The age-herald., 1898-05-08
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BY ST. CLAIR CURTIS.

you of all my movements beforehand" i said Vanduren, coldly. while he stood be- 1 lore the mantlepiece critically examining an applique drapery. That's right, Yanduren-quite right. 1 Now, before they come down, let me tell | you something, ,"-Xanduren turned quickly and faced the other man. We have no time to lose," Clement went on speaking l hurriedly. You may not know it. but you are my god out of the machine'-thats classic allusion, you know. II explain 1t another time. See here, I knew well enough you'd be here tonight That was why 1 told you I was coming. Now you want me to get out, don't you2" For answer, Vanduren only stared.
 "Yes you do. Miss Prisey won't come down."
 How do you know that?'' "Never mind. No time now for argu- ment. I only want to make straight forward business proposition to you. 1T
 l get out of this, will you promise to pro- pose to Miss Nab this very night? Yes or no?'
 Well, I'll be-shot!a vanduren exclaim- ed in an undertone. "Yes, I know said Clement. ''It does seem a queer and quaint idea, but therell be time for explanation later. Yes or nor A rustic of skirts could be heard on the stairs.
 Yes" said vanduren, making his de- cision hurriedly, as who leaps in the dark.
 Good for you-for us both Clement whis- pered to him, as the skirts came nearer
 the door of the sitting room. And tell her to take a day or two to think 1t over not to hurry"
 Pm so sorry, Mir vanduren, ''said Nab. opening tho door. 'Prisey has head l ache. You are going to be here some time, are you not? in the city? That's right. She told me to say, she hopes you'll come again soon. She was very glad to hear of your return
 The rest. for ten or fifteen minutes was small talk, about travelling and art, Mexi- co and volcanoes. Then Clement in con- formity with his promise, "got out of that
 Next afternoon the two girls were to- gether again in their room. Prsey was turning over a letter that had come to her through the mail. CT think you might let me see it. said Nab. q let you see mine yesterday At last, after some hesitation, Prisey, without speaking, handed her sister the letter which read ''You must not think noe over bold if I refuse to take your No for an answer ard come back again within forty-eight hours of my defeat at the Jernay's. Something leads me to the conviction that this is a specially favorable chance for me l. to try again. Will you reconsider your decision, or is there really no hope for me?
 Tn the latter case, mercifully end my suspense by an early answer.
 JULIUS CLEMENT.
 "I wonder what he means by some thing" Prisey remarked as Nab handed her back the letter.
 Nab was shutting herself up to herself to think.
 q tell you what Prisey That man Is no fool" Nab paused a while for further meditation. "Yes," she went on, "it will take a pretty sagacious woman to manage MT. Clement. Came here last night to ask for my sympathy, eh? Forgot to mention that Tom Vanduren was in town. My dear Priss that man knew very well that Tom was coming here last night. It was a plot to force Tom Vandurens hand. If l thought Tom was half as clever-
 -pBut as it is?'' Prisey interrupted, put ting an arm about her younger sisters neck. 'tAs it is? What?"
 "Why, Prisey, I think they're keeping step at last. Don't you?"
 '.Then we needn't advertise for par rot?' said Prisey. And the two sisters wrote two little notes that evening" Mab's note was to Van- duren, and it said, "Come and get your final answer tomorrow, at o'clock p. m Prisey's was longer. But the effect of the two communications was much the same. The two sisters and their two suitors kept step admirably few weeks later, to the tune of the wedding march.