Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-09-26

you Tor suggesting IT,
Fanny cried herself to sleep thai
night. Dewey didn't seem to caro- q
pin whether she firted with Capt
Aymer or not.
The next day she went out horse
back riding with the captain. Kent
sat on his horse like a centaur and
Fanny came back rosy as a whole bed
of carnations.
Are you going with us to the Cedar
Falls tomorrow, Fanny" asked Mr..
Dewey that evening. "We said some.
thing about going together week o,
SO ago, didn't we?"
| Fanny was ready with her lesson.
Ibid we? had forgotten; besides,
promised to go with Capt. Aymer."
with Capt. Aymer? Oh, well, all
right, I'll take Julia Symington."
Fanny's lips quivered, hut Hide
garde shook her head at her, and she
did not call back the young English
man, as had been her impulse.
Capt. Aymer proved most devoted
cavalier and Fanny half reproached
herself that she had enjoyed the day
SO much.
"It's very wrong Of me, sighed Fanny
to Hildegarde, her faithful confdante.
mo, it isn't; it's exactly right" re-
sponded Hildegarde.
I'll begin to be afraid he don't care
for me-"
Hes BRUTE" asserted her friend;
sand it will serve him right if you
never look at him again.
So the glowing midsummer swept by
and Mr.. Dewey held aloof, hugging
himself to think how he was outwitting
the conspirators, though an occasional
twinge of jealousy now and then
passed through his mind.
Presently there was sore cutlery
among the allied forces. An order had
come from the incxora BILE war depart
ment and the captain must go some
where on the frontier straightway.
1.-The matter was beginning to get q
little serious" he thought, land just
as soon rs that COMPOUNDED puppy gets
away I'll make little Fanny happy
woman. Maybe, though, it would be
we'll to punish her for few days
longer"
"Oh, Fanny, Fanny, aren't you
sorry?" sobbcd Hildegarde, clinging
around her tall brother, whose face
was unwontedly grave.
Eyes, Hildegarde," said Fanny, II
am very sorry"
Capt. Aymer looked penetratingly
into her face. There were real tears
quivering and sparkling on her eye
lashes and the roses had all paled from
her cheeks.
Fanny" he said, impetuously, sis it
from your heart?"
Fanny-silly little creature that she
was-began to cry, and Hildegarde
rushed forward.
"Oh, Kent! You promised that"
"a man isn't responsible for his fate,
and have fallen in love with her." ex-
claimed the young officer. Fanny,
am to love you in vain?"
Fanny tried to laugh Historically.
''Of-of course; all this is only part
of the programme" she faltered.
"By Jove, but it's not!' cried Aymer.
What was jest has become earnest.
l love you, Fanny; l cannot leave you
here to become the bride of that
self-conceited puppy. Tell me that
may hope!"
Hildegarde seized both her friends
hands.
''She loves you, Kcnt-she loves you.
I can see it in her eyes" she cried ex-
ultantly.
stand aside, Hildegarde," said
Aymer. 81 have the first right here.
She is mine now.'' And he took her
tenSerly to his breast.
Yes it was true that the little NOR
sci of acting had become strong, life
long reality. Kent and Fanny had
played at "lovers" until love, the shy
rogue, crept into both their hearts
with almost unperceived footsteps.
Are you happy, Fanny?" demanded
settled and Hildegarde had gone to
tell Mary Bell as great secret" how
the little stratagem had ended.
"Oh, Kent" whispered Fanny, Il
never knew what true happiness was
before"
And Capt. Aymer must have been
unreasonable indeed not to be satisfied
with the answer.
He departed, carrying in his keeping
the loving little heart of Fanny White.
Ralph Dewey contemplated the de-
parture of Hildegarde's brother with
no small degree of satisfaction.
"Now's my chance" he thought. 81
guess, on the whole, I'll not keep her
in suspense any longer, poor child. I
only wanted to let 'em see that
wasn't to be coerced."
Mr.. Dewey proposed accordingly in
due form that very day.
81 am very sorry, Mr.. Dewey" said
Fanny, looking provokingly lovely,
''but-but I'm engaged"
"Engaged?"
"Yes-to Capt. Aymer."
''Now, Fanny" said Ralph, argu-
tentatively, where's the use of carry
ing on this pretense any longer? OF
course know it's all stratagem."
But it isn't a stratagcm," said Fan
ny, Indignantly; II love him and ne
loves me-and there's my ring"
She held up pretty finger as she
spoke, whereon glittered solitaire
| diamond.
So Mr.. Dewey found himself outma-
neuvered after all, and accordingly re-
| l. y