The record-union., 1897-03-31

experienced a general sense of bewil-
dering depression. He was an en-
gagged mal,-to very lovely girl, it was
true. but nevertheless he was engaged,
tied up, as it were-somebody's prop
erty. He must buy presents and rings,
and think Of furniture. Never in his
life had he thought about furniture.
Even at college he had not, as many
of the men did, troubled how his dig
gings were arranged. He passed
man in the street carrying a kitchen
safe. He tried to think what a safe
was meant for, and realized that they
would certainly have to have a safe.
Some perambulators in a great shop
caught his eye, and he blushed and
looked obstinately on the other side Of
the road He had postponed calling
he had not dared yet. He would never
summon courage to behave as a lover
should to such a wonderful piece of
femininity. He remembered now that
her eyes We're gray, and serious, and
laughing all at once; that she had a
delightful, petulent mouth. The
thought of her was sweet. The reality
at present was terrifying. He could
not yet face his betrothed. He must
have time to get used to himself under
these new conditions. Another day
passed On the fourth he dressed him
self in a frock coat, adorned his but
tonhole with a bouquet, and started for
her house. When he arrived as far as
the street in which she lived he turned
round and went to the club. There
was note from her-three days old.
Again he flushed and thrust it into his
pocket. He went out, and in the busy
traffic of the streets read his first love
letter from Maisie. Dear Mr. Sands:
How chivalrous and nice of you! 1t
was a bet, you know" He did not
read any more, but strobe homewards.
He had been pretty kind Of fool, any
nova vain ass, too AS if a beau
tiful girl like that-then he began to
laugh. At any rate he was free again
-freei-but somehow he wasn't quite
sure that he wanted to be so very free
The furniture had begun to interest
him.
They met the next evening at Lady
Vaughan's. She received him with a
very bright smile, and they danced.
They danced several times, and then
he said at the end: Il suppose you
| couldn't care for me, could you?" And
she colored all over, and said:
20, no, l couldn't, not anyhow in the
world"
| Fate threw them together They
constantly met She tried to avoid him,
but he would not let her. and she ceas-
ed at last to try. AT the end of three
months he again asked her to be his
Wife The tears crept into her eyes
q M ch al l.; Il
| and chivalrous, but 1 can't, indeed l
| can't" So that he went away con-
sciOus that there was a barrier between
tween them he could not break down
He went abroad with Welby, and
proved a preposterously duh compan-
ion.
She will never have me- he said
! one day, irrelevantly. II believe it's
all because of that confounded tele-
grant"
| Most likely
What shall I do?''
Forget her.
That's what 1 have been trying to
do, but she's erept somehow into my
heart, and 1 can't"
Wire, then,"
''What?'
What she wired to you"
| Maisie was sitting with Mrs. Hamlin,
and her pretty face was even paler
than on the memorable occasion of the
sending of the kilograms "Ah,' she
said, its a pity. 1 care for him so
much-so much-and it could never be
now! Could tt?"
IT'S rather difficult" said Mrs Ham
lin. How mad of US all to have let
You do it. We didn't realize till the
things were gone. Your spirits carried
US away. He's abroad, isn't hep"
yes, and I can't bear it, but I must ;
that's life, isn't it?" she said, with a
| little sad smile. We all manage to
| bear what we can't" And then a tele-
| gram came. reply paid.
What is it?' said Mrs. Hamiln.
| He has wired. Look"
| And what are you going to say?"
! The girl sat down upon her heels, up
on the floor, and looked first into the
| fire and then at Mrs. Hamlin. Il think
1 ought to be polite, don't you?" she
said. He was to me-
! Yes" said Mrs Hamiin, Il think you
should be polite,"
And Miss Maisie was.-Westminster
| Budget.