Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-03-25
A LITTLE PROBLEM.

A LITTLE PROBLEM.
Mr.. Richard Beechlcy told himself
that he was a happy man. His friends
congratulated him On his happiness.
He had good health and a reasonably
good education. he could play golf
quito well. He could not play cards and
had 10 wish to drink. 10 was ecinS 20
mako q name at tho bar, bus he could
afford to wait Tor it in comfort, having
SO, eco a year. And he was engaged to
y very pretty girl. lie told himself that
he was a very happy man one morning
as he ate his breakfast he repeated the
assertion with what would huYo boon
chad he spoken aloud) a roto OF great
determination. Although he was ,loao
in his chambers, Lo Was very neatly
dressed. His tea was poured ont, he
was rather thirsty, but he made a point
Of eating before nc drank. Meantime
he read his letters; those from bis rcla-
tives began Dear Richard, - and n
graduated him gravely; these from his
men friends began Dear bccchiey;"
not one called him Dear Dick. y
letter from the very pretty girl began
Dear Richard, " and announced thai
sho had prepared a surprise party for
him that afternoon. He was to expect
her at i. tic put tho letter back in lis
envelope and made Il note in pencil on
the outside. Then he Turned to the lead
ing article in Tho Standard. When he
had finished his breakfast, he nlado q
pencil marx in the article to show tho
place he had reached, AID went TO his
writing table. There he wrote cut Il
Telegram. IL was addressed IL Miss
U'DonnCll, 100 Lserton Gardens, s.
w, and u
Q Don't norao without Il ohHpcron.
BgEtrT.CT
He sent his man with it to the tele-
graph Office, and resumed Tho Standard.
l am cory to say that 1870 Egcrton
Gardens presented Il somewhat painful
contrast to tho dccorous establishment
of Mr.. Richard Becchley. Elsa O'Don.
nell, in q dressing gown aud with her
hair down her back, was bolaboring
with a pillow her brother Tom, who
lay in bed and cried from time to time,
''Stop, you little devil, stop!' whilC
a vigorous knocking On the ceiling in.
timatcd that the noise disturbed tho re
pose-it was half past 9-of somebody
overhead.
"say you'll come with me to Rich
ards"
Keep your bcastly prig to yourself. =
Elsa stopped abruptly, dropped The
pillow and turned away. She was o.
the fair type of Irish girl, with pal,
gold hair, and palo blue eyes, and 1
pale, beautiful skin, sInall and SLENDER
and upright. AS she moved TO the doc
Tom sat up in bed--a brown faced
pleasant follow, with q tupbied, curly
head-and called out eagerly:
"Hello, Elsal l beg your pardon.
didn't mean to offend you"
She showed him a grave and slight,
tremulous face. IAN right, Tom. Onl,
1 wish you'd understand that l car
about Richard and can't bear to hea
him abused"
"I'm very sorry. 1t was beastly rud
of me. Only one can't help seeing /
there's a weak point in a chap, even /
ones sisters going 10 marry him. In
sure Beechley's a very good chap, bu
he is a bit reserved and-and that sor
Of thing, isn't he? That's really all
meant. I'll come this afternoon al
right"
"No, no, Tom. It doesn't matter.
dare say the mater will come"
There was a knock It the door and
housemaid's voice, IS telegram 70
you, miss"
Elsa took it and looked at it for
longer time than the reading needed.
Nothing wrong, Elsa:"
"No, only Richard can't DO in thi
afternoon"
She went out If the room, and Tor
muttered, Damn the followp' as h
settled his head on the pillow.
Ten minutes later a telegram wa
sent from Egerton Gardens:
Am not coming. Elsa.
The same day, at 4 O'Clock, Richar
Beechley Went to Egerton Gardens.
~ was afraid you'd DO out"
"Oh, no"
"But you wired you couldn't come
81 thought I'd remove all appreheI
sion about the chaperon."
"Why, you know You said once 20
were going to look me up alone, and
was afraid-you know, people don's VI
derstand''-
"You needn't explain. Iquite undel
stood. Only your fear was groundless.
Pm very sorry if 1 offended you
mot at all"
And then Tom zane in and greete
Beecbley with a somewhat measure