The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-03

encouraging that young man one week
longer My mind Is made up"
But. mamma" Euphrosyne answered.
deNterously twirlng a long plait. and
sazing steadfasly into her mirror with
an expression Of sheer indifference. "on-
courage what7 How am 10 stop encour-
aging him2'
Simply by begging 20 be excused when
he calls You neodn'; always be at home
you know. Five nights a week. Graei-
ousi"
1T r. rather frequent isn't 81 mamma?
7 think III stick IN two Of these ame-
thyst things What did you sayY Oh. yes
hear mamma How docs that look?"
DO you expect him to-night?" the anx-
ious mother went on. Ignoring her daugh-
ters amethyst experiment.
"Him7 Mr. Trumbul? Let me see
Monday Tuesday. Thursday" said Eu-
phrosyno counting on The dressing table
with the fingers Of one hand. "He skip
ped Wednesday I don't know whether
hcu skip tonight and come tomorrow,
or tonight and then come again on Sum
day. IL he comes. / must excuse myself.
ehg"
"You don't care anything about him."
ooh yes 7 think he IS goody sort Of
Q little snine."
"snipe. chud2 What do you mean?
Where did you pick mp --'
Euphrosync was laughing wildly.
"Wen mamma. what old they call them
when you were a gir'?-thcse young boys
like MOrtlo Trumbull who run about otter
FIRST one rirl and then another. and take
them out ON tondems-oh you didn't have
taudcms did vOu2-and take them 10 the
theatre. and-thats alL What did you call
thefn?'
And that's an" her mother repeat
cd. eve called them obstacles 20 q girls
marrying and-and young donkeys."
Fools. SEE ] Ike snlpe better.
There ] believe that's the Objectionable
Mortimer now He has n little perky way
OF his own 90 ringing tho bell"
Bv this time Euphrosyne was dressed
and ready for evening parade. Before
her mother knew what tho girl was doing
she had run 10 tho landing OF the front
stairs. and Mrs EXton could hear
jane jane Is that Mr. Trumbull?"
Then O. young mans voice was heard
below And then
"Wcn Jane. please ask Mr.. Trumbul
10 excuse me this evening"
The next moment Euphrosyne was back
aeain an her dressing room. radiant with
an expression Of duty nobly done.
There. mamma. Isn't that an obedient
daughter? Vow give me q kiss"
The mother stood staring wide-eyed.
She was not only astonished az her
daulhter's obedience. but shocked at her
rudcness. Between bewilderment and
vcxaton. the woman Of an older and
more ccremonious. generation found her
self az q loss for words She rose In sic
lcncc from the chair. where she had been
sitting by her daughters dressing table.
and Left the room Then Euphrosyne
stood ON the toes OF one foot. stuck out
the other foot daIntily caught her skirt
between q finger and thumb Of either
hand. and spun round once And then she
changed 90 the other foot and spun
around again in the other direction Then.
looking. To- Doe sure her mothers door was
closed. she rang up her dear friend AK
and to'G AUx thc news mp 90 date Alix
listened and gave a little advice.
Now said Mortimer Trumhun an
hour later telling the story of his dis
comffure at the hands Of Euphrosvne
Exton. "thera must Doe something In that.
YOU know"
"You didn't make her mad last night"
one OF the other boys at the hotel sug-
ees'c1
Never made her mad IN my life"
Glow do YOU know th7t?' another
ns'-ei
OF don't think Ct takes nm extra pair Of
opera r'ossos 10 Soc through it, said n
third "Tho old folks are going TO head
on SIR Mortimer ere it be too late"
Nr.rffU rnr ID
II was the unanimous opinion OF that
meefing that Mortimer Trumbull was re-
garde1 lv The seniors of the Exton family
as "a pretendcr TO the hand of their elder
d0u"hfer.
NIortie blushed and stammered and was
slapped ON the back and guyed without
mercy Tie was a nice boy. not really
young enough or insignificant enough 20
lo c'agecd ms 'suipa. nor were his
worldly prospects so hopeless as 90 fully
Justify Mrs EXton On regarding him as
an obstacle TO her daughters matrimonial
Advancement. Ie made light of his CONF
pani0ns' theory while they were present
and then. when all bv himself he rumi-
mated over Co. And the longer ne rumi-
mated the more probable did 81 appear 10
him. AS "a probable theory % seemed
worthy OF his attention. and from an OBJ
action.
Two days after N1crte Trumbuu had
received his very direct snub az Eu-
phr0syncs hands 60 was Sunday and a
pleasant spring sunday at that Mrs
Exton was enjoying the satisfactory
spectacle Of her daughter walking from
church with q certain Mr. also called
Major Tor historical reos0ns-Calob jack
son The Major was "a widowcr financially
interested Doe coal aud. in The opinion OF
Nrs. EXtOn. otherwise interested in Eu-
phrosyne. But Doe was q taciturn man.
People said That was because he weighed
his words. Ike his coal set n price on
them and thought OF corncring the mar
ket Tho Major was also known 10 be
his late wife's principal ieratce
"Oh" Euphrosyne suddenly exclaimed
20 her midd'c-oged escort. There goes
poor Mr. Trumhun"
Why said Tho Major
81 feel so sorry for him." she explain
3D. cor course YOU don't know about it,
but-well. mamma was rather hard on
him last week"
And here the young lady looked coyly
al the ground.
Why
ooh. YOU know. Major. he's been COM
ing calling quite of,cn lately and-under
the circumstanceG-wc I was told 10
ask TO Do excused. which. Of course. 1
did"
"CircumstancesY'
"Yes-oh. you know
And shc glanced inward ~ the puz-
zled Major The Major noted this glance
HH UH...IN