The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1895-09-25
FROM JEST TO EARNEST.

Il lOM q I'D " HA1O1NGS L .
81 don't understand you at all"
said Pierce Trevor to his friend Ralph
Dewey.
You talk as if I were a conun-
drum"
$50 you are! Now, look here,
Dewey, let's have a clear comprehen-
sion of the matter. Do you love Fanny
White?''
'Well-yes-I rather think, on the
whole, that am little taken with the
sparkling brunette. &"
ga little taken!' How very enthu-
siastic you are! And she, poor child,
is more than "a little taken with you"
ST fatter myself that you are RICH t. ,
swell, then. why don't you ask her
to marry you?'
There it is" groaned Dewey; ''you
are all in such a hurry. Can't man
admire girl without being brought to
book for it the very next day? won't
be hurried. When 1 get ready I'll
ask Fanny to marry me. Are you sat
isfed?"
Every far from it."
GAS Miss White is only your wife's
cousin, l really don't recognize your
right to catechise mep'
''Does that mean that am to mind
my own business?"
Ralph laughed. 'Construe it as you
-ease-only pray don't bother me any
more"
He threw himself lazily on the grass,
f1inging his cigar into the very heart
of cluster of wild flowers and max
ing an impromptu pillow of his arms,
crossed underneath his head.
''Sleep, then" said Trevor, little
contemptuously. 81 can't afford to
lose the brightest hours of golden
day like this
Our hero had not lain there many
minutes, however, before the soft
chime of girl voices sounded through
the tiny bugles of summer insects and
the monotonous murmur of green
boughs overhead.
''Girlsr' muttered Dewey; ''can't a
fellow be clear of 'em anywhere? But
they're on the other side of the copse,
that's one blessing, and if 1 keep quiet
they'll never beat up my ambush!'
They were on the other side of the
copse-three bright-faced girls in fut-
tering raiment.
''It's so delightfully."- cool here" said
Hildegarde Aymer, fair blonde, as
Saxon as her name.
''And one can talk here, too," said
Mary Bell. cat the hotel one is never
certain of not being overheard"
Dewey gave a silent chuckle at this.
Fanny White, leaning against the
twisted stem of the veteran wild grape
vine, devoted her whole attention to
her parasol handle
She was the prettiest of the three,
with deep liquid brown eyes and hair
black as the blacklist jet, while her
skin, just touched with the creamy
tint that characterizes the creole,
glowed carmine on her cheek.
Fanny, do let me tryr' said Hide
garde. 1T will be such splendid
joke, and your English adorer is SO
long in making up his mind"
''But--but what will Capt. Aymer
think?"
Hell be delighted; men always
glory in a bit of mischief, and Kent is
such splendid actor"
DO, Fanny" urged Mary Bell. ''It
will be just for all the world like the
theater. Hildegarde's brother is to
pretend to be desperately in love with
you and you are to encourage his at
tentions until that slow-moving Dewey
is brought to the point. How 1 shall
enjoy the progress of the situation"
But your brother must fully under
stand the scheme" said Fanny, hest
tatingly.
''Of course; sha'n't I explain it to him
myself? There's not bit of harm in
it, and Mr.. Dewey certainly needs
some stimulus Now, do consent! Kate
will be here this very evening"
''She don't forbid it, Hildegarde, "
eagerly cried Miss Bell. land all the
world knows that silence gives con-
sent. Come, see how long the shadows
are getting?"
And the three graces fiuttered down
the hillside.
Dewey rose to his feet and walked
away also.
my dear little girls" said he, by
way of soliloquy. ''it's very cleverly
: concocted little plan, but it won't
work, and I've no doubt I shall enjoy