The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-05
THE WRONG GIRL.

Il A1Z w 1bO4NO OALVAAs
"But" said after he had finished his
tale of VICE. 1.-THE puzzle to me is why you
have proposed to the girl at all. "
''I have not proposed. 1t happened at
the ball last night. 1 was late, and was
idly leaning against the wall, looking
among the dancers for-for-wel, you
know, Tom, for whom was looking. 1
had been standing in that attitude quite
ten minutes, when I suddenly caught sight
of a girl at the far end of the room. She
had her back to me and was wearing a
shimmering kind of white dress, with
with-roses and things embroidered on 1t;
but anyhow there was not another frOck
in the room like it, and directly I caught
sight of it 1 hurried after the wearer and
came up to her just as she was entering
the conservatory.
''Well, the conservatory was rather dark,
and I was rather excited, having been
determined all the week that 1 would screw
up my courage and speak on the ball
night So, before knew where I was, I
said something L don't know what, bat
something sweet and then all in a min
ute she-she-well, the upshot of it was,
she accepted me, and l found out, when
it was too late, that had proposed to the
wrong one"
81 see now how the mistake occurred,
but surely it is not irreparablef
"Cannot you see way out of it, for if
you can't L can, - added sagely.
'But how?' he interrupted eagerly.
''Easily enough" 1 said, with philo-
sophie air. ''Just send note to Miss He'd
ley, asking her to meet you, and then tell
her in manly, straightforward fashion
that-that-ahem, you have made a mis-
take that your young affections have been
bestowed elsewhere, that you respect, ad-
mire and esteem her, but your heart it is
another's, etc. p"
"Would you tell girl thing like that,
Tom?" he asked, looking steadily at me.
"I'n sure I would answered conf
IDENTIFY. 81 think it is more dishonorable
to marry woman when you don't love
her than it would be to tell her fairly that
you cannot marry her because you don't
love her"
maggie, - I asked my sister the follow
ing day, whatever possessed you to lend
your new ball dress to Miss Hedley? L
mean that odd looking, whitley thing that
you told Nigel Bruce you were going to
wear
Maggie colored holly, and 1 knew my
shot had gone home.
"Oh, Tom, - she replied, ignoring the
latter part of my remark, s. 1 made Flossie
wear it. She said No ever so many times
but insisted. So, in the end she yielded.
Poor Flossiel'' my sister continued, ''sho
has not many pleasures and very few
pretty dresses, and you know what hor-
rid time of it she has with her auntie, and
so I was determined she should go to the
ball and be well dressed too. Mother was
quite willing. But what makes you ask"
she added.
sOh, nothing much replied careless
", for L was determined not to tell her
Bruce's engagement until-well, until
was assured it was an engagement.
That same evening l had q line from
Bruce:
"Be at my cham bers at $50 tonight.
So I went, and found him in the depths
of despair 1 must have looked one huge
| note of Interrogation, for he began at once:
sit is of no use, old chap She-she
| says l have discovered her secret, and She
would die of shame if L deserted her now.
Moreover, she wrote last night to her ia
ther-and- Can't you see Tom, 1 am
! bound hand and foot and cannot with
| draw"
"And what happened then?' interrupt
| ed.
! Bruce looked confused. "Then? Oh,
| she cried, and''-
"Iknow all about the rest, " I exclaimed
scornfully. "Nigel Bruce, you are an ar
| rant donkey, and far too good to be wasted
on bold, INSCRIPTIONS, scheming woman
| You shan't marry her Holdl" said, sud
| denly stopping in the midst of my sentence.
"I've thought of plan to rescue youl I'll
! tell you what it is, old fellOw-I'Il go in
for the fair lady myself and cut you outl
E'If 1, a much wealthier man than you,
! appear as a possible suitor, / am much
mistaken in the maiden if she does not
| throw you overheard. -
Well the rest is soon told. 7 began pay
ing Miss Hcdley marked attention-sO
much attention that my mother and sister
showed symptoms of uneasiness.
One day Maggie came to me looking
rather agitated.
els it true Tom" she asked, chat you
are going to take FIossie to the theater to-
night? She has just been telling me SO. p"
at is quite true, - replied.
"But Tom, " she urged, do you think
it is right? What would Mr.. Bruce think
if he knew?"
''Look here, Maggie, - 1 answered SEN
tentiously, ffdon't you bother your pretty
head about my affairs. 1 am quite capable
of taking care of myself
Well, on the night of the theater 1 sup
pose my attentions showed such a marked
inclination to become intentions" that
the following afternoon Bruce received a
charmingly worded little note giving him
his congo. Directly I saw his radiant face
knew what had happened.
| lit S all very Well Tor you, L SAID, DnI
how must get out of it?''
''Oh tell her fairly and squarely that
you respect, admire and esteem her, but
your heart it is anOther's, etc
! And then he looked me in the face mean
ingly, and we both burst out laughing.
1t was at that period of my career dis
covered it was very easy to give advice but
very hard to follow. The end of it wa:
that my lawyer settled the matter in ar
entirely satisfactory manner to all Coz
cerned.
Only to this day Maggie, who was mar
ried to Nigel last Christmas, declares We
were both wrong to carry out such NEAR
plot. She also saws If she had known of il