The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-02
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER /.
Arthur Singleton was being refused.
the logical outcome of proposing to MSS
Beukely AFTER an acquaintance OF barely
three weeks. furthermore. the young
lady, no less compassionate than beau
t.ful, had deemed it advisable to sug-
gest for his own sake. that his visits
should cease, until he could regard
her merely as a faithful friend who,
though esteeming him highly. did not
love him and could never be his wife.
rs 1T not better SOP she had asked.
AFTER what has now passed between
us-if you are as sincere in your profess
sion of regard for me as / believe you
are-my apparent lack of recipro-
cal sentiment, being day by day i'm
pressed upon you, must necessarily
cause you PAIN"
Now, had Singleton been an ordinary
man, this gentle though firmly-ex-
pressed negative would have been suf-
fciert to convince him Of the utter
hopelessness of his suit; but Singleton
was not an ordinary man, or he wouD3
not have replied as he did.
',And in requesting me to cease my
visits are you not, Miss Berkeley. actu-
ated by a fear Of the consequence of
their continuance-tO yOurself?"
II DON'T understand you" said Miss
Berkley. looking at him quickly. She
saw faint smile playing about the cor
mems of his mouth, but in her surprise
she failed to observe how grim 1t was.
II mean," returned Singleton, 'tth'at
having formed tine resolution not 30
love me. are you not feaTful lest a pro-
1onged acquaintance should impel you
to accept me as a husiband?"
An expression OF blank establishment
overspread Miss Berkley's features;
then a flush Of ,pardona,5le Indignation.
mantled her brow
II must confess myself a dull OBJ
server of human mature. Mr. Singleton,
for during the ttree weeks I have
known you was net aware that ego
tism was dominant In your character"
''Why net say confidence" But no
matter-oaM 1t what you will. Your
manner p.a.rly indicates, however.
THAT you tf,ink The very idea Of my be-
trg axle to shake your resolution IS alb
sui'i 1 VIII prove 1t Is not"
"Hcw?" asked Miss Berkley, sarcas-
t.cally.
by winning you for a wife against
your WILL"
"Oh. Indeedv'
THE enterprise is unique, I'll con-
fess." continued the imperturbable
Singleton. Let us make Vt more so
You like -bons, do you not? WE'LL
ann especially des!rous OF having you
select bookmark for me. Now, Will
wager a box Of bon-bons against q
bOokmark THAT three mcnths from to-
DAY you w.ll accept me ais huSbarid.-
subject, however, to certain condE-
ttcms.''
''Ard THE conditions, please?' The
smile en- Miss Berkley's lips would in
all probability have discouraged amy
one else. but Singleton did not seem to
mind 1t in the least.
First that you continue to receive
me as you have lately done; secondly
that at the expiration of THE three
months you VIII give me am opportun-
i.y to repeat my proposal, and that
you will then give me a definite am
swer"
VERY we'll; accept the wager and
grant the conditions
Your hand upon 1t. Miss Berkeley"
They fhcok GllI,is; then Singleton
Withdrew.
AS Singleton left the room. a change
tcUolIsd the FIXTURES of Miss Berkeley;
her face frriIei, she stamped her foot
arI trench'ed her fists In such MARINER
ttot the thumbs were between fingeu5
and palmS-an ominous sign in a wo-
man.
why, the ampuIdant, egoss.stical
wrst;h!' sine exclaimed. "The-the-
Oh, but I'll humble HIM"
To the credit of Miss BeTkley be 4.
said .tat she -ailhered ccrl,scsnt!ously
to THE terms of her compact with Mr.
Singleton. The gates air'i :rne doors
and even certain windows In the Berk-
ley establishment yawned whenever he
was pleased to enter, and day by day
the spiders parlor became more famil-
lar to the seaf-invited fly.
MISS Berkeley was NOT long In deter
mining on her tac5lcs. Slowly and Ia
bor.ously would MIR. Singleton be per-
mDtted to climb heavenward, then she
would suddenly hurl him down. Slhe
therefore, began to manifest a pro-
found interest in poetry of a sentiment
tail nature. Singleton, who was an ex-
cellent reader, tendered his services,
which Miss Berkley graciously accept
ed. The young lady could not deny
that his voice was wonderfully SYM
pathetic; but then, she rea Soned, good
as he was, there must surely exist men
who were bitter readers than MT. Sim
gleton. So she listened, and he read