The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-11-19

BUSINESS ARREHGEHEHT.

4 TWHF WHUWUWHWWUWWHWWHHHWUN
Mr.. Perclvai Houghton was standing
near the door In the Paultons' draw
ing-room.
Houghion was not a very popular
member OF his set on account Of per-
llous faculty be had Of avoiding an
social functions. Ho was 10 be found
Il the paultona' today-wcll. II the
matter wero probod 10 the bottom,
principally because he was an old
friend Of ihs family. and Jack Paulton
had reminded him he must not send a
refusal at the peril OF a serious breach
In their friendship.
Some one plueked his sleeve. Il was
his hostess
"You remind me very much" said
Mrs. Paulton. of a statue ! once saw
Of Achilles. think Il was. Why this
heroic absiracledneNg"
Houghton had not Jet spoken Of his
embarrassment when she put an end
to It prettily. sparing him the add
tional confusion OF an explanation.
Come. let us descend 10 things
more substantial than dead heroes. Il
not less poeilcal. have pleasant
surprise IN store for you"
"lndcedr
"ies. Lot re fetch you to IN old
friend just returned from over the sea
Miss Alice Coates"
She conducted him 10 the damscl IN
question and left them together.
I'm heartily glad 70 see you again.
Miss Coates" said HouEhton. a tribe
awkvardly.
You may call me Alice. as you did
before | went abroad" said the girl
with whom Mra Paulton had LETT aim.
and then mischlovously. though In
quite grown up now. you Gee
Dear me. yes; quite grown up. DO
you remember our chats: when we
used TO poke fun at the eourtly danes
az your mothers at homesy l have
never found eongenlal company since
You went abroad. and have gone out
OF society entlrely-become a kind Of
commercial anehoflie."
How fortunate you are But then
you never really cared fer society, did
you?"
NO indeed. nor did you. Arc your
IDEAS unchanged. Alice?"
well. IN a way. silll think. as you
used To say. the world would be batter
on n Il did not trlao with preciou.
time. Yei-and I know you win par
don mel am surprised TO find y0J
single. II Il possible there has beer
no one charming enough 10 breal
through the pessimlstle ice Of your ma
turc7"
mo one. indeed. But though I vii
not be 20 vain as 10 say Il IL entirely
yet Will be bold enough TO say to M
old conhdante II has been largely due Il
the fact that / have not had the tint
10 devote to love-making. And. yol
know. It takes a great deal OF gaddlnl
about before a man may even ey!denc
bis affections slightly"
That's very true"
Nov. don't you think yourself tn
the conventional woolng Is a very Ia
inevitable sacrifice Of timef"
II the woman IN me deoides-nc
but n perseyere along strictly CON
mon sense lines. perhaps yes"
How charming you arel love, 20
have not changed a ioi. Alice. sine
your hair has been turned up and 80
have donnsd the harness OF social alaV
cry. But TO continue our subject:
honestly think this business OF loy
and marriage might be expedited. Il
Instance. In the commercial way.
man comes into my once with n PROF
osltion that Is almost as important /
me a. a marriage. for Il Affects m
lies Affairs very radically. he wan
an answer that same day-immediatel,
II possible. True. take. say. half a
aour or an hour 70 turn the matter oy,
In my mind and view Il In every Ugh
As rule. IN tina; length Of time ha'
zone 20 a satisfactory conclusion. Nov
II could hnd a woman to whom