The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-08-09
~ LAST RESORT.
Written for Tho UNION, BY anthony Hops

There was a pause; Flo frowned st
the fire, I drummed my fingers on the
table. Idon't think hat we either Of
us looked very pleased. Yet it was ,
most fortunate arrangement.
THE only thing that surprises me
about it," I z observed, lis that Philippe
should have done it. I'm very glad, you
know, but I'm surprised"
I'm not surprised about her!" said
Flo.
l looked up, much annoyed.
"You might be above that" said I
severely.
'I'm not blaming her, Dick. When
he likes, Capt. Worsley can be very"
"Oh, | suppose he humbugged her,
about culture and all that. II I'd liked
to go on like that"
Well, Dick?"
"Oh, nothing. Don't worry . fell
low!'
"Tm sure that Capt. Worsley did
nothing that a gentleman wouldn't"
l was much annoyed at this remark
that I said to Flo:
He got over his disappointment
about you pretty soon, thought"
Flo laughed with extraordinary non
chalance as she answered:
"Philippa doesn't seem to have been
disappointed at all about you"
"My dear Florence said 1, II have
no desire to discuss Miss March with
you"
well, then, why did you begin
about Capt. Worsley?"
Come, come, let's say no more about
them. We're we'll quit of them. I
don't bear them malice, do you?'
Not the least, Dick. In fact, I quite
understand what Philippa must have
felt about you. She likes serious peo-
ple-people who have high aims, you
know"
II have very high aims,' said 1.
eyes, but you don't hit" observed
Flo.
Eat any rate,"I cried, 81 don't Airt
wholesale with anybody who"
What do you mean, Dick?"
At this point-and very fortunate
was the occurrence-Aunt Maud came
in. She has been married to the
colonel for three months, and is recov-
ering her power of patronizing persons
who are engaged.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, dears,"
said Aunt Maud, "but I've got a piece
of news. An engagement! Now guess
who it is!'
We neither of us spoke.
why, Philippe March and Capt.
Worsley! Aren't you surprised?"
NO." said Flo, viciously; but Dick
is"
''The precise opposite of that state
ment would convey the TRUTH said 1,
stify.
Aunt Maud looked from Flo TO me
and from me to Flo.
HAS anything gone wrong?" she
asked, anxiously. But as she obtained
no.answer, she went on: 'sI've been to
see Philippa-and he was there. 1
never saw a more radiant COUPLE"
At this moment Aunt Maud certainly
saw a less radiant couple.
"Philippa took me aside" she pur-
sued, land told me that she had es-
capped a great danger"
Flo laughed-again most v~iciouslv.
And was nov happier than words.
Oh! and when Capt. Worsley was put
ting me into the carriage, he said that
Philippa was absolutely the only girl
who had ever really touched his heart
did he, thought" said I, with a
smile of triumphant malice.
Though he didn't deny that he had
felt a passing fancy for one or two
Others"
slapped my thigh, with an appear
anc of great merriment. Flo had be-
come quite red.
$50 the airs full of engagements"
beamed Aunt Maud. ''It's quite
"Stifling," said l, thoughtlessly.
my dear Dick, what a funny thing
to say! But must leave Flo to have
that out with you. The colonels wait
ing for me-"
Aunt Maud withdrew. Then Flo,
with an air of dispassionate curiosity,
observed:
Il wonder if you think you've been
behaving like a gentleman!"
my position said I, with elaborate
p~oliteness, ''is rather a difficult one.
When the lady who has accepted my
hand not only displays obvious regret
at another mans engagement, but
further twits me-"
with your obvious regret at another
girls engagement. Yes?"
II see no use in this sort Of thing"
said |, with dignity. Nothing else oc-
Cured to me to say at the moment
People always say that when they're
scored off,
II hate girls who talk slang"
Nobody need stay to l4sten to it,