The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-10-22
TWO WEDDING RINGS


listers to inquire of my landlady If there
were any letters for me.
There was no immediate response to my
query, and ] inferred from the suspicious
silence that either Mrs. Metcalfe or her
daughter were inspecting my letters. prob
ably reading the postal cards, II there We're
any.
That is very often popularity of land
lady's daughters. as people who are COM
PEELED to board will know. Again ] askcd
Mrs. Metcalfe, are there any letters for
me? expect a letter of some Importance"
Coming. sir--coming" replied Matilda.
her daughter, as the latter slowly ascended
the stairs. gazing very intercstcdly at the
postal card.
In Il few moments more she arrived at my
landing on the second floor and gave to me
u letter. two postal cards and a newspaper.
Il thought that you were inspecting my
correspondence" l said. sarcastically.
what! l? Oh Mr. Bolton, l would
never think Of such a thing" And she went
down stairs tossing her head like ;tn cnrugeu
Shetland pony.
One card from my tailor to notify me OF
his removal one from Louis Durande to
tell me that he could not keep a certain
engagement with me, and letter from
Percy Crcsmcr. who had warmed his slip
pcrs at the same college fire with me scarce
ly three years ago. His cpistlc ran thus:
Dear Bclton: / claim your congratulate
tions. am to he married next week to the
sweetest girl the sun ever shown upon.
There's surprise No. for you. And ! wish
you'd so to Silrerman. the jcwclcr, and get
the wedding ring, size enclosed on bit
of paper. There's surprise No . Seriously.
old fellow. it will do me Il great favor. for
business matters here are complicated in
such II Way that cannot hope to get to the
city day before the event. and. OF course,
| know that can trust your taste and judS-
ment equally with my own. Have the
words. Helen 1885," engraved on the inside,
and please send by post without delay.
Ever yours. faithfully.
PERCY CRl;SMlIR.
?. S.-Shc IS al angel.
We'll" said to myself. laying down my
| old chums rapurous letter "hcrcs a pretty
| commission for a bachelor An angel, Is
| she? | don't believe she's any more angelic
| than Pauline Brooks But every man thinks
| his own goose Il swan. l pity the poor tci-
| low. I'm sure: he's clearly In II state OF
| gla,nor that makes him see everything col
| eur lie rose. but I'm lot one to desert Il
! friend at Il pinch--l'll buy his miserable
| wedding ring with the greatest pleasure III
| life"
So locked my desk put IN my nvrrcoat
and went strairhtway to Silvcrman's
Jones behind the counter. know
| Jones; had bought II gold bracelet of him
| for Pauline Brooks six months ago. Jones
| was dappor little fellow with siitfly waNrd
| mnuStarhr. IL ranro Scarfpin. and hair hc-
drwcd With some ;1mhrosial perfume or
| other.
| wedding rings. If YOU please said l,
| pltlnging N once int" the object of my visit.
| Here's the size" producing my slip of
| paper
ANY insrrpti m. sir" questioned Jones,
| assuming 50 prrtcrnatul;llly knowing an as
| pet that | could chrcrtully have pitched
| him IN among the plated ware in the hi"
| glass showcase behind him.
! "llrlcn. said ]. hrusuucly, 'lSlG.
"t.nmp, SIR" Jones put his hand behind
his I" assist his hearing.
! "llr.rn!" ! ba We'd out painfully conscious
tl.,t the eyes of the three pretty girls viii"
| wore at the col inter behind him We're upon
| mo.
VERY pretty namr." smp"i"d Jones a''
he wrote down ;hc order. ANY particular
| slylr?"
"Silrpc and solid" said L. chat; al
eyes. sir. II shall be attended 1" AT once.
| Snail ! send IL I" your Residence. OF
| I'm call for il tomorrow said l.
| "PurIun me. Mr.. Felton," cried Mr. Sill
, vrrmin. VIII" had overheard Il portion Of
! our colluquy. but If II wouldn't h. taking
| u liberty might inquire whether YOU in
| tend TO keep house or talk" aptr'mcnts?'
| "What?" calculated |.
| "To keep house or take nlnrtm"nts"'
reiterated Mr.. Silvcrmnn. "l:rra,lsc in the
| former ease We would esteem II Il favor
| To supply the silver aud tableware"
| ] muttcrcu some not particularly compli-
| mcniHry answer amt went out IF the shop,
| closing the dnur bchiml me with some en-
phasis.
"Gung to be married, oh. old chup?'
said Bill West. Il stock broker. Familiarity
tIrustilg his elbow into my side. as 1
stlollcd into Gatti's for my lunch that
day.
NO" said I, taking mp the bill of fare.
ooh. come. don't deny the soft inpruch-
mcnt." said West. with II wink.
'Wlat has put such an iIe;l as that int %
your hctd?" demanded |, somewhat iniig
mnntly.
"And her names Helen" said West. with
! an i'Iiotic giggc. "Wairr. half bottle
OF Mumm! Lets drink her health, Ecltol
Whcn---"
AT this stage I pretended to see some ON.
whom ] knew at the opposite table and
boltcd ncross the room.
Old Mr.. .lessup was trotting across Hyde
Park when | unexpectedly c;,mc face to
face with him.
"licllo!' said Mr.. .JcSsup, turning upon
me the moony glare of two specialized eyes
"Wlat's this ! hear about you my dear
young friend? Accept my congr;ttlln ions
',flih"hN IS always II blessed condition.
"Oh. Yes: don't doubt it, 'hurrcdly
interrupted, hut-a-thcrc', some mistake
about it"
Miss what did you say?" said old Mr..
.j"ssup. b"amingIy. "call around this even
fellow. ] Invent time to listen lust now"
c"u'd nave torn my hair with rage Mr..
J"SS'lp was Pauline Brooks uncle, ana
guardian and knew that my chnnc.s in
thhi direction would be all off If once. lh,.
fatal story Of the wedding ring got to
l'auiinrs ears.
crossed the park and hurried up Regent
Sir"r'. mentally gnhshins my teeth, ANA in
my im.'"iiious haste had Ilc,ily .tpmb,cd
over Pauline herself, Just coming ont of n
florists " tn Il tiny buiItOni.icrs of yi.lc,s
in her hand.
'l'dullnc!' cried l. rapturollsly
But Pauline drew back the l.as, li,tlc
distance in the world. Thereby purIinr nm
Invisible barrier between us that rroz. m.
Like AN ciclc.
"Dcar me, Mr.. Bolton, is il yul?" said
Pauline. Il congratulate You. am surc."
Upon whnt?" J demanded, growing ,1.s
pcrH1".
Upon your approaching marriage, to be
sure, said Fhulinc, with Il smile like an
r"ra lights lowering over II snow bank
'Eut I'm not going to be married, pro-
tested |.
oh excuse me, pray. Gentlemen do not
usually buy wedding rings without IL pur-
pose" intcrposcd Pauline. "Only ] snoull
think you m ght have paid such friends as
We are the compliments Of some slight in
tlnhtion of your impending marriage"
pauline" said miss I'rooks--hcar me.
There is only one woman in the world |
would care to marry, and she stands be-
fore me now"
paulines lip quivered-thc tears spurklcd
in her eyes.