Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-09-14

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MM&Mas/ Mr.. Montrose
MlR. " that, Gertie."
AIEEgl 49, Gertrude look
z ~ ed up from the
~ glittering toy be-
fore her, with
wondering blue
eyes.
sYou wouldn't?
why not, Alice? 'Tis just the love-
lest thing of the kind ever beheld,
and so costly. 1t will just suit AL
fred; he aiores beautiful things. Pm
surprised that you do not like it,
Alice"
"Oh, as to that, I like the set well
enough" replied Alice, lifting the
pretty, frail ornament in her fingers.
"It is perfect; but a wine-set is not a
suitable gift to gentleman, espe-
cially such gentleman as Alfred
Montrose. If you will pardon me for
| saying it, Gertie, I think you ought to
discourage your betrothed husbands
love of wine, not foster it by such
gift as that exquisite bohemian set
Gertrude broke into a hooking
laugh, and tossed her small head till
her yellow ringlets were in a SHIN
mer.
.Oh, that's your drift, is it? For
PHYS sake. Alice! You are prone to
be stupid at your best; don't turn
pious lecturer, or you will be simply
unbearable. Mr.. Montrose may love
wine quite as much as he likes, and
sha'n't object. wouldn't have him
horrid temperance man for the
world! Pah! the idea. Why tits as
much out of style as brass heels and
hoped petticoats Just fancy one
dining at Belvidere place, Alice, and
TCluSiIS WlHC. ANO. CllAltt, tloh llSdSlA
temperance It's vulgar! l shall send
my pretty bohemian set to Alfred; it
will just suit his luxurious bachelor
apartments and sparkling Cliquot |
wouldn't miss sending it for the
world"
every WE'LL" sighed Alice, ''of
course you must have your own way
about it; but I'm sorry you cannot re-
gard the matter as doyou may re
pent when it is too late"
sob, do hush,'' cried the beauty
petulently. 81 sha'n't repent, and I
will send the wine set to Alfred!
What else could l send him? and to-
morrow is his birthday. I'll do it up
now, and ring for Myers at once. "
Accordingly she went to work with
deft white fingers, folding the costly
frame and exquisite glasses in a mass
of silver tissue, with a little en-
bossed card suspended therefrom,
upon which was written:
"a birthday present from Ger
trude."
The footman came in answer to the
bell, and was dispatched to the hand
some bachelor apartments in Regent
street, with Gertrude's beautiful
present. Alice sighed again as he
passed down the stairs.
81 hope you'll never repent it,
Gertie,'' she said.
'Oh, Alice, you're silly" retorted
pretty Gertrude, spitefully.
Alfred Montrose was sitting in his
luxurious drawing-room when the
gift from his betrothed bride arrived.
He was a handsome, scholarly
young man, the last son of a fine old
family, with abundant means at his
command, and endowed with
superior intellect-a favorite wher-
ever he went, a kind, genial, gener-
GUS fellow, who had but one fault.
He was trifie too fond of his wine
trifie too fond of his club dinners
Snd convivial suppers
Sitting in the summer twilight, he
was thinking it all over.
Eight-and-twentv years tonight!
ALT, my boy, you're getting pretty
well down the hill of time, and next
Thursday is your wedding-day! No
time for wild oats now! How much
have 1 squandered in my life
time, l wonder, on wine-suppers
and club dinners, and fast horses
and the like? By George!
don't like to think of it!