Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-10-22
A PRACTICAL JOKE.
By F. =. PHILIPS.

1t did not end happily, not for Harry
Seymour, that is to say; butltprovided
some excellent entertainment while it
lasted, and is talked about in Wickcts-
field to-day. We were all of us staying
in Wicketsfeld, and Seymour had
fallen victim to the destinations of
Miss Norah Cardonnel; possibly because
Wicketsfeld is dull little watering
place, and there was nothing else to
do; possibly because he knew, or at
least suspected, that she was worshiped
by Stephen Lambs orthy, and Stephen
Lambsworthy was his especial bette
noire.
do not want to attribute unworthy
motives to him; as matter of fact,
liked him very much; SO let us give
him the benefit of the doubt, and say
he had grown to adore Miss Cardonnel
because Miss Cardonncl was adorable.
Anyhow it was plain that he was hope
lessly in love, and though l had been
honored by Lambsworthy's confidence
in the matter, l personally did not give
much for his chances.
No two fellows could possibly have
been more unlike than Stephen and
Harry Seymour. Harry, dashing, good
humored, high-spirited and handsome;
Stephen, meek, nervous and with next
to nothing to say for himself. That
both were very young was their only
point of resemblance. Thought had
gagged Miss Cardonnel's character suf-
fciently to prophesy which of her adj
mirers would be accepted, presuming
they both proposed, and confess l
was startled when Seymour displayed
such strong irritation at the news that
Lambsworthy was expected on the
scene.
"Confound him!' he said, what does
he want here? Can't he read in town
just as well?" 1--WE were supposed to
be examining for an exam, the three
of u.s. What does he want to come
bothering here for?"
well, you forget" said; Lambs
worthy may be said to be the discov-
erer of Wicketsfeld. At all events,
neither you nor l would ever have
come down here if it had not been that
he was always talking about it. We
should mover even have known the
Cardonnels but for him-remember
that"
Seymour growlcd. 1t was a fact that
Lambsy. orthy had introduced us to
them, and Harry never cared TO be re-
minded of it.
~ don't want him. he said; II don't
get on with him; he is your friend, not
mine, and he bores me. lie is like q
young lady, and he wears spectaclcs. >
HE wears spectacles because he is
short-sighted," observed; "and us to
being like young lady, that is all rot,
SEYMOUR Anyhow, If he is such a
complete duffer, why need you mind
his coming?"
What do you mean?" asked Harry,
sharply.
you are annoyed at his arrival bo-
cause you are afraid you may find your
nose out OF joint when he appears. /
say If he is such duffer why need you
be alarmed?"
"Oh! pooh, pooh, rubbish" said Sey-
mour. II afraid of Stephen Lambs
worthy? That is too rich!-that is
really funny!" He made o loud noise,
which understood was meant to rep
resent laughter. you won't beat that
IL you talk for month. Ha, ha, ha!
Why, you don't mean to tell me YOU
suppose for single instant that a girl
like Miss Cardonnel would seriously
consider throwing herself away on a
noodle like Lambsworthy2-a tlabby,
invertebrate, feeble, faltering bundle
of nerves like Lambsworthy! Good
Heavens Afraid! Afraid of Lambs
worthy! Ha, ha, hap
We'll, that's all right" 1 said; ~
am glad for your sake you are so conf
dent. l assume, however, that you
won't deny she encouraged him when
we all came down here? Because l
saw her with you, and l saw her with
him, and say she did!"
"she nirted with him." said Sey-
mour, tolerantly; "she flirted with him
a little, yes! Why not?. A girl must
amuse herself. do not complain of
that"
"That's lucky" 1replied; singular
~ fortunate-for your own peace of
mind. His letter says he will be with
us tomorrow. He wants me to look
out for room for him."
Cannot our landlady accommodate
the gentleman"
NO" said, 'she can't-not with a
bedroom. that is! He will come in
here to meals, of course, but he will
lave to sleep out of the house."
Seymour shrugged his shoulders, as
much as to say that he was really in
different as to the arrangements, and
| lounged away in the direction of the
Parade, where have no doubt he ex-
pected to meet the Cardonnels, as was
his daily custom.
am ashamed to say that neglected
to engage shakedown for Lambs.
worthy that afternoon, and, as he ar.
rived by an earlier train than he had
mentioned on the morrow, it devolved
| upon him to go round and explore for
himself after he got in.
However, he was quite cheerful when
he returned to the cottage to supper
he had had tea ut his friends the Car
donnels. in the meantime, and he told
us he had secured comfortable little
room in the next street to u.s. He in
| CURED at what hour we breakfasted
and promised us not to be late. he
was SO very lively and talkative, TO,
Lambsworthy, that felt the fan
Norah had been agreeable in their in.
terview, and fancy Harry seymou,
had the same idea, for he scowled al
his whisky and water darkly and
failed to chaff the other as brilliantly
as was his won't