The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-04-24


 Perfectly charming" said her aunt in the twinkling tone that reminds one of the chink of the ice in Q glass of frappe tea.
 q did myself the honor to call on you," Fred explained, as he leaned his wheel against the hotel steps and took chair near Florence, because l am going west tomorrow. I have secured position as civil engineer with western railway company that is pro- jecting branch line, and as had @ day to spare, I thought I'd come down and bid you good bye"
 ''So kind of you, am sure" said the dear aunt, T am so glad--for your sake, Fred--that you have this posi- tion, for think a young man should begin his life as soon after leaving col lege as possible. I have no doubt that in a few years you will be railway magnate"
 She rattled on voluhly in this vein for couple of minutes, and all the while her words had the glib sound of wine being poured out of a narrow-necked bottle. It is note that you catch only in the best society, and it means that lilC etSSoillIilSIGQ ietdy NAAo AS sssAANtiA7 AS all the time thinking hard about some thing else. The tenor of the aunts thoughts were as follows:
 T mustn't allow them to be alone to- gether. I know what these parting5 mean. He has come down to propose | to her, and she--the little hussy--wlll accept him. If lock her in her room | it will cause talk, and can't keep | track of them all day in these corri- dors, Oh, what shall do?"
 When the light finally broke prac- ticed ear could have detected a change in her tone, as she exclaimed enthusi- astically:
 Really, Fred, am glad you have come down, forI have been planning for several days to take a party from here to the little casino they have at Clam She'll -on-the- Sea, about fifteen miles down the coast. We can spin down there in couple of hours, have some refreshments and then spin back in time to catch your train for New York;
 They will be along with the other young people," she thought to herself, and will be kept moving so that they can't have long chat; and, anyway, It is hard to be confidential on public road at midday"
 The case didn't strike the young peo- pie in exactly the same light, and they accepted the situation graciously.
 The aunt hastened to canvass the guests at the hotel to get volunteers for the trip, and introduced Fred to so many charming young ladies during the next few minutes that he was en1- barrassed beyond words. Presently the party was organized, and made start, amid much light-hearted laugh ter and badinage. The good, kind cha perone brought up the rear, feeling tri- umphant and self-satistied
 If they can pedal and propose at the same time" she thought to herself they are cleverer than I think"
 For the first mile the crowd was well punched and nothing happened At length Fred found himself at Flor ences side and managed to stamner
 Don't you feel you'd like to spin a little faster?"
 glance showed that she under stood, and a moment later they were quietly drawing away from the party
 Hello" exclaimed the inevitable idi- ot: have we scorchers with us? Well, | feel like doing little scorching my self"
 With that they all struck into a gait that left the ehaperone behind, but oyerhauled the runaways. That scheme was undoubtedly failure.
 Let us fall behind, then" suggested Fred. After a slight hesitation, for she did not wish everyone to see what her feelings were, Florence slowed up, and soon she and Fred were abreast of the dear, good aunt, who had noticed their ruse, and was following panting but triumphant
 'tReally 1t is kind of you" she pant ed, T am so glad you were thoughtful enough to wait for me. I am willing to go along just as slowly as you please, for love to look at the scenery"
 Fred groaned and Florence bit her |, lip Now, some may wonder why they did not strike down a side road and leave the party altogether, but it must be remembered that their love-makine had not progressed yet beyond the Ian guage of the eyes, and of the hand clasp. It was only the prospect of a parting-perhaps for years--that made their love so intense at this time Fred's intentions had been frowned or for the past year by all of Florence's .. relatives, for they were all agreed that 8 student has no right to make love to a girl whose friends are ambitious fol her future unless he Is heir to millions Fred was not, so, of course, he was in eligible in every way. When he found that both attempts to be alone witt Florence, and tell her what was in his heart, were unsuccessful, he was al most in despair And the dear chape- rone grew happier every minute and : prattIed gayly about the weather anc scenery In the meantime the scorch' CTS slowed up. as no one had any req , object in keeping up the pace, until the ] party was united.
 It was then that an idea occurred tc , Fred that proved that he had engineer ing skill that will enable him to rise 1T the world some day. I'll tell yot = what let's do,' he called out. Let: : scorch from here to the casino, ant l have the last man who gets there pal . for the refreshments, and let the frs l. lady to arrive be given prize of he own choosing"
 He had gauged the enthusiasm of tn
 party to nicety, and before the goot
 chaperone could protest effectively, al
 the young people had gripped thei