Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-09-28
FROM JES,r TO EARNEST.

Dewey.
You talk as if 1 were a conun-
drum
$50 you arel Now, look here,
Dewey, let's have a clear comprehen-
sion of the matter. Do you love Fanny
Whittier
''Well-yes-I rather think, on the
whole, that am little taken with the
sparkling brunette"
IA little taken!' How very enthu-
.siastic you are! And she, poor child,
lis more than "a little taken with you. :"
II fatter myself that you are RICH t. ,
"Well, then. why don't you ask her
to marry your
''There it is" groaned Dewey; 'you
are all in such hurry. Can't man
admire girl without being brought to
DOE hurried. When l get ready I'll
ask Fanny to marry me. Are you sat
isfed?"
Very far from 1t"
t'As Miss White is only your wife's
cousin, really don't recognize your
right to catechise me!'
"Does that mean that am to mind
my own business?"
Ralph laughed. "Construe it as you
please-only pray don't bother me any
more"
He threw himself 1azily on the grass,
hinging his cigar into the very heart
of cluster of wild flowers and MAX
ing an inpromptu pillow of his arms,
crossed underneath his head.
''Sleep, then" said Trevor, a little
; contemptuously. 81 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
fboughs overhead.
''Girlsv' muttered Dewey; cant a
fellow be clear of 'em anywhere? But
they're on the other side of the copse,
that's one blessing, and if keep quiet
they'll never beat up my ambush!'
They were on the other side of the
copse-three bright-faced girls in fut-
tering raiment.
Its so delightfully."- cool here" said
Hildegarde Aymer, fair blonde, as
Saxon as her name.
''And one can talk here, too" said
Mary Bell. Sat the hotel one is never
certain of not being overheard.
Dewey gave silent chuckle at this.
Fanny White, leaning against the
twisted stem of the veteran wild grape
vine, devoted her whole attention to
her parasol handle.
She was the prettiest of the three,
with deep liquid brown eyes and hair
; Int hars
skin, just touched with the creamy
tint that characterizes the creole,
; glowed carmine on her cheek.
Fanny, do let me try!' said Hide
garde. 1T will be such splendid
joke, and your English adorer is so
long in making up his mind
''But-but what will Capt. Aymcr
Ehink?"
Hell be delighted; men always
glory in bit of mischief, and Kent is
such splendid actor"
do, Fanny" urged Mary Bell. ''It
will be just for all the world like the
theater. Hildegarde's brother is to
pretend to be desperately in love with
you and you are to encourage his at
itentions until that slowmoving Dewey
lis brought to the point. How | shall
enjoy the progress of the situation"
''But your brother must fully under
stand the scheme" said Fanny, hest
tatingly.
''Of course; sha'n't explain it to him
! myself? There's not bit of harm in
1t, and Mr.. Dewey certainly needs
some stimulus. Now, do consent! Kate
will be here this very evening"
''She don't forbid it, Hildegarde,"
eagerly cried Miss Bell, land all the
world knows that silence gives con-
sent. Come, see how long the shadows
are getting2"
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 soliloquy, ''it's very cleverly
concocted little plan, but it won't
work, and I've no doubt 1 shall enjoy
1T as much as Miss Bell proposes to
do"
And he laughed aloud to think how
completely he should outgeneral his
feminine adverSaries.
'I1l keep Fan in suspense for an
other month, just to pay her for that!'
girl well enough. but for all that
won't be hurried into matrimony."
knowing what he knew, therefore,
Mr. Dewey was not at all surprised
that evening when he walked into the
hotel drawing-room to see a stylish
young man in the uniform OF a captain
sitting on the sofa and being very de-
voted to Miss White.
LET 'em work." said Mr.. Dewey, and
he sat down to play backgammon with
q pretty little widow. Fannie watched
him from beneath her eyelashes-
1T doesn't produce any effect at all
upon him-the brutel' said Hildegarde,
who had expected to see the recreant
lover brought to captivating terms at
once.
.sTha t,s l,ecansa re don't mt Il on