The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-03-06
q A BUSINESS ARRiNG {

A BUSlNESS ARRANGEMEs
n IEvvVV
Mr.. Percival Houghton was standing
near the door in the Paultons' draw
ing-room. I
Houghton was not a very popular
member Of his set on account Of a per
y ilous faculty he had of avoiding all
social functions. He was to be found
at the Paultons' today well, il the
matter were probed to the bottom
princip ally because he was an old
friend Of the family, and Jack Paulton
a had lad reminded him he must not send 8
refusal at the peril Of a serious breach
7 IN their friendship.
Some one plucked his sleeve It was
his hostess.
You remind me very much, = said
Mrs. Paulton. '.of statue I once saw
OF Achilles, 7 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, II
not less poetical. have a pleasant
surprise in store for YOU
"Indeed!' n
Yes. Let me fetch you to an old
friend just returned from over the sea
Miss Alice Coates
She conducted him to the damsel in
question and left them together.
I'm heartily glad to see you again,
Miss Coates" said Houghton, trif1e
awkwardly.
You may call me Alice, as you did
; before I went abroad said the girl
with whom Mrs. Paulton had left him,
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 homes?' 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" - =
4 mo, indeed, nor did you. Are your
ideas unchanged, Alice?"
Z well, in way. still think, as you
used to say, the world would be better
off if it did not trife with precious
time. Yet-and know you will par
don mel am surprised to find you
single. Is it possible there has been
no one charming enough to break
through the pessimistic ice of your ma
ture %
mo one, indeed. But though will
not be so vain as to say it is entirely,
yet will be bold enough to say to my
old con1dante it has been largely due to
the fact that have not had the time
to devote to love-making. And. YOU
know, it takes great deal of gadding
about before a man may even evidence
his affections slightly"
That's very true
Now, don't you think yourself that
the conventional wooing is very la
mentable sacrifice of timer" .ss
If the woman in me decides-no:
but if persevere along strictly com
mon sense lines. perhaps yes.''
How charming you are! Joye! 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: I
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 it affects nv
lifes affairs very radically. He wants
an answer that same day-immediately.
if possible. True, I take, say, half an
hour or an hour to turn the matter over
in my mind and view it in every light.
AS rule, in that length of time have
come to satisfactory conclusion. Now.
If I could find woman to whom I