The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-12-22
'1A az ANY hEsGTn DEsIRED4FRom 81 TO go INCHES
. so1 nnalNza No roason

NO ~
this and could not conceal from his ink
consciousness the fact that, in acting c
she had just done, Pa did not seonj
quite to realize that lofty ideal which the
average man is apt to look for in the ordi-
nary woman whom he has set the seal Of
his choice upon her. Yet he endeavored to
persuade himself it was, after all, a very
easy If unusual way of intimating her
preference, and for him that was the main
point at issue.
The modern maiden, he argued, could
not always be expected to follow the tradi-
lions, of her maternal ancestors, and the
love affairs Of the present day were bound
to be affected by the environment of the
age. And was not, after all, oh a means
of communication more prudent than
writing a letter which his legal instincts
warmed him might not always be read
without prejudice, and which might be
preserved as O proof of indiscretion?
go tonight" OF course he would.
Was ever time SO laggard III its flight? If
she had not specially NAMED tho hour, he
would nave rushed to her then and there,
but he knew that she lived in a whirl of
social engagements and had to content
himself with the reflection that she would
DFODdDly DO lDG, ttCi IOluS NClO Ac "
call earlier than the time appointed.
The case Of Regina versus Crab did not
make much progress during the remain
ing hours of that eventful day. Unable
to stand the confinement Of his rooms, he
went for a walk to work something off
his excitement. Returning, he dressed
himself with cGre, dined earlier thar was
his custom and arrived as soon as he
thought lie might decently present himself
at the cato Of Surbiton villa.
The maid uslIered him into an empty
room. This IN itself was sufficient to con-
firm his hopes, but the fact was that the
family had not yet finished dinner. How
thoughtful of Paula not to receive him in
the presence of other members of her fam
lily! This attention to detail promised well
for her discrimination in the future. Ayl-
mer was a reflective person, and he lin
gered over this little trait in Paula's char
acter with pleasure and delight.
He had not long to wait before he heard
a hesitating football which sounded like
and yet unlike that of Paula. He put his
hat down upon a side table, and feeling
more nervous than he had ever remem-
bered since the day he first addressed ''my
lud" awaited Pau1a's entrance.
The door opened. ssOt, Mr.. Rivers, I'm
SO glad you've come, but I DOM know
what you'll think about my changing my
mind so easily, said the girl shyly.
But Aylmer was not at the other end of
the telephone now. He advanced boldly
toward her.
my darling, how can | ever thank you
enough?" he exclaimed rapturously as he
took her in his arms, and in another mo-
ment would have kissed her, but the ex-
preston ON Paula's fpce stopped him.
MI. Riversi" she gasped, how dare
your"
Aylmer stepped back angry and asham-
ed, but Paula spoke first.
"What is the moaning of this extraor-
binary conduct, may ask, and where, oh,
where, is the dog you promised me?"
But Aylmer's mind was too full of the
repulse he had received rightly to under
stand the allusion.
"Dogi" he exclaimed. "Wha dog? IL
really don't know what you mean, Miss
Lorraine. I can only suppose that l am
tho victim, Of some practical joke. You
spoke to me this morning through the
telephone, | thought, and you invited me
to come here this evening"
Paula nodded assent.
"And you told no. he continued en-
phatically, that you accepted my oher?"
Paula's face grew crimson. Then peals
of laughter echoed through the room.
II accepted your offer of a dog, Mr..
Rivers, - she said as soon as she could
speak.
"And not a puppy, Tsuppose you would
say, - replied Aylmar with an airof mortf-
6oot:1p Lo xuoof r,oryarloso tO CONCEAL
We'll, / imagine / anu rightly served for
my presumption in supposing such an i'm
possibility"
How could l accept you when you
never asked me2'' inquired Paula archly,
the smiles still chasing one another over
her mobile lips.
"But you knewhow much I loved your"
pleaded Ayl1ner.
"Of course admitted Paula, with an
air Of omniscience. Don't women al
ways know But they don't accept a man
before he asks them-usually."
"Then let the exception prove the rule
in this case" pleaded Aylmer.
And be called Miss Judy Baxter for
the rest Of my dayss3 pouted Paula.
II haven't the honor of that lady's ac-
quaintanee, 2 said Ayl,ner, looking mysti-
fed, land should prefer you to be called
Mrs. Rivers. But prove your love for me
by suffering that indignity, ifit be one. |
would have asked you months ago, but I
thought ! was tooSold to mate with youth
and beauty such as yours"
You are quite, qaite sure" murmured
Paula coyiy, and you won't say it was
all my doingf''
'tNcveri" said Aylmer reassuringly.
"On the contrcSg y, I shall attribute my
happiness to Bronco and will always con-
slider it a proof, If proof were wanting, of
his marvellous intelligence and foresight"
THE darlingtp sighed Paula.
my darlingi,' amended Aylmer.-Cos-
mos.
r,,r- r1o,r y .1rnuror