, 1898-10-24

fhan.it had csseif, Cut showing neIgrthe:
less a polite attention. Two stout ma
irons 1t their doorways remarked to
each other confidentially that she was
older than he, and after some haggling
decided that there vas a difference Of
five years.
NEARLY everything happens for the
best in this world,' said Mark Wallis.
"lf that train had not been late last
night, it would have been long perhaps
before I had a chance Of making my
peace with you"
II cannot permit" she said quaint
ly. "any reference to a former discus
sion."
casa matter Of fact, I particularly
want to be on good terms with you,
Miss Ladford. / haven't many enemies,
and I do not want to think of you as
one Of them"
~ believe, :" she said quietly, pulling
q blade Of grass as they walked along,
friends"
"I'm SO gladv' he cried honestly.
Indeed, I hope thsv we shall be some
thing more" She lid not look It him,
and he went on. "Ea you know, Miss
Ladford, I feel very much the want of
oompanionship at home? I'm almost go,
but already I am beginning to dread
the possibility of journeying through
my life a lonely traveller. Twenty eight
is not too young for a man to marry. is
it?"
She shook her head and put her hand
for a moment to her throat. Her
thoughts went back swiftly to her first
and last proposal. Dear, dear, what a
long time ago that was-nearly ten
years ago, she feared! She remembered
how she had refused the offer because
to say "Yes" to the first. And since
Miss Ladford remembered this with a
little sigh-there had not been a second.
"What l mean to say is, said Mark
Wallis, with nervous enthusiasm, "that
the time comes to every man when he
meets some one he really likes. If he
misses that chance, it is quite likely
that an exactly similar opportunity
may never occur again. And, although
it may appear very sudden to you, Miss
Ladford, it's not really sudden, you
know"
The poor blade Of grass was getting
terribly maltreated. For a self possessed
person. Miss Ladford appeared singular
ly tremulous. She found that when she
lifted her eyes from the ground the neat
little cottages danced.
tT th;,,L-T thipL r,o kol bnttor ~
turn" she said he%sitatingly. 1--WE
mustn't miss the train, and we ought
not to keep my sister waiting"
"Oh, Alice won't mind!' he said
oh~eerfully.
"She's a dear GIRL" said Miss Lad
ford, e~ndeavoring to regain her self pos
session. although she's my sister, 1
have never quarreled with her"
"She a keep a secret too"
"When You know her better, Mr..
Wallis, you will find that she is quite
unlike me. That is why we get on SO
we'll together, I think. l don't like to
think that I shall ever have to say good
by to her,"
sit won't be quite saying goodby,"
urged Mark Wallis. "You see, a honey.
moon
1--WE must talk about it," she inter-
rupted shyly, when we meet in town."
II would rather know now," he said.
"Until we reach Luxembourg, then"
"No, no." he said coed humoredly.
He took her hand and placed it on his
arm. II must know now. Your sister
will be anxious" Her hand trembled.
"Point Of fact, Mics Ladford, l want
Alice to marry me as soon as we get
back to town, if you don't mind"
The way seemed very long back to
the little hotel, and the sunshine ap.
peared strangely blurred. Nevertheless
Mics Ladfo1d, like a sensible woman,
said no word until she reached the
Bahnhof, where her pretty young sister
was waiting. Then she went up to her
and kissed her.
IL don't mind, :" she said unstead-
ily.-W. PETIT Ridgs in Woman at
Home.