Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-02-11

hearing of the mother, the small
brother, the father and the shining
rival.
81 think we had cause to be sur
prised," she said, coldly.
"Cause!" I cried. "I received a
note from your mother on Thursday
asking me down for Sunday. L ac-
copied"
"You declined" she said, in tone
that brooked no contradiction, 'and so
I telegraphed to Dick to come down.
See what position you placed me in.
I couldn't let him know he was second
fiddle"
We had stopped walking, and she
stood facing me in the light of win
dow. Her glance was one OF deep
reproach. eve are always glad to
have you, as you know, but this time
it is just little embarrassing"
''But 1 accepted" l maintained,
stoutly.
"Your note said plainly, Il regret
that another engagement prevents
my"
| OONc1 DlphC INV u
"What are you swearing about? l
don't see anything particularly anus
ing"
How stupid I had been from the
first.
"Why, Maria" said, cit was my
fault, and until this minute it never
occurred to me. / got your mothers
note on Thursday. 1 had an engage
ment to meet lawyer late this after
noon to try and settle case 1 am con-
cerned in. As | couldn't attend TO
the business and catch the last train
out determined to try md postpone
the matter. So / wrote two notes
one accepting, the other declining the
invitation. l took them both down
town next day, and as the attorney
consented to my postponing the meet
ing mailed the acceptance.
"You mean you got them mixed and
sent the wrong one" she said A half
smile lighted her face for an instant,
to give place to settled look Of dis
pleasure. "And / wired to Dick
Brooks"
I laughed quietly.
What are you laughing at?" she
asked.
) Crooks must be puzzled over you
, having us down here together.
She resented this inference as to
our mutual relations by turning
sharply and, carrying herself with ex'
, aggerated erectness, entered the
, house, with me following crestfallen
; at her heels.
Brooks was puzzled; so extremely
, puzzled that he hardly said word at
! breakfast, but was quiet and thought
full, an unusual mood for him. l could
: see that he had an important piece OF
, engineering ON hand and tried to block
I his schemes, but despite my subtle
, moves he succeeded in inducing Maris
I to take him out to the pond and show
him the trout. For time l chafed
, in the library under Mrs. Torrington's
verbose recital of the difficulties of Sc
curing funds for certain deserving
= hospital, and at length, unable to bear
I the restraint longer, rather abruptly
I excused myself to take stroll about
? the place. My steps carried me in the
direction of the pond, down the drive
, over stretch OF lawn, through {
I grove, till was halted at the sight OF
I two hats protruding over the top of /
bush few yards away.
\ Maria" heard Brooks say IN 6
g more earnest tone than / had deemed
him capable of assuming, 81 have
4 waited now for year for an answer
a Sometimes my hopes have been RAISED
4 raised only to see you shower kind
a ness on that fellow"
v whistled to the collie that ha,
|: been bounding along near by, ant
i. when Maria TorringtOn and her com
!, panion stepped hurriedly into view
cried "Hello!"
4 Brooks looked foolish and replied
O "Hello!" Then he be gan stirring tn
). dead leaves with his stick.
a For moment oil Of MS must hav'
O looked foolish, as Maria her face Grim
!. son. stared blankly at a distant tree
! top, while l leaned over and fell t.
y patting the shaggy dog.
The silence was broken by the girl
!. She had completely recovered he
;. composure, and, fixing her eyes OF
Il me, said: Harry, as you have doubt
d less heard, Dick-Mr. Brooks-ha
y just asked me to marry him
N asked for the thousandth time,
). muttered Brooks. His clean-shavel
= face was turning red from the tip o
n his chin to where the hair divided. !
.e man seldom obiectsto having it know,
that he is attentive to woman, but t
is have her blazon ii forth to all tn
If world, and to his worst rival in partic