Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-04-23
A PRACTICAL JOKE.
BY F. .. PHILIPS.

some excellent entertainment while |
lasted, and is talked about in Wickets
deld to-day. We were all OF us staying
IN Wicketsfeld, and Seymour ha,
fallen victim to the destinations o
Miss Norah Cardonnel; possibly becaus
Wicketsfeld is dull little watering
place, and there was nothing else t,
DO; possibly because he knew, Or q
least suspected, that she was worshipet
by Stephen Lam BIS worthy, and Stepher
Lambsworthy was his especial bet,
noire.
do not want to attribute unworth,
motives to him; as matter OF fact,
liked him very much; SO let us give
him the benefit Of the doubt, and say
he had grown to adore Miss Cardonne
because Miss Cardonnel was adorable
Anyhow it was plain that he was hope
lessly in love, and though / had been
honored by Lambsworthy's confidence
in the matter, personally did not give
much fer his chances.
No two fellows could possibly have
been more unlike than Stephen and
Harry Seymour. Harry, dashing, good.
aumored, high-spirited and handsome;
Stephen, meek, nervous and with next
to nothing to say for himself. That
both were very young was their only
point OF resemblance. / Thought l had
gagged Miss Cardonnel's character suf-
6ciently to prophesy which of her ad-
mirers would be accepted, presuming
they both proposed, and confess
was startled when Seymour displayed
such strong irritation at the news that
Lambsworthy was expected on the
scene.
''Confound him!" he said, what does
he want here? Can't he read in town
just as well?" eve were supposed to
be examining for an exam. the three
Of US. what does he want to come
bothering here for?"
well, you forget" l said; Lambs
worthy may be said to be the discov.
erer Of Wicketsfeld. At all events,
neither you nor l would ever have
come down here If it had not been that
he was always talking about it. We
should never even have known the
Cardonncls but for him-remember
that"
Seymour growled. 1t was fact that
Lambsworthy had introduced us to
them, and Harry never cared to be re-
minded Of it.
II don't want him. he said; II don't
get on with him; he is your friend, not
mine, and he bores me. He is like
young lady, and he wears spectacles
HE wears spectacles because he is
short-sighted," ! observed; 'and as to
being like young lady, that is all rot,
SEYMOUR Anyhow, if he is such a
complete duffer, why need you mind
his coming?"
"What do you mean9" asked Harry,
sharply.
You are annoyed at his arrival be-
cause you are afraid you may find your
nose out Of joint when he appears l
say If he is such duffer why need you
be alarmed?"
"Oh! pooh, pooh, rubbishl' said Sey-
mour. II afraid OF Stephen Lambs
worthy That is too rich!-that is
really funny" He made loud noise,
which understood was meant to rep
resent laughter you won't beat that
II you talk for month. Ha, ha, hal
Why, you don't mean to tell me you
suppose for single instant that q girl
like Miss Cardonnel would seriously
consider throwing herself. away on .
noodle like Lambsworthy?-a fabby,
feeble, faltering bundle
of nerves like Lambsworthy! Good
Heavens! Afraid! Afraid OF Lambs
worthy Ha. ha, hall
well, that's all right" I said; Il
am glad for your sake you are SO conf
dent. | assume, however, that you
won't deny she encouraged him when
we all came down here? Because
saw her with you, and saw her with
him, and say she did!'
"She firted with him." said Sey-
mour, tolerantly; "she airted with him
q little, yesl Why not? A girl must
nmuse herself. ! do not complain OF
that"
That's lucky" lreplied; singular
w fortunate--for your own peace OF
mind. His letter says he will be with
Us tomorrow. He wants me to look
out for q room for him.
"Cannot our landlady accommodate
the gentleman"
"No," said, 'she can't-not with
bedroom, that is! He will come IN
here to meals, Of course, but he will
have to uleep out Of the house"
Seymour shrugged his shoulders, as
much as to say that he was really In
different as to the arrangements, and
Iounged away in the direction OF the
Parade, where / have no doubt he ex-
Dected to meet the Cardonnels, as was
his daily custom.
am ashamed to say that neglected
10 engage shakedown for Lambs
worthy that afternoon, and, as he ar.
rived bv an earlier train than he had
on tie morrow, it devolved
1pon him to 60 round and explore for
aimself after he got in.
However, he was quite cheerful when
a returred to the cottage to supper;
a had had tea at his friends the Car
Ionnelr In the meantime, and he tolo