The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-12-25

PRODUCTION. Later in the evening, when
he was sitting beside Irma conversicg
with her, Mr.. Pratt came up to ask her
hand in the next cotillon, when she
answered in her impulsive fashion:
ION condition that you Will do me
favor, Mr. Pratt"
ST shall esteem it privilege to serve
you any way in my power, he replied
smilin2ly.
"Well, first, wish to introduce to
you Mr.. Chester Sewall."
81 have already had the honor Of an
introduction to Mr.. Sewall by your ia
ther," he responded, bowling with ur-
bane courtesy to the young man and
looking as if the acquaintance filled him
with the liveliest satisfaction.
"Ah, you have? Good Now will
tell you what the favor is that want.
1t is that you put Mr.. Sewall into poll
tics, find some nice place for him and
Rnd-tell him what to do"
ST shall be happy to put myself at
Mr.. Sewall's disposal, replied the poll
tician smilingly, "and have no doubt
we shall find something for him. -
"Thanks. That's settled. Now you
may put your name down for two dances
instead of one; one because you asked it
and the other for being good.
''It pays to be good when goodness is
so rewarded.
Chester uttered some expression of
grateful acknowledgment for the prom
ised favor, though there was something
in the incident, he hardly knew what,
that he did not like, and Mr.. Pratt led
Irma away Left alone to ponder over
the circumstance, he found that it was
the confident and familiar way Irma
spoke to the "boss' and the evident
good understanding between them
which gave him the uncomfortable feel
ing Of dislike for his new protector.
But outside that little incident and Mr..
Willmarth's eccentric behavior his en-
ioyment Of the evening was perfect.
nma led him into the conservatory,
nominally to show him a new orchid
that had just come into bloom, and in the
shelter of the foliage, when she was sure
nobody saw them, she gave him kiss
His passion, the little twinge of jealousy
Mr.. Pratt had given him and the fire of
her caress together impelled him TO reck-
less disregard for all else than his love,
and he urged her to consent to an imme-
date marriage. He wanted her to elope
with him the very next day. The thougnG
that after paying the expenses of the
elopement and minister's fee he would
be practically penniless did not even &C.
cur to him.
She heard him through indulgently,
even encouragingly, and gave him an
other kiss, but she would not run away.
''No, Chester, DEAR, she said, with
placid reason, not at all disturbed by his
fever. ut would be very nice but not
even little bit sensible for MS to make
papa angry, and he would be, awfully, if
we were to do thing like that. We
must keep on his good side if we can.
You will be all right. I've been watch
ing him this evening and I can see
that he is beginning to take to you. Be
patient. A little bird whispers to mo
that we will not have very long to
wait"
Opposite as the poles were the thought
in her mind prompting the figurative
whisper of the little bird and the under
standing in his produced by it. He had
not told her whence he had obtained
the costly present he had made to her,
the value of which she knew far better
than he did, and she naturally supposed
that he had purchased it. To be able to
buy thing like that argued to her
sudden and great improvement in his
financial condition. 1t was quite true
that his speculations were going badly
when last he told her anything about
them, but she very well knew some
times fortunes were picked up ON Wall
street in few hours, and why might
not her lover have had some such lucky
picking? Certainly his entire capital at
the time when he asked her father for
her hand would not have sufficed to
buy that grand ruby. He must be get
ting rich.
But Chester thought she meant him to
understand the birds whisper as Papa
is on the verge Of giving his consent to
our marriage.
And before the error of either could
be corrected the presence Of other per-