The Forrest City times., 1895-02-08
that we should take turn in the con-

Whether she guessed what was in my mind or not, cannot say. It seemed to me that the color grew a shade deeper in her lovely cheeks, but that may have been due to the heat, or was. perhaps, but the effect of my own inn aglnation. At any rate, she assented Tn the most charming manner in the world, and we strolled out into the large and handsome conservatory which was now quite deserted. It was in this same conservatory that we had stood and talked the evening after we were engaged, and 1 hoped that memories of this would affect her, as they did me. But alas! she was evidently in a far from sympathetic state of mind. Il suppose you must be very much | engaged with your profession" :" she re- marked, sweetly; we see so little of you nowadays" This had all the effect ! of premeditated satire It had not been month since we had laughed merrily together at my briefess condi- tion, and had agreed that we could be happy together without riches.
 Not so deeply engaged but that I find time to call on all who care to have me" l answered, bitterly.
 Indeed, you are very unkind and unjust to speak so," she replied, with unrutfled tranquility Ut was only last Thursday that I heard Uncle Jack say"
 Something very fattering, no doubt" broke in, angrily. "A very fine division of affection, indeed. I enjoy your Uncle Jacks, and yours goes to that"
 T think we had better go back. now, MT. Lang. l had supposed that I might trust you, as an old friend, not to try to annoy and vex me-"
 MT. Lang! I see I am getting to be a very old friend indeed. So old that l soon shall be quite forgotten. You are right. We had better go back; your new friends will be expecting you"
 "Why will you be so perverse and so cruel. Robert?"
 At least l am not cruel enough to forget you. But that, you could ac- count kindness, 1 suppose"
 Indeed. would rather have you for get me than think so unkindly of me. l had hoped that we might always be good friends
 Il think, replied with unpardon- able brutality, that you had better invest in a lap dog. They are much more manageable.
 "You are right" she said, with icy sweetness; and they are at least grate- ful to their friends"
 Forgive me, Alice" I stammered; ''I did not mean to be such brute.'
 'Let us forget everything but that we are very good friends" she an swered after moments pause. And l want to put your friendship to self ish use this very minute"
 You know very well that I would gladly die for you"
 "Oh, my wants are not so exorbitant as that" she answered, lightly. Il merely want your advice, as my oldest and best friend. in a case where I can't trust my family to judge impartially think you know Mir. Hamilton-Mr. Richard Hamilton, I mean" And I | fancied that she blushed trifie as she mentioned the name. 1 answered with very bad grace that I had the great 1 honor of distant acquaintance with the young gentleman in question. II fancied so. Now, the long and short of the matter is, that my people are very anxious to have ,me-marry him; and Aunt Mary in particular has her heart set on it."
 He seems to me very desirable parti, indeed" said, coldly. II sup pose you hardly need my congratula- tions."
 He, too, is so silly as to want to marry me-" she went on, without seem ing to notice my rude speech, land l have promised to give him an answer this evening. And what''-here she seemed strangely embarrassed, and be- came deeply absorbed in the figures on her fan-''what answer shall I give | him?"
 What answer?" cried, as her mean ing flashed over my dull comprehen- sion, why, tell him that you are en- gagged, of course!"
 Just what happened next is rather hay in my mind-almost obliterated by the direful catastrophe which so soon followed. I dimly remember kissing her upturned face as we stood in the shadow of great South Amer jean cactus, that screened us from all observation, and drawing her toward a divan that we had occupied on the memorable evening when we had been arfraoaJ hafora Wa lypavv al ba strongholds of her aunt's house per fectly.
 How improper"' she exclaimed, apropos of something or other. Sup pose that anyone should see us this way,''
 ..That would be irnnror,er- I admit :,