Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-10-01

he doesn't" Phyllis said, severely.
"Do you really think so? don't want
to be horrid," Maud exclaimed, with
some anxiety.
you must be very nice to him then.
Let him see you do care for him just
little. Oh, l do want to see you as
happy as am, dear!" cried Phyllis.
"a sen1ible woman can be just as
happy unmarried" said Maud, who had
dabbled in serious literature.
Nonsense, you know she can't; and
we're not going to discuss those silly
questions, we had much better settle
about the bridesmaids and where we
shall live. Wen live somewhere Near
each other, won't we?"
Eyes, dear, of course. Chelsea is
nice, isn't it? George has q married
sister there, though that might be
drawback" answered Maud.
1T would be-" assented Phyllis; ear
thur likes Campden HILL"
"But after all, Phyllis, I'm not at all
sure care enough about George"
SLOW annoying you are!" exclaimed
Phyllis. Just when everything was
settled. Look here, Maud; write him
or tea, or something; your mother
won't mind, or say you'll be at home on
Sunday, and then-then you can ar
range things, you know. That will be
the best way, for it is silly to pretend
you aren't in love with him."
"Shall I really writer" said Maud,
with show of hesitation.
certainly; here are the paper and
pen and everything. Write it here, and
I'll send Jane to the post with it at
once"
Maud succumbed to her friends deter
mination and wrote carefully-worded
note to Mr.. Stratton, in which she gent
ly reproached him for not having been
to see her mother and herself lately, and
she said how glad they would be if he
came to lunch on the following Sunday.
Phyllis was satisfied with it, and
rang the bell for the maid. "Now,
darling, everything will come right"
she said. "How happy he'll be! Imay
call him George, too, mayn't ~"
Maud blushed and said she supposed
she might, and just then the servant
came in.
"Take this to the post at once, please,
Jane" said Phyllis.
"Yes, miss, and this letter has Just
come for you," answered the maid.
Phyllis took the letter and the girl
left the room with Maud's note.
"Whom is your letter from? seem
to know the writing" said Maud.
"Only from Ethel Jervis-C Carter; she
does write to me sometimes about moth
ing in particular" answered Phyllis.
She had not read many lines of the let
ter before she gave little cry of dis
may.
whats the matter?" asked Maud. see
ing her emotion.
Nothing" stammered Phyllis. "At
least, nothing interesting; and 1 don't
believe it's true"
Don't be silly, Phyllis; tell me what
it is?"
There; read it," said Phyllis, and
Maud read
"You will be glad to hear of my en-
gagement to George Stratton; you and
Maud know him, so you will understand
how happy am. We hope to be married
soon" Maud read more; she was very
pale.
Thanks" she said, giving the paper
back; sit is very interesting"
I'm so horribly sorry" began Phyl-
lis.
"For having made fool of me? You
ought to be- said her friend, stonily.
"1 never meant" said Phyllis.
"You made me write that wretched
note, 1 shall never forgive you," said
Maud, drawing on her gloves, and ris-
ing from her chair with the air Of cast
ing the dust of her friends house from
her feet.
ut was a mere suggestion" Phyllis
pleaded.
at was extremely bad taste"
"But you agreed with mel"
No; it was entirely your doing"
answered Maud. However, of course,
it does not really affect me at ALL"
"Of course not" said Phyllis.
Maud swept out of the room, went
home, and wrote second note to Mr..
Stratton to congratulate him On the de-
lightful news she had just heard, and
would he bring Ethel with him to lunch
on Sunday?
Phyllis remorsefully resolved that she
would never again try to provide con-
ISOLATION for desolate Observation-Disclosures
Not DisloyaL
A number of years ago, in a section