The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-06-19

You can see GhaG ADDISON must be the last
man to tell it. And he could have no OBJ
ject in doing so, especially as the number
has already made such good impression
With that he took from his pocket copies
of half dozen leading papers and reviews
and showed me comments that were not
only favorable, but fattering in the ex-
IRENE.
''Paid for?' ssid I, not a little disgust
ed with the whole business and partic-
ularly at being made a confidant Of
Yes, - he laughed, but it goes just the
same. And now" he added, with slight
show of hesitancy, for tho other mat
ter
go ahead,' I answered not very gra-
ciously, considering that 1 was dining
with him. II might as well hear it all
now''
You asked me what expected to gain
by it. You know Lottie Underwood I
started at the name, but nodded with
what composure could command. "That
dear girl, said Lightly, ''has promised to
marry me as soon as I have won a place
in literature-in fact, as soon as have an
established standing with any of the lead
ing magazines. This settles that point"
no emphasize his meaning he tapped All
the World triumphantly.
but surely" said, ''you would not
consider this fair. You would not be will
ing that she should know''-
SAll's fair in love, my boy. And I
want you to be my best man."
managed to get off with some half
promise, and then pleading an engage
ment L got out of the club as quickly as
possible and into a cab and gave the driver
the number of Lefty Underwood's house.
The dear girl could have choked
Lightly for using the words; they were in
my heart whenever l thought of her,
which was all the time-was at home and
received me with her usual sweet well
come. But I held her at arms length,
and with all the sternness that I could
command exclaimed:
NLetitia, you are wretched triflerl
Give me back my hearth
What is the matter with my poor boy
now?" she cooed softly.
"Matter enough. You have promised
to marry Lightly
Yes she laughed, 81 remember. He
proposed to me six months ago. I told
him I would when he had made a sue
cess''---
''Your exact words,'' I said severely,
''were, When you have standing with
any of the leading magazines.
Same thing" she answered airily.
"He will never achieve either. 1t was my
way of letting him down easily"
'Letitia, listen to me- said. "Light-
ly has written the entire Christmas num-
Der of All the World.
At this Lefty looked at me reproachful-
~.
"Dick, she said, where have you been
dining9"
mo, it is not that" protested. "I
dined at the club, and Lightly told me
himself, and he showed me the magazine
and asked me to be his best man, and we
had only one bottle between u.s."
''Well, this is scrape'' she exclaimed
ruefully 81 suppose will have to keep
my promise and marry him.
And what about your promise to me?"
I asked sarcastically.
THAT was indefinite" she answered
thoughtfully. 'sThere was never any time
set for that, so shall have to marry him
now, and if he should die or anything
happen could marry you afterward
Thanks" I replied dryly, ''but that
programme does not suit me. Now let me
plan little. You have been willful
creature, never ready to name the day, and
see the trouble you have got into! sup
pose Lightly will be here bright and early
tomorrow to marry you. Now, 1 propose
to marry you myself tomorrow at noon"
At this her eyes opened in wide protest.
Eyes, / continued, II shall send note
to Lightly, telling him of your change of
plans, and asking him to be my best
man"
"But, Dick, this is so sudden. What
shall we live on?'
Love, you practical girl" I cried,
catching her in my arms. Besides the
publishers of All the World today offered
me the editorship of the magazine, vice
ADDISON, resigned. I suppose his going
out has some connection with this bust
ness of Lightlys. I am sorry for him, but
I might as well have the place as another"
tAnd then you can print anything of
your own that you want to, can't you,
dear? I am SO glad that you won't have
to be rejected any more
''Not even by you, sweetheart?"
mot even by me-any more"
Do you want the fms?
We were married on the morrow, and
Lefty was as pretty a bride as ever was
seen-as pretty as though she had been
given months instead of hours for making
ready. But on second thought I am not
sure that she had not been making ready
all the time that I had been vainly asking
her to name the day confess that 1 do
not understand the sex.
There was but one thing to cloud our
happiness. Lightly refused to be best man
or even to come to the wedding. And he
has never offered any further contribu-
tions to All the World
Perhaps this is because 1 am not, like
Aldeson, ''of a less robust physique" than
himself.-San Francisco Argonaut.
From Small Beginning.
lone of the best statesmen we have on