The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-11-16
FROM JEST To EARNEST.


you talk as IL l werc a conun
drum"
so you are! Now, look here
Dewey, let's have clear comprehen-
sion OF the matter. Do you love Fanny
White?'
"Well--yes-I rather think, on the
whole, that am little taken with the
sparkling brunette"
"A little takenr How very enthu-
siastic you are! And she. poor child,
is more than "a little taken with you. ~
II ffatter myself that you are RICH t.
well, then. why don't you ask her
to marry you?"
There 1t is, groaned Dewey; "you
are all In such hurry. Can't a man
admire girl without being brought to
book for it the very next day? won't
be hurried, When ] get ready I'll
ask Fanny to marry me. Are you sat
isfied?"
Very far from it. -
"As Miss White is only your wife's
cousin. / really don't recognize your
right to catechise mel"
Docs that mean that am to mind
my own business2"
Ralph laughed. "Construe 1t as you
please-only pray don't bother me any
more"
He threw himself lazily on the grass,
Ringing his cigar into the very heart
of cluster of wild flowers and MAX
ing an impromptu pillow of his arms,
crossed underneath his head.
''Sleep, then" said Trevor. little
contemptuously. II can't afford to
lose the brightest hours of a golden
day like this"
Our hero had not lain there many
minutes, however. before the soft
chime of girl voices sounded through
the tiny bugles of summer insects and
the monotonous murmur of green
boughs overhead.
Girls" muttered Dewey; cant a
fellow be clear of 'em anywhere? But
they're on the other side of the copse,
that's one blessing, and If keep quiet
they'll never beat up my ambush!''
They were on the other side of the
copse-three bright-faced girls in fiut-
tering raimcnt.
"It's SO delightfully."- cool here.' said
Hildegarde Aymer, fair blonde, as
Saxon as her name.
And one can talk here, too" said
Mary Bell. "At the hotel one is never
certain of nos being overheard"
Dewey gave silent chnckle at this
Fanny White, leaning against the
twisted stem of the veteran wild grape
vine. devoted her whole attention to
her parasol handle.
She was the prettiest of the three,
with deep liquid brown eyes and hair
black as the blacklist jet. while her
skin. just touched with the creamy
tint that characterizes the creole,
glowcd carmine on her cheek.
Fanny, do let me try" said Hide
garde. at win be such a splendid
joke. and your English adorer is so
long In making up his mind"
"But-but what will Capt. Aymer |
Think"
He'll be delighted; men always |
glory in a bit of mischief, and Kent Is |
such splendid actor
do, Fanny" urged Mary Bell. at |
will be just for all the world like the !
thcater. Hildegarde's brother is to !
pretend to be desperately in love with
you and you are to encourage his ut |
until that slow-moving Dewey |
Is brought to the point. How ] shall
enjoy the progress of the situation"
but your brother must fully under
stand the scheme" said Fanny, hesi-
tatingly.
''of course; sha'n't l explain 1t to him
myself? There's not a bit of harm in |
it, and Mr.. Dewey certainly needs
some stimulus Now, do CONSENT Kate
will be here this very evening"
'Shc don't forbid it, Hildegarde,"
eagerly cried Miss Bell. land all the
world knows that silence gives con-
sent. Come, see how long the shadows
are getting?"
And the three graces Auttered down
The hillside.
Dewey rose to his feet and walked
away also.
my dear little girls" said he, by
way Of soliloquy, ats very cleverly
little plan, but it won't
work, and I've no doubt ! shall enjoy
t us much as Miss Bell proposes to
To-"
And he laughed aloud to think how
he should outgeneral his
feminine ndversaries.
I'll keep Fan in suspense for an
,ther month, just to pay her for thatr'
ne added, within himself II like the
rirl well enough, but for all that
Won't be hurried into matrimony."
Knowing what he knew, therefore,
Mr.. Dewey was not at all surprised
hat evening when he walked into tho
,otei drawing-room to see a stylish
-cung man in the uniform of a captain
lifting on the sofa and being very de-
.oted to Miss White.
let 'em work." said Mr.. Dewey, and
le sat down to play backgammon with
pretty little widow. Fannie watched
i'm from beneath her eyelashes
at doesn't produce any effect at all
lpon him--the brrte!' said Hildegarie.
rho had expected to see the recrcant
over brought to captivating terms at
nee.
That's because we don't put 1t on
trong enough" said the captain.
may call you Fanny, msyn't
?"
..Oh, certainly said the little bru-
cite; ''it's all in the play"
well, then, Fanny, ] think we
urht to promenade through the halls