The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-28

upon our fellow beings who live and
breathe and have their being for some
inscrutable reason, and who must flor
they move about be met and associated
with.
This somebody was Young woman
-as most somcbodies who are worth
meeting are apt to be. She was not an
ordinary young woman, barring the
facts that she had good appetite, ex-
cellent digestion. a vulgarly healthy
complexion and the tendency to dress
day girls of ours are affected. On the
other hand. she was entirely charming
and unusual She was very, very
pretty-there was only one opinion on
that subject. at least among the men OF
her acquaintauce-but she had brains.
She had. also, wealthy, indulgent
papa, and an inclination, coupled with
the ability. to write clever prose and
verse.
These be incongruities. yet. withal.
in combination delightful Moreover,
she had had serious talks with Blunt
about things literary. had asked his
advice and-greatest of all-was as
much an adnirer of his work as was
one John Blunt. Something Of this
Blunt had learned from her at their
first meeting, which occurred at ses-
sion of club of literary dilettantes 70
which both happened to belong.
Miss Devens was delighted to see
him. She liked Blunt very much and.
besides, young men rather Stunned
Forest lake as stupid" SO the new
conner was decided acquisition. Hence,
before Blunt had had sufficient time to
find where he was he had been intro
duced to everybody, had danced with
almost everybody, and at twelve
o'clock midnight sat in little alcove
with Miss Devens watching the throng
of dancers and ''non-combatants,"
aware that he would be expected TO
speak to everyone of them next day,
and wondering how on earth he was
going to remember all those names.
At this hour he was rather dazed and
inclined to view ruefully his shattered
plans about "plotting"- later in
his stay at Forest lake, he could not re-
member that he had been especially
grieved over the unexpected turn of
events.
''Wbew! ain it hot?" wheezed
"Dubs." pathetically, if ungrammatic
ally, as he vigorously mopped his damp
brow for the first time in two minutes.
''Wish were cut of this for just about
two weeks, right now. 'Dibs' must be
having a genial time with himself, loaf
ing around at summer resorts. See his
letter in the Sunday paper?" he in
quired of the man at the next desk.
''Whose? Blunt's? Yes. Say, he
must be having good time at Forest
lake. It was the first place he struck,
and he hasn't budged yet. Thought he
was going to take 'em all in?"
Dunno said "Dubs." doubtfully.
'...He must've run up against some at
traction. He's been there nearly three
weeks now, and hasn't written me
since he first arrived, SO he must be
busy"
Blunt was having a good time, and
he was rather busy. Miss Devens liked
boating and fishing and tennis and
moonlight strolls, in which preference
Blunt conceded to the extent that pres
emily Miss Devens' other friends among
the few men there had to amuse them
selves without much of the solace of
her society; and Papa Devens was like
to have fit, SO nearly overcome was he
with nervous apprehension at the way
that penniless scribbler monopOliZed
his daughter. In fact, so apprehensive
was he that he mentioned the matter to
He was very anxious, he assured her,
that she make suitabi, and worthy
alliance; and he viewed with disfavor
the attentions of this young man, who
while worthy enough in some ways,
was nobody and penniless at that.
And trust he added, that you will
give him no encouragement, for /
should certainly decline Harriet, to
consent to your-your becoming en-
gagged to him"
Whereat Harriet, who had been
smilingly throughout, blushed
prettily, and said, laughingly:
Nonsense, papa! The very idea!
Why, neither Of US ever dreamed OF
such nonsensical things"' And then
she tripped away to join the ''penni-
less nobody" who was tinl1ering with
the row-locks of her boat down at the
landing, while Mamma Devens. gen
tie smile on her sweet face, leaned back
in her chair and looked at the pair APP
provingly. 1t was not so very, very
long since Ralph Devens, millionaire,
was "perniless nobody" yet he had
never been less dear to her for all that,
nor had that state of affairs ever de-
tracted from her happiness. Mamma
Devens had a young heart and a sneak
ing affection for penniless, bright young
men, John Blunt being an object OF
special preference. All of which was
well enough, so far as it went, for John
Blunt
For. be it known, the statement
made by Harriet Devens on that bright
morning had been half unadvised as
sertion, half flo. That both of those
young persons had had at least some
of the "nonsensical things re-
ferred to so lightly cy Harriet was
demonstrated that evening. The
weather and the hour were propitioCs,
the moon shone caressingly, the voices
of the night sang OF ror1ance-and
John Blunt, who had been rowing
double" with Miss Devens, chose that
TO tell her something that had
been keeping him awake o nights. and
the atlvisa bihty OF their row.
ing double through life, JEST this way
(Which mode Of putting The proposition
has been used By iove-lorn young uen
who propose in boats. from TINE ifa'