The Monitor-register. [volume] (Woodstown, Salem Co., N.J.) 1892-1972, 1897-08-27

george and Miss Berkeley sat it out
somewhere else. In consequence of this
Miss Berkeley has since consistently and
emphatically maintained that bachelor
who deliberately firts with a widow in
the presence of an assembly of respect
able people is social abominatiOn and
should be repressed.
This introduction of third and fourth
parties into the Singleton Berkeley
tournament wrought new phase in the
relations of the first and second parties,
and each of the latter now began to mis-
trust the motives of the other. Was
Miss Berkeley really in love with Captain
Plympton Was Mr.. Singleton sincere
in his professed alteration for Mrs. Col
chester ? Well, the three months had
nearly expired; all would row very soon
be known.
Miss Berkley was resolved, however,
that the egotist should not escape his
well-merited punishment if she could
prevent it. In the circumstances only
one thing was to be done, and she did it.
Captain George was retained as foil
wherewith to parry the widow thrusts of
Mr.. Singleton; but the amiability ap-
parently inspired by Captain George at
the ball was also extended to the man
destined to select the bon-bons. Never
before had Singleton found her so
gentle, so graceful, so sympathetic, so
lovable. He was enchanted, and his at
tentions to Mrs. Colchester began to lose
much of their ardor and persistency.
But when he observed that Captain
George was similarly rewarded by these
manifestations of awakened affection he
became at once chagrined and depressed.
His calls on Miss Berkeley became less
frequent, the widow was neglected, his
male friends began to know him better
and the determination of game birds ap.
peared now to become the prevailing
motive of his life.
In this manner the last two weeks
passed. The morning of the eleventh of
September dawned clear and bright.
This was the day on which Fate, invited
by Singleton, was to preside at the in
terview which should determine the
future relations of Miss Berkeley and her
.egetisticaL swooer.
Singleton went shooting; Miss Berkeley
remained at home.
Singleton, In the fields, confessed that
he had never before bad such execrable
luck with his gun. Miss Berkeley, in the
library, acknowledged that never before
bad the hours seemed SO tardy and so I'M
promising of better things.
Was Singleton coming. or wasn't he ?
Well, he knew what her answer would
be, so there was really no necessity for
his appearance. Still she believed in a
man adheriBg to his word, no matter
what the conseq uences. These were her
reflections in the morning. In the af5er-
noou she wondered just how much
Singleton cared for that Colchester
woman. Perhaps he was calling on her
then. What was there in Mr.. Singleton
that pleased Mrs. Colchester ? She did
not know, aud tried to ascertain by
comparing Singleton with some other
young men of her acquaintance.
She recalled his words, actions, mental
and physical characteristics, habits,
virtues, and those vices which she had
eontrived to unearth. The result was
that she thought great deal about
Singleton that afternoon; but why did
the man not come ? She was growing
impatient about something. Was it
Sin 6 leton's delay Certainly not. She
would not care in the least if she never
saw him again; there she stopped-to
think this over little more. She won
dered how he would act and feel and
look after it was all over
About three O'Clock she began to feel
lila sort of nervous attack she thought.
That was the reason she had occasional
crying spells. The persistency of these
attacks made her irritable. That was
the reason she scolded the maid who an.
nounced Captain George Plympton. She
was mot at home" to Captain George to-
day.
At five O'Clock the maid trem blingly in
formed her that Mr.. Singleton had
called. Should she tell him also that
Miss Berkeley was not at home? No, she
should not. So Singleton came in. and
had the bad form to lay his hat, stick
and gloves On the drawing room table.
AS they seated themselves each was
conscious of a sense of restraint. Fol
several moments both were silent. Then
Miss Berkeley made all attempt to opel
the conversation by ask ing her sutton il
he had been shooting, and if shooting
was as good this year ss it had been last
year. Singleton admitted that he had
been shooting, and that game was about
as plentiful as it had been the year be-
fore. They next attempted to discuss
the merits of "Trilby," but this topic
proved as short-lived as the previous one
had been; so after two or three more
Intellectual efforts to appear at ease, they
relapsed into an uncomfortable silence.
''Miss Berkeley" began Singleton.
The critical moment had arrived.
Singleton's face was pale, and his eyes
sought Miss Berkley's eyes. She sp.
peared to become suddenly interested in
the texture of rug at her feet, and her
fingers toyed nervously with the fringe on
the arm of her chair. Dame Fate had
reported for duty.
miss Berkeley, three months ago, after
having known you only three weeks, l
asked you to be my wife. You refused
me. We have now known each other for
nearly four months, and have had ample
time to reconsider what we then said. ]
have reflected seriously on what | am
about to say, and having, during the last
three months, learned to regard you more
earnestly and devotedly than before,
will now take the liberty of repeating
my proposal. "Will you be my wife?''
Miss Berkeley rose and, with averted
face, made her way slowly toward the
window. Singleton rose also, but did not
follow her. Thus for several moments
they stood in silence. Why did not the
lady answer him? Surely the egotist
was at her mercy now. One little word
the simplest in the language-would
humble all his conceit and satisfy hei
curiosity. She had but to speak that
word and turn her head to see how
Arthur Singleton would look in the
presence of defeat. Why did she not say