The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-10-15
ENGAGED.

of 40 years in q single night, as o cobra
dc capeiio sheds his skin.
But, upon the whole, I was very glad
that had instructed Swiags, q real estate
agent, to invest s1e, 900 in . desirable
country homo. swiggs had shown good
TASTE only 1t was lonely.
Jones'" said to my factotum, "who
owns the property noxt doorf''
Don't know" Jones answered sue
cinctly. ~. ~ ~
81 think shall lay out croques lawn
and build a boathouse, Jones'"
Jones stared at me. "There amt moth
In like corn and potatoes for good payin
crops, SIR"
.'Jones," cried, "you are an icono
clastp' ~ et
"No, sir, ain't," said Jones, highly
scandalized. "I don't put no faith In none
of them new systems of agriculturp'
Left to him to make out an order foi
nobody knows how many cartloads Of
plaster and guano and strolled down to look
at my neighbor's fernery.
70 my surprise, I perceived that the
fernery was not unoooupied this golden
working diligently with O little trowel.
had come 80 directly upon her that
there was no loophole Of retreat. So i
stood my ground bravely and said, "Good
morning"
"Good morning" she answered. 81
suppose you are my now neighbor, Mr..
Raymond"
81 have that honor" said, bowling po-
litely. Your father has a flne place here"
81 have no father" answered the spirit
of the flowers.
81 beg your pardon. should say youI
husband"
tsNor husband either.n
May say your brotherf', persisted,
feeling hot all over, but sticking bravely
to my guns.
"Not IL you have any regard for the
strict truth, she answered, with a sort OF
denure enjoyment of my perplexity. ~
never had either brother or sister. Now,
don't guess any more, and will intro
duce mysoif. I am the owner of this
place, and my name is bertha Joycelyn."
1 started little. Berthe Joyoelyn"
This, then, was the fancee of Richmond
Kent, the wealthy broker, Of whose eccen.
tricity ard talent had heard SO much.
Truly Kent had chosen well.
We went together over the fairy do:
mains. We Investigated the conservato-
ries, tosted the gold and purple contents of
the graperies and looked at the gardens.
The house itself was all verandas and
awnings and cool siimpses Of futtering
muslin curtains and cream colored mat
ting, but the grounds were like a ohaptor
out of the Arabian Nights"
"If you will come over tomorrow, and II
you aren't afraid of mosquitoes and sun
burn" said Miss Joycelyn Independently,
"I'll take you down the river to my water
lily plantation. -.--.
with pleasure, Shall bring Jones
along to row usf"
"Thanks," with q little shrug of the
white muslin shoulders. at always row
myself"
I felt myself nobody. would straight
way begin to practice with the oars, / in
wardly decided. A girl to excel me in
manly sportsl Neveri
AS sat on my piazza that evening puff
flng my solitary cigar I thought with a
singular pang what a fortunate fellow
Kent was. A wife like thati What more
could man need2
1t was a sultry September afternoon
when met him on Broad street. The city
seemed hotter, dustier, more intolerable
than ever. i wondered how men could
breathe and thrive in an atmosphere like
that and secretly longed for the time to
come in which I might bury myself once
more in my rural solitude.
"Hello, Raymond Why, where have
you been hiding all this timer
"Kent, old fellow" and we shook hands
$50 you've been turning ornamental
farmer, have your Well, never had any
very great fancy for that kind of life. Up
on my word, you've grown as brown as a
berry. Make any stay in townF'
'No; I go back tonight
"Sorry. should have liked to have you
to dinner at our house this evening; got a
cook who Is great, and there's an article
of dry that can really depend upon. Be
sides should have liked to introduce you
to Mrs. Kent.''
"Your motherP"
"No, my WIFE"
stared vaguely at him.
married last month-an English girl
without q particle of nonsense about her.
You would like her, Raymond, know"
And his face beamed as he looked at me.
"But-Bertha Joycelynf"
"Oh, Bertha Joycelynr' He looked q
little discomfited. "That's an old affair
She was splendid girl, regular princess
but we never were suited TO each other"
won't home as lightly as II 1 were
treading on air and surprised her, sitting
by one Of the windows, her chin In her
hand and the down falling hair yelling
her face, just as when had first looked
upon her.
''Berthal"
She started. There were tears on her
check in the mellow glow of the harvest
moon.
BERTHA you have been weepingr'
She tried to smile. "I-I believe have
been little low spirited"
Was not this q romantic lovemaking to
blossom over a Wall street brokers' dry
life. My old grandmother used to say
there was a romance in every existence,