The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-04
the BacheIier Syndicate.


since my mind is not clear as to his be-
ing my husband"
IL should thing notl Do you mean 10
say, Honoria, that you are engaged to
that maD?"
"Well, after that letter, how can I
say? can't possibly reply by return of
mail, for there is no way of doing SO to-
day, you know; and SO ne really may call
it off,"
81 should Ike to know on what you cx-
pect TO live?" said Mrs. Pepperidge, rest
ing her chin on her crossed hands ard
gazing at Honoria, whose beauty was
never more beautiful.
Expect, under the circumstances. Is
not exactly the word. But you know I
have something in the way of income;
and there is his salary"
"lt all wouldn't amount to pin money
for you!"
"And Uncle Vanderwater has always
said he should do something handsome
when married, and there are all of you
to chip in"
"He won't, then, If you marry col
!ege professor"
There was moment of perplexed
silence.
ri must say" said Laura, that if you
sre engaged TO him. the poor melancholy
prince has good right to complain"
''Oh. the prince was out of the running
long ago."
"And il was treating all the other men
shabbily."
"What kind OF time would have
had, 1 should like to know, if had pro-
claimed the fact?"
at is fact, then. Well, i never
thought it of you, of alb persons,
Where's your ring?"
Honoria held mp her hand with the
little thread of gold under her mothers
opal.
"Honoria Tanderwater Hensler! The
idea OF your thinking of marrying man
who could give you such an engagement
ring as that! Your trustees ought 10
forbid it. Why, he'll feed you on
crustsi"
swell, I'm tired of terrapin. And the
question is what is he thinking of do
ing? It's take it or leave it. It's really
quite perplexing." And she lifted out
out one of the long, red roses and
caressed its petals carefully and began
TO sing little song about it's being
best TO be off with the old love before
you are on with the new. '"rhere," she
said, "if don't sing shall cry"
''rhe best thing you can do" said
Mrs. Popperidge, lis TO break the en-
gagement."
"After have given my word? How
can be 30 dishonorable?
"It's great deal more dishonorable
in my mind to marry a man you don't
love-"
"Did you love Jack:"
"Oh, that's very different. do wish
Cerise would find some new way of
dressing my hair! Fifne has twice the
TASTE" looking at herself in all the mir
rors. "Jack and j are the very best Of
friends. And he has heaps of money.
And at any rate / didn't love anyone
else-and think you do. Or at any rate
you could. And person with Sir
Brooke's present possession and future
expectation is However, l don't see
how you can hesitate"
Laura" said Honoria, bending across
the table towards the other. and still
caressing the rose, a color almost as
vivid on her own cheek, II don't know
if am the one that is hesitating."
slow perfectly absurdl When he was
simply daft about you three weeks ago,
and was SO stiff and absent-mlnded last
night at dinner that IL was very plain
he was matchmaking hose Sturter-
wants stupidity In putin 8 the length OF
the table between you. Didn't he say
anything at all when you had that mo-
ment together just before papa insisted
On going?"
81 don't krow IL you would call 1t any
thing. We had had discussion, dis
pute, about some roses, the day he left
Bar Harbor, and he referred to it--there
was only n moment, you know-and he
said that since he could not make good
,is claim of showing me better rose,
or he had found there was none better
that's because gave him one--an Eng
lishman is so clumsy about compli-
ment-he should do himself the honor
of sending me soma roses tomorrow,
that's to-day, that at any rate would let
me see on what good reason he had
founded his contention, or something of
the sort. You see everybody could hear.
And he said quickly, in lower tone.
that he should have the answer he
wanted IL l wore one to-day. And here
are the roses, dozen American Beau
ties-one, two, three, yes, dozen OF
those, and as many more of the Ulrich
Brunners. IL ] wore onc-which ono,
n beauty or Drummer? And here is his
letter. And IL you can make out what
he means, IL is more than can, Lnural"
The boat was moving along on slight
swell, and IL seemed TO Honoria that
dozen women, pretty and perplexed,
with stain of crushed carminc on the
cheek. looked with shining eyes from