Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-11-06

shall live. Well live somewhere near
each other, won't WEI"
"Yes, dear, Of course. Chelsea is
nice, isn't it? George has a married
sister there, though that might be
drawback" answered Maud.
SIT would be-" assented Phyllis; car
thur likes Campden HILL"
'But after all, Phyllis, I'm not at ell
sure care enough about George
"How annoying you are!" exclaimed
Phyllis. "Just when everything was
settled. Look here, Maud; write him
nice little note and ask him to lunch
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 l really write?" 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 a carefully-worded
note to Mr.. Stratton, in which she gent
ly Reproduced 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! may
call him George, too, mayn't r.
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 lust
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-Carter; she
does write to me sometimes about moth.
ing in particular" answered Phyllis.
She had not read many lines of the LETT
ter before she gave little cry of dis
may.
What's the matter?" asked Maud, see
ing her emotion.
Nothing" stammered Phyllis. "At
least, nothing interesting; and don't
believe it's true"
Don't be silly, Phyllis; tell me what
It is?''
"There; read It'll" 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 yery
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.
II never meant" said Phyllis.
"1ou made me write that wretched
note, 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 mere suggestion" Phyllis
pleaded.
1T was extremely bad taste"
"But you agreed with mel"
mo; it was entirely your doing,r
answered Maud. However, of course,
1t does not really affect me at ALL"
"Of course not" said Phyllis.
Maud swept out of the room, went
home, and wrote a second note to Mr..
strstton 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 friends.