The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-11-02

you 1OT Suggesting H.
Fanny cried herself to sleep that
night. Dewey didn't seem to care q
pin whether she firted with Capt
Aymer or not.
The next day she went out horse
back riding with the captain. Kent
sat on his horse like d centaur and
Fanny came back rosy as 4 whole bed
Of carnations.
Are you going with us to the Cedar
Falls tomorrow. Fanny" asked Mr..
Dewey that evening: eve said some
thing about going together week or
SO ago, didn't we?"
Fanny was ready with her lesson.
Did we? 1 had forgotten; besides,
promised to go with Capt. Aymer.'
with Capt Aymer? Oh, well, all
right. I'll take Julia symington."
Fanuy's lips quivered. but Hide.
garde shook her head at her. and she
did not call back the young English
man, had been her impulse.
Capt. Aymer proved a most devoted
cavalier aud Fanny half reproached
herself that she had enjoyed the day
SO much.
Its very wrong Of me, sighed Fanny
to Hildegarde, her faithful confidantc.
mo, it isn't; it's exactly right" re-
sponded Hildegarde.
IL begin to be afraid he don't care
for me-
Hes a BRUTE" asserted her friend;
land it will serve him right if you
never look at him again.
So the glowing midsummer swept by
and Mr.. Dewey held aloof, huRging
the conspirators, though an occasional
tvringe of jealousy now and then
passed through his mind.
Presently there was a sore cutlery
among the allied forces. An order had
come from the inexorable war depart
IN {aSv a. m
where on the frontier straightway.
The matter was beginning to get a
little Serious" he thought ''and just
as soon as that COMPOUNDED puppy gets
away I'll make little Fanny a happy
woman. Maybe, though, it would be
we'll to punish her for a few days
longer"
''Oh. Fanny. Fanny. aren't you
scrry?'' sobbed Hildegartle. clinginR
around her tall brother, whose face
was un'vontedly grave.
YES, Hildeearde," said Fanny, II
am very sorry
Capt. Aymer looked penetrating,y
into her face. There were real tears
qrivering and sparkling on her eye
lashes and the roses had all palei from
her cheeks.
Fanny he said, impetuously. ais il
from your hearth
Tanny-silly little creature that she
rushed forward.
''Oh, Kent! You promised that"
"A man isn't responsible for his fate.
and L have fallen in love with her." cx.
claimed the young officer. Fanny.
am to love you in vafn?"
Fanny tried to laugh n terically.
'Of-of course; all this is only part
of the programme" she faltered.
by Jove, but it's not!' cried Aymcr.
''What was jest has become earnest.
love you, Fanny; I cannot leave you
here to become the bride of that
may hope!"
IIildegarde seized both her friend.
hands.
''She loves you, Kent-she loves you.
I can see it in her eycs!~ she cried ex-
ultantly.
Aymer: Il have the first right here.
She is mine now And he took her
tenderly to his breast.
Yes-it was true that the little mof>
sci of acting had become strong, life
long reality. Kent and Fanny had
played at 'lovers'' until love, the shy
rogue, crept cnto both their hearts
with almost unperceived footsteps.
''Are you happy, Fanny?' demanded
the exigent army officer when all was
settled and Hildegar6le had gone to
tell Mary Bell as a great secret how
the little Stratagem had ended.
-''Oh. Kent whispered Fanny. Il
never knew what true happiness was
before
And Capt. Aymer must have been
unreasonable indeed not to be satisfied
with the answer.
He departed, carrying in his keeping
the loving little heart of Fanny White.
Ralph Dewey contemplated the de-
parture of Hildegarde's brother with
no small DEGREE OF satisfaction.
''Novv's my chance" he thought II
guess, on the whole, I'll not keep her
in suspense any longer, poor child. I
only wanted to let EN- see that 1
wasn't to be coerced.''
Mr.. Dewey proposed accordingly in
due form that very day.
Il am very sorry, Mr.. Dewey" said
Fanny, looking provokingly lovely.
''but-but I'm engaged"
'Engaged?"
"Yes-to Capt. Aymcr."
''Now. Fanny" said Ralph. argu-
tentatively, "vhere's the use of carry
ing on this pretense any longer? CT
course know it's all a stratagem.'
But it isn't a strataRem. said Fan
ny, Indignantly; Il love him and he
loves me-and there's my ring"
She held up a pretty finger as she
spoke, v~hercon glittered a solitaire
diamond.
So Mr.. Dewey found himself outma-
neuvered after all. and accordingly re-
treated in as good order possible,
while Pierce Trevor, Miss Bell, Hide