The evening times., 1898-04-06
BY MUTUAL CONSENT.


me. remarked Mrs. Kenyon. Il take
| 4 great interest IN them"
quite agreed with her had once
met man who said she was born
! meddlcr. } did not so so far as that;
thought that she possessed natural gift
Tor managing.
D. was II bright morning in May. and
! she had sirollcd with me TO the garden
gate. against which three bicycles were
J 9ropPed.
] Why she exclaimed. are not Irene
! and YOU going by yourselves"
No. We thought II only kind 10 ask
I Dora to accompany us.
reflective look passed over Mrs Ken
yOn's face.
Dora Is leaving us tomorrow" she
remarked Her father says he must
be IN the hum Of things again"
But surely the hum does not claim
his daughter as wellT"
A daughters place" said Mrs. Ken
yon, somewhat severely. is 10y her faith
er's side
YES. Of course" ! murmured
= have been thinking" she continued
after pause, that Irene and you will
be settling down shortly"
Irene was Mrs. kenyon's niece Some
time age tho thought had occurred to
her that We were suited to one another.
She had devoted her attention to the
matter with her usual completeness of
method. and the subsequent engagement
was a matter Of course
~ can't say that we have settled as
1 to The exact date | said
at is two years since you were first
engaged"
] looked around eagerly to see if the
girls were coming
do you know she continued. 81 have
discovered the very place for a young
couple-an ideal residence"
Il must 20 and have alook at it," I
said vaguely, with another glance to the
rear.
1t seemed rs II 81 were built for Irene.
There IL d charming study for her. a
room with splendid lights that will do for
. her painting-a gem Of a boudoir-'
1t seems gift from the fairies
broke in. What is ii caled?.'
'Hatton House-withn d mile of this
It's a chance which should on no account
be missed. The only thing is you must
decide within three DAYS"
Not much time, ] began.
She turned TO me with a bright smile
MY proposal is that you should leave
the whole affair in my hands. What do
you save
At that moment Irene and Dora Paget
came hurrylng across the lawn. / pu.
my finger on my lips 10 enjoin secrecy.
What are you plOtting?" cried Dora.
"Oh. merely a little surprise for some
body" I said with a glance at Irene.
] opened the gate and we wheeled our
machines through. We were about TO
mount when another cyclist rode up. II
was Herbert Grierson, a friend.
Il thought you might be riding this
morning" he began.
Very happy thought I said cheer
fully; you will make fourth. and l
shall not have TO talk so much
We mounted our machines and proceed
e6 or our way. Presently Dora and my
self found ourselves tagging a little be-
hind.
This isn't at all right. you know" she
remarked
what isn't?"
Naturally you should be with Irene
MY dear Miss Paget we have the rest
of our lives TO be together. Irene under
stands that"
She is quite exceptional"
'She is very clever, and i admire her
immensely"
Dora laughed.
'Is that why you became engaged to
her?'
II didn't Mrs. Kenyon arranged it for
us"
Dora opened her eyes wonderingly.
MTs hehA on arranged IL Tor your
she repeated.
Yes" said J. she is very thoughtful.
She decided IL was time for Irene to
marry, and she thought ] was fitted 10
become husband. With admirable tact
she managed the whole affair-and we
are both very grateful TO her"
And you love one another?" she asked.
I'VE admire one another" / replied,
''and that is an excellent substitute
"Dou you think your tastes are simi-
lar?'
"Oh, they are not" I replied frankly;
"but We shall make allowances. She is
clever and of a studious turn of mind;
1 am quite commonplace, and never happy
unless in the open air. We shall each
follow our own inclinations"
How about travelling? / know you
are a waBderer."
Irene hates It. she detests 'roughing
it I'm any form. AS l said, we shall each
do as We think best; but perhaps for the