The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-08
AN ENGAGEMENT. ..
by SIR ROBERT PEEL,


Not as pretty as Bella. certainly-not
the same style of girl-but hang it, did
IL necessarily follow that girls love
should be more temperate because she
had style?
Yes, he was disappointed. mortified a
little, too, though he would not ac-
knowledge as much as that in his self
communions. 1t obliged him to write
Kate letter that necessitated good
deal of delicate phrasing. 1t is not the
easiest thing in the world to tell a third
person that your fiance does not care
for you enough to agree to something
that the third person has proposed. and
I'm spite OF all his pains and euphem-
isms. Hopetom was disagreeably con-
SciouS that that was what the letter
said.
Miss Drillingham was sorry also when
she received it, for in the meantime the
Canada prospect had assumed definite
proportions. and it was now offered to
her cousin if he chose to take it. She
wanted him to take it. She wanted
him to marry Miss CarStairs with the
least possible delay. She wanted this
absurd position that he and herself
We're occupying towards each other ter
minated as soon as possible. And
though she shrank from acknowledging g
all her reasons to herself. they We're
sufficiently cogent TO impel her to see
Miss CairStairs and endeavor to shake
her resolution.
She would not say anything about
that to Arnold. though. If her mission
We're unsuccessful. there was no occa-
sion that he should ever hear how good
a thing 1t was that his tiancee's absurd
objections had lost him.
She went up to town on the morning
L 4
| reached her. and took handsOm
straight from Euston to the address
which she had so often seen him write.
a certain pleasurable excitement was
in her veins as the cab stopped before
the door. She was doing Il great deal
for this girl whom she was about to see
for the first time, and she was curious
to look at her
Mrs. and Miss Carstairs. We're they
in? she inquired of the servant. She
gave her name-"AIiss Drillingilam."
Yes. they We're in. Would she step
into the drawing room: She did and
shivered. Not at the poverty, but at
the lack of taste shown in the pre-
lenses. Did Arnold's fiance take no
interest in her home that she could per-
init these glaring monstrosities about
it-these vulgar ornaments, these glass
shades. these dyed grasses
She had plenty of time allowed her
| for reflection. Evidently the ladies
We're making toilets in her honor. "A
quarter of an hour, twenty minutes
passed, before the door opened, and then
Miss Drillingham rose at her hostesses'
entrance.
II must apologize for my visit she
murmured. But | thought l might be
pardOned / was so anxious to make the
,'g. nsl
| ner mother.
1T is most kind of you," said Mrs
! Carstairs. DO sit down. Is it not
| kind of Miss Drillingham. Bella"
Very" said Bella. II am glad to
meet you. Miss Drillingham. | know
| that Arnold and | have a lot to thank
you for"
Not at ALL" declared the visitor, po-
litely though l hope you both may
have, one day"
She foresaw that the interview would
not be quite so easy as she had pictured
| it, There was an attempt at dignity
in Miss Carstair's manner-an inten-
| ton to assert herself she fancied. Il
| hope you both may have one day she
repeated. II am very fond of Cousin
Arnold. and | should like his wife to be
among the best of my friends. 1t Is
funny we should never have met before
| under the circumstances. is it not?"
| I'VE go out very little" said Bella
Carstairs. formally. My mothers
health" She did not mean to repel
the others advances-on the contrary,
she appreciated and was proud of them
but she wasoh mortal terror of ap-
pearng as fattered as she was. 1t
would never do" she was saying
mentally, for Miss Drillingham to
think she was the sort of person who
could be patroniZed."
| II am sorry" said Kate, turning to
the other: your health is bad?"
| "A martyr" sighed Mrs. Carstairs,
| "a martyr to nerves
| Miss Drllingham looked sympathet-
| ic for the necessary moment.
| ARNOLD did not know | was coming
| to you," she went on after the pause.