Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-09-28
FROM JEST TO EARNEST.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
r DON'T understand you Mt air. said
Pierce Trevor to his friend Ralph
L Dewey.
"You talk AZ II were conundrum."
80 you are! Now, look here, Dewey.
let's have . clear comprehension Of the
matter. DO you love Fanny Whites"
"Well-yes-1 rather think, on the
whole, that am a little taken with the
sparkling brunette"
IA little taken How very cnthusi-
astic you are! And she. poor child, Is
more than a little taken with you"
II fiattcf myself that you are right"
"Wel, then. why don't you ask her to
marry your
''rhcrc It is." gronned Dewey: "you
are all In such hurry! Can't a man
admire girl without being brought to
book for II the very next day? won't
be hurried. When get ready Ill ask
Fanny 10 marry me. Arc you salts
fedY'
every far from It."
"As Miss White II only your wife's
cousin. really don't recognize your
right to catcchlsc mc!''
docs that mean that am to mind
my own buslncss?''
Ralph laughed. "Construe It as you
please-only pray don't bother me any
more"
He throw himself laxlly ON the grass.
Ringing his cigar into the very heart Of
a.. ID
impromptu pillow Of his arms. crossed
underneath his head.
"Sleep. then" said Trevor, a little
contemptuously. II can't afford to lose
the brightest hours of a 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.
"Girls!' muttcrcd Dewey; "c,n't a
fellow be clear OF 'em anywhere? But
they're ON the other side Of the l0pse.
that's one blessing. and II keep quiet
they'll never beat up my ambushv'
They were on the other side Of the
c0pse. three bright. faced girls In fut-
tering raiment.
ITS 20 delightfully."- cool here" sud
Hildegarde Aymer. u fair blonde, us
Saxon a. her name.
And one can talk here, too" said
Mary Bell. AT the hotel one In never
certain Of not being Ovcrheard!'
Dewey gave a silent chuckle at this.
Fanny White. leaning against the
twisted stem of veteran wild grape
vine, devoted her whole attention to her
parasOl handle.
She WINS the prettiest Of the three.
with deep liquid brown eyes and hair
black az the blacklist Jet. while her skin.
just touched with the creamy tint that
characterlzcs the creole, glOwcd car
mine on her cheek.
Fanny. do let me tryy' said Hide
garde. ut will be such a splendid joke
and your English adOrGr In 80 long In
making up his mind"
"But-but what will Captain Aymcr
thinkY'
Hell be delighted; men always glory
In bit Of mischief. and Kent Is such
splendid actor"
do. Fannyy' urged Mary Bell. ut
will be just for all the world like the
theater. HildeRarde's brother IL to pre-.
tend to DO desperately In love with you
and you are to encourage his atten-
tons until that slow moving Dewey IL
brought to the point. How shall cn.
Joy tho progress of the situation"
but your brother must fully under
stand the scheme" said Fanny. hest.
tatingly.
"Of course; shan't explain It to him
uyselfy There's not bit of harm In
II, and Mr. Dewey certainly needs some
stimulus. Now. do consent! Kate will
be here this very evening""
"She don't forbid 1t. Hildcgardc."
eagerly cried Miss Belle, land oil the
world knows that silence gives consent.
Come, see how long the shadows arc
gettingT
And the three graces futtered down
the hillside.
Dewey rose to his feet and walked
away also.
my dear little girls" said he. by way
of solil0quy, ''it's very cleverly con-
cOcted little plan, but II won't work,
and I've no doubt ! shall enjoy It us
much ~ Miss Bell proposes to do"
And he laughed aloud to think how
completely no should Outgeneral his
feminine adversarles.
I'm keep Fan In suspense for IN
other month, just to pay her for that!'
he added. within himself. II like the
girl well enough. but for all that l
won't be hurried Into matrimOny."
Knowing what he knew, therefore,
Mr.. Dewey was not ut all surprised
that evening when he walked into the
hotel dawing-rOOm to see stylish
young man In the uniform of captain
sitting ON the sofa and being very de-
voted to Miss White.
LET 'em work." said Mr.. Dewey, aud
he sat down to play backgammon with
Il pretty little widow. Fannie watched
him from beneath her cyclashes.
1T doesn't produce any effect Mt oil
upon hIm-the brute" said Hildcgarde,
who had expected to see the recreant
lover brought to capitulatlng terms ut
once.
"rhats because we don't put It on
strong enough" said the captain.
"Fanny-I may call you Fanny, may.
MT IY
"Oh, certainly" said the little bru.
notte: "lt'a all In the nlavW