The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-12-06
A LAST RESORT.
by ANTHONY HOPE.


other!' said L.
"Oh, admirablyr' said Cousin Flo.
There was pause; Flo frowned at
the fire, drummed my fingers on the
table. ldon't think that we either Of
us looked very pleased. Yet it was a
most fortunate arrangement
THE only thing that surprises me
about it," | observed, is that Philippe
should have done it. I'm very glad. YOU
know, but I'm surprised
I'm not surprised about her" said
Flo.
Hooked up, much annoyed
"You might be above that said
severely.
I'm no, blaming her, Dick. When
he likes, Capt Worslev can * rerv-e
"0h, suppose he humbu- he-,
about culture and all that Il I'll liked
to go on like that"
well, Dick?"
"oh, nothing. Don't worr- Z fell
low"
I'm sure that Capt Wg-s " did
nothing that gentleman wouldn't"
was much annoyed at this remark
that SAX, t. Il1:
He got over his disappointment
about you pretty soon, thought"
Flo laughed with extraordinary nom
chalance as she answered.:
"Philippa doesn't seem to have been
disappointed at all about you"
"My dear Florence" said I, II have
no desire to discuss Miss March with
you"
well, then, why did you begin
about Capt. Worsley?'
"Come, come, let's say no more about
them. We're well quit of them
don't bearOhem malice, do you?"
Not the least, Dick In fact, quite
understand what Philippa must have
felt about you. She likes serious peo-
ple-people who have high aims, you
know"
Il have very high aims" said l.
Eyes, but you don't hit" observed
Flo
"At any rate" cried, II don't firt
wholesale with anybody who"
What do you mean, Dick?"
At this point-and very fortunate
was the COMMENSURATE Maud came
in. She has been married to the
colonel for three months, ard is recov-
ering her power of patronizing persons
who are engaged.
I'm sorry to interrupt you, dears,"
said Aunt Maud, but I've got piece
of news. An engagement Now guess
who it ISL
We neither of us spoke.
why, Philippa March and Capt.
Worsleyl Aren't you surprised?"
mo" said Flo, viciously; but Dick
Is"
The precise opposite of that state
ment would convey the truth" said l,
stifly.
Aunt Maud looked from Flo to me
and from me to Flo.
Has anything gone wrong?" she
asked, anxiously. But as she obtained
no answer, she went on: I've been to
see Philippa-and he was there. |
never saw a more radiant couple"
AT this moment Aunt Maud certainly
saw less radiant couple.
"Philippa took me aside" she pur-
sued, "and told me that she had es-
capped great danger"
Flo laughed-again most viciously.
And was now happier than words
OH and when Capt Worsley was put.
ting me into the carriage, he said that
Philippa was absolutely the only girl
who had ever really touched his heart"
did he, thought" said /, with a
smile of triumphant malice.
Though he didn't deny that he had
felt passing fancy for one or two
Others"
| slapped my thigh, with an appear
ance of & ,eat merriment. Flo had be.
come quite red.
$50 the airs full of engagements"
beaned Aunt Maud. ITS quite
Nihing,1 said |, thoughtlessly.
MY dear Dick, what a funny thing
to say, But must leave Flo to have
that ont with y2u:. The colonel's wait
ing for me-"
Aunt maud withdrew. Then Flo,
with an air OF dispassionate curiosity,
observed:
II wonder if you think you've been
behaving like gentleman"
'My position" said l, with elaborate
politeness, sis rather a difficult one.
When the lady who has accepted my
hand not only displays obvious regret
at another mans engagement, but
further twits me-
with your obvious regret at another
girls engagement. Yes?"
II see no use in this sort of thing"
said |, with dignity. Nothing else 90.
CURED to me to say at the moment
People always say that when they're
scored off,"
II hate girls who talk slang"
Nobody need stay to listen to it,"
said Flo, with curtsey, and she turned
her back on me, and looked out of the
window.
sat still for three minutes Then
stretched out my hand, took my hat,
and rose to my feet made some
little noise in neutrality-suspicious. more
than ! need. But Flo did not turn
round
Just fancy" said she, as though she
were enjoying conversation with the
Nindow-pane, 'if this sort of thing
when we were married. And
unless you changed very much, it,"