Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-24
BY WORD OF MOUTH

don't profess to be able to see fur
Their into a brick wall than my neigh
bors, but it really required an extra
ordinary degree Of intelligence to per-
csiye that my nephew Gerald was very
much in love with little Amy Creswell.
When two young people of opposite
sexes living in different parts Of
town of the size of London accept in
vitations to the same houses on SIX
successive evenings you won't per-
suade me in hurry that the fact Is
due strictly 10 mere chance.
The Creswells were staying at the
Hotel Albermarle for few days, and
IT. was a Significant fact that Gerald
was constantly sending the club COM
mlsslonalre with little notes TO that
hotel.
wasn't, therefore, the least sur
prised the other evening, soon after
we arrived at the Willards' TO dinner,
to hear the Creswells announced, and
l laughed in my sleeves when l called
TO mind the sudden eagerness which
my nephew had shown in calling on
the Willards when he found out that
they were friends of the Creswells.
don't pretend TO know how these
things are managed, but somehow or
other it happened that Miss Amy and
my nephew sat next TO one another at
dinner that evening.
l was discreet but interested OBJ
server Of what took place.
Although | am myself confirmed
old bachelor, and consequently little
versed in the art of detecting the
symptoms which indicate the exist
ence of the tender passion In Others
yet on this occasion saw quite enough
TO convince me as to how the land lay.
When Gerald looked at his neighbor
her eyes were always demurely cast
down, but when his gaze happened to
be directed elsewhere, she would steal
a shy glance at him out of the corners
1870 NySo.
1t has always appeared to me that
the course Of true love would run
smoothly enough but for the wanton
way in which lovers create obstacles
to the fulfillment Of their own desires.
ordinary run of lovers in this respect,
That Gerald was no exception TO the
ordinary run of lovers, in this respect,
l soon had cause to realize. for he and
Amy Creswell had a tin at dinner that
evening, which, but for a happy inspi-
ration on the part Of the writer Of this
simple tale, might have ended in their
permanent estrangement. 1t was all
on account of certain Captain Lach-
mere, of whom Gerald didn't happen
to approve and who had been for some
time paying marked attention to Miss
Amy Creswell.
That young lady didn't really care
button for the man in question, but
she not unnaturally resented any at
tempt on Gerald's part to put a stop
TO her intimacy with him. Accept my
word for it, if you want to throw wo-
man into another's arms, just abuse
that other man in her hearing.
If my nephew had been man of the
world, he would not have made such a
blunder, but you cannot put. old heads
on TO young shoulders, and when a
youthful head is under the influence
Of a youthful heart which, in its turn,
is subject TO the disturbing influence
of the tender passion, there is really
no telling what complication may
arise. And so it came to pass that be-
fore dinner was half over these two
young people were engaged in as pref
ty a little quarrel as you could well
wish to see.
OF course, neither of them supposed
fer an instant that l or anybody else
heard word of their dispute, for their
conversation was carried on in low
tones, and to all appearance I had been
listening with deep attention to the
yolubie utterances Of a formidable lady
on my right hand, who was laying
down the law on the subject of the ex-
tension of the franchise TO women;
but in the course Of an acquaintance
with what is so appropriately termed
polite society" one acquires the valu-
able knack Of carrying on a conversa-
ton with one person while ones at
tention is really mainly occupied with
something which is going on else
where.
you are perfectly right, Miss Cres-
we'll" said Gerald stifly. Il had no
business to say what | did about a
gentleman who appears TO be such a
particular friend Of yours. Please con-
slider my remarks as withdrawn" And
with this he turned to his right-hand
May Walshe, and commenc-
ed 10 Chatter with really surprising
degre/of animation.
PoIr little Miss Creswell was for the
moRent placed at disadvantage, for,
however much she may have desired
to- retaliate, il was rather a forlorn |
Ape for her to make Gerald jealous
n commencing a Irritation with me;
out there happened to be nobody else
available at the moment, and a woman |
IS capable of any folly when she is an !
grv with a man whom she really likes, |
and. 10 my intense amusement, little |
Amy actually began TO make the ex-
pertinent.
I laughed in my sleeve when this
mere child, whom l remembered in
short frocks. opened her feigned attack |
mon me. but / conscientiously did my /
Dest TO help the situation along hand
;omely. and / really felt quite graft
led when presently / observed that |
gerald's animated conversation with
Mss Walshe was beginning to flag.
md that he was casting glances OF un-
nistakable surprise and annoyance In
ny direction.
That sort Of thing makes one feel