The Coconino weekly sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1896, 1895-10-03
A PRACTICAL JOKE.
BY L. q. PHILIPS.

II did not end happily, not for Harry
SEYMOUR, that is to say; BUTT provided
some excellent entertainment while it
lasted, and is talked about in Wickets-
field to-day. We were all of us staying
IN Wicketsfeld, and Seymour had
fallen q victim to the destinations of
Miss Norah Cardonnel; possibly because
Wicke;sfeld is Il duh little watering
place, and there was nothing else to
10; possibly because he knew, or at
leas: suspected, that she was worshiped
by s.epnen Lam bs worthy, and Stephen
LAmbsworthy was his especial bette
ao;re
dc not want to attribute unworthy
i5,ivcs to him; as q matter of fact.
Gkrd him very much; SO let us give
hun the benefit of the doubt, and say
ne had grown to adore Miss Cardonnel
because Miss Cardonnel was adora BILE.
Anyhow il was plain that he was hope
Ies>ty IN love, and though l had been
hoaored by Lambsworthy's confidence
in the matter, personally did not give
much for his chances.
No two fellows could possibly have
been more unlike than Stephen and
Harry Seymour. Harry, dashing, good
humored. high spirited and handsome;
Stephen, meek, nervous and with next
to nothing to say for himself. That
both were very young was their only
point of rcsem GLANCE. Thought l had
gagged Miss Cardonnel's character suf-
Gciently to prophesy which of her ad-
mirers would be accepted, presuming
they both proposed, and | confess l
was startled when Seymour displayed
such strong irritation at the news that
Lambsworthy was expected on the
scene.
"Coniound him." he said, what does
lie want here? Can't he read in town
just as well?" I'VE were supposed to
be examining for an exam, the three
.: u.s. What does he want to come
bothering here for?'
We'll, you forget" said; Lambs
worthy may be said to be the discov.
erer of Wicketsfield. At all events,
ueither you nor | would ever have
come down here il it had not been that
he was always talking about 1t. We
should never even have known the
CardOunels but for him-rememb Der
that"
Seymour growled. 1t was fact that
LanOsworthy had introduced US to
them, and Harry never cared 10 be re-
minded of it.
II don't want him." he said; II don't
get on with him; he is your friend, not
mine, and he bores Inc. lie Is like a
young lady, and he wears spectacles. u
HE wears spectacles because he is
short-sighted," l observed; and as to
being like a young lady, that is all rot,
Seymour. Anyhow, if he is such a
complete duffer, why need you mind
his comIng?"
What do you mean?' asked Harry,
sharply.
You are annoyed at his arrival be-
cause you are afraid you may find your
nose out OF joint when he appears. l
say if he is such duffer why need you
be alarmed?'
"Oh. pooh, pooh, rubbish" said Sey-
mour. II afraid of Stephen Lambs
worthy? That is too rich.-that is
really funny"' He made loud noise,
which understood was meant to rep
resent laughter. You won't beat that
you talk for month. Ha, ha, ha
Why, you don't mean to tell me you
suppose for single instant that a girl
la "
consider throwing herself away on a
noodle Ike Lambsworthy?-a flabby,
vertebrate, feeble, faltering bundle
of nerves like Lambsworthy! Good
Heavens. Afraid! Afraid of Lambs
worthy! Ha. la, ha"'
We'll, that's all right" said; 81
am glad for your sake you are so conf
dent assume, however, that you
won't deny she encouraged him when
we all came down here? because
saw her with you, and l saw her with
him, and say she did!'
She flirted with him." said Sey'
mour, tolerantly; "she firted with him
little, yes! Why not? A girl must
-amuse herself. / do not complain OF
that"
That's lucky" Ireplied; singular,
iy fortunate-for your own peace OF
mind. His letter says he will be with
US tomorrow. He wants me to look
out Cor room for him."
Cannot our landlady accommodate
the gentleman?"
No" said, "she can't--not with a
bedroom, that is! He will come in
here to meals, of course, but he will
nave to sleep out Of the house."
Seymour shrugged his shoulders, as
much as to say that he was really in
different as to the arrangements, and
iounged away in the direction of the
Parade, where have no doubt he ex
pected to meet the Cardonnels, as wa:
his daily custom.
am ashamed to say that neglected
TO engage a shakedown for Lambs
worthy that afternoon, and, as he ar