast. Ferris went
forward to meet her. his arms outstretched.
He was something of an actor himself and
he knew it.
''Bernice! Darling. What is the trouble
with my little girl (Anothcr good stroke.
Miss Field liked to be called little)
"Oh, Arthur! | don't know how to tell
you: 1t is too dreadful. Papa"
What! Has your father been"
"Oh, no, not that. but worse. Arthur, We
are-beggars!
And Miss Field delivering these last words
with wonderful lmpressvcness. hung her
head and sobbed bitterly behind her lace
handkerchief.
Then it was that Ferris. like the young
man of action that he was. put his arm as
far round his fearful tiancee as possible,
and with some difficulty led her to "a seat
and pulled her down on his glossy shirt
front
He was very, very sorrow. rs she must
know. But it was nothing. Her father would
recouP himself-h had many influential
friends. As for her, had she not hm-her
Arthur? He would not. he interrupted her
to say. permit her, through her sense of
false pride, to cast him off now, when she
needed him; No. never.
He had $1,000 a year. 1t was not much, he
knew, but they could live on it, And did she
suppose. for one instant, that he had expect
ed to live on his wife's money? No! A thou
sand times no!
We will have a real quiet wedding, dear
est, and after it is We will go quietly
to our own little cottage in the suburbs,
which you and will get ready in the mean
time, and there we will be the happest cou-
pie in the world. What. Bernce. am l to
understand that you laugh at my cherished
plans?'
For Be1rnice had leaped to her feet and
was laughing heartily.
why. You foolish boy, I was only teasing
you bit Don't you think I'd make good
hit? Papa and havn't lost "a
Here was Mr.. Ferris's opportunity. She
had doubted him; oh. cruel blow. If she could
not trust him now how could she have any
faith i'll him when they were married? Per-
haps after all it We're best
And he strobe haughtily to the door.
But this not part of Miss Fields
programme and she did what any very much
in-love female would do under like circum-
stances, so that in a very few seconds two
people were sitting on a divan i'll a very
lover-like attitude indeed
| An hour or so later a young man, walking
brSkly down the street. was retlecting:-
If Peter had been at the door-if he had
been ten minutes later-if he had sneezed
in the hall-if-
1T was an awfully close, shave" he re-
| Elected. and he stopped and shook hands with
himself much to the amaZement of the po-
! liceInan the corner.
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