The broad ax., 1896-12-26
LBUsIHEss ARRaRGEMEMT.

Observation-Disclosures ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Nh Percival Houghton was standing
near the door in the PanltonS draw
ing-room.
Houghton was not q very popular
msmber Of his set on account Of q per-
lions faculty he had Of avoiding all
sociaI functions. He was to be found
At the Paultons' today-well. II the
matter were probed to the bottom,
principally because he was an old
friend Of the family, and Jack PauIton
had reminded him he must not send a
refusal at the peril Of q serious breach
In their friendship.
Some one plucked his sleeve. 1t was
his hostess.
You remind me very much" said
Mrs. Paulton, "of statue I once saw
OF Achilles, l think it was. Why this
heroic abstractedness?
Houghton had not yet spoken Of his
embarrassment when she put an end
to it prettily, sparing him the addi-
tional confusion Of an explanation.
Come, let US descend to things
more substantial than dead heroes, il
not less poetical. I have a pleasant
surprise in store for you"
Indeed"
Yes. Let me fetch you to an old
friend Just returned from over the sea
Miss Alice Coates"
Ckn hE,,, a. L.
question and left them together.
I'm heartily glad to see yon again,
Miss Coates" said Houghton, q trine
awkEardly.
You may call me Alice, as you did
before l went abroad" said the girl
with whom Mrs. Paulton had left aim,
and then mischievously, though I'm
quite grown up now, you see."
Dear me, yes; quite grown up. Do
you remember our chats; when we
used to poke fun at the courtly danes
at your mothers at homesT I have
never found congenial company since
you went abroad, and have gone out
Of society entirely-become a kind Of
commercial anchorite."
How fortunate you are! But then
you never really cared for society, did
your"
mo, indeed, nor did you Are your
ideas unchanged, Alice?"
We'll. in a way. / still think. as you
used to say, the world would be better
Of II 1t did not trifie with precious
time. Yet-and I know you gill par
don mel am surprised to Gnd you
single. Is 1t possible there las been
no one charming enough to break
through the pessimistic ice of your ma
ture?"
mo one, indeed. But though I will
not be so vain as to say it is entirely,
yet will be bold enough to say to my
old confdante it has been largely due to
the fact that I have not had the time
to devote to love-making. And, you
know, 1t takes a great deal of gadding
about before man may even evidence
his affections slightly"
That's very true"
Nov, don't you think yourself that
the conventional wooing is a very Ia
nentable sacrifice Of timer"
II the woman in me decides-no;
but If persevere along strictly COM
mon sense lines, perhaps yes"
How charming you arei Jove! you
have not changed a jot, Alice, since
your hair has been turned up and you
have donned the harness of social slav-
cry. But to continue our subject;
honestly think this business Of love
and marriage might be expedited, for
instance, in the commercial way. A
man comes into my Office with a prop
osition that is almost as important to
me as a marriage, for 1t affects my
LIES affairs very radically. He wants
an answer that same day-immediately
If possible. True, take, say, half an
hour or an hour to turn the matter over
in my mind and view 1t in every light.
As rule, in that length Of time have
come to a satisfactory conclusion. Now,
If could find q woman to whom /