The Van Buren press., 1894-10-27
ssof course, I" said abe with misohiev-

1or removing tno lease with each
other. because Of these unpleasant
consequences We have been discussing.
In fact, In the majority Of cases II
seems probable that the partnership
would be lifelong one, just - It II
now"
"Only they would, to make that Ger
tain, always be obliged to be nice u
each other" said the young lady
mockingly.
How dreadfull"
However there would be an entire
ly new theme for tea-tnble gossip
That would be at least ono advantage
of the new matrimonial method. Mr.
and Mrs. 6o-and-So's lease will shortly
expire. Iwondcr II they intend to re-
new? Neither Of them has said word
yet How are they behnvinR9"
Evidently there were elements oi
strongmindednes In Miss Mulgrove't
character. But she possessed beatty
and grace of behavior to neutrnlize
these. She passed as an "odd girl
among her female friends-none oi
them ever said worse than this With
men she was distinctly popular Her
personal charms no doubt partly &C
counted for the fact; still it was,
think, chiefly due to her ready com.
prehension of the masculine tempera-
ment. As her own brother said-he
was . naval officer and Walton's In.
timate friend-"Marina makes fun
enough of US poor wretches; but at
the same time we are not such blind
puzzle to her AZ to most girls. She
seems to understand by instinct " hat
q mans notions are like, and to &C.
cemmodate herself to them in what
she says"
It must not be supposed, however,
that Miss Mulgrovc was In The habit
Of converting with all her male ac-
quaintanccs with Just as much frcc-
dom as she did with Richard Walton.
Him she had known for many years.
He and the brother referred to began
their naval career together. When on
shore, they, as lads. were in the habit
of spending part of their holidays to-
gether. And although now both of
them lieutenants, and serving on diff
ferent ships. 1t was an understood
thing that friendship with their re-
spective friends should be maintained
On the present occasion Lieut. Wal
toms visit had been somewhat longer
than usual; for, unfortunately, he had
been invalided home from the Gold
coast.
But his months stay at the parson-
age -Marina's father was rector of a
small parish in a remote part of Essex,
near the Laidon hills-his months
holiday was just coming to an end.
In another three days he would have
to report himself to the admiralty.
And yet am afraid he had only re-
covered from one malady to become
the victim of another. Gold coast
fever had been succeeded by the fever
of love. Readers who are skilled in
the diagnosis Of the complaint will al
ready have discovered In his talk
about love and marriage indications
Of his true state, q state of mild de-
lirium, when the tongue is charged
with bitterness for that and for those
commonly held most dear.
Another confirmatory symptom, as
1t seems to me, was that the young
man still chung 10 the theme which his
companion had 80 oddly started; for
after another interval OF silence he re-
marked, rather eoberly:
II cannot help thinking after all the
lifelong arrangement is the best one.
The true difficulty lies in finding q
satisfactory method Of courtship."
"Can you suggest any rules and rcgu-
lations?" inquired Marina. still in
that calm and slightly sarcastic tone
which gave no clew to her real senti.
ments.
mo, sailors are provcrbially unskill-
ful in navigating the ocean of love-"
Every prettily said, Mr.. Walton
You certainly must be the ships poet
when at sea-
The young officer blushed. He had
occasionally ventured into verse, and
was wondering whether that wretched
br other of hers had ever played the
false friend by revealing the fact.
Possibly Miss Mulgrove observed his
confusion, and sought to make atone
ment for causing it by being merciful
to his ignorance about courtship, for
she said, with gracious smile:
81 will tell you what seems to me
absolutely the best method Of making
love, on one condition
"What Is the condition?"
"Why, that both of us-as soon as l
have enlightened you-keep absolute
ly silent until Tommy's boat is An
ished. You promised to have it ready
for him by eleven, and It is now a
quarter past ten."
agreed! Your condition is harsh
but practical" said Walton, applying
himself with fresh energy to his task
of rigging a mainmast for the said YES
sci.
"Well, got my ideal of love-making
through Mrs Simpson"
"Who is Mrs."
Hush! you are not to speak, re-
member. Mrs. Simpson is the grocer'a
wife down in the village; she used to
be our nurse years ago before dear
mamma died, and she and l have al
ways been great friends. One day In
frolicsome mood inquired If Mr..
Simpson was very, very nervous when
he asked her to marry him-he is a
dreadfully timid man, may say. She
laughed and said:
al don't think he ever did ask me
to marry him, Miss Marina. 1t isn't
our way. He used to tease me and
used to tease him for a long time
when he came to the parsonage for
orders. Then one morning he said,
quite serious like: "Will you walk out
with me, miss?"-it was Polly" at
other times. l said didn't mind; SO