Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-10

let Fise to his cheeks. whil;e t sharp
pang of Jealousy shot through his
heart. Who was this Alexander" for
whom Ida Casserly expressed SO de-
cided preference? ...~.5
Well, cried Flora, the younger Of
the three sisters, u didn't think YOU
were one to throw over an old favorite
Just because later novelty has ap-
peared!"
Don't be sentimental, Flo.!" cried
Ida, with little grimace which made
her mouth more like a ripe cherry
than ever. Il tell you won't have the
major about the place any longer!"
Our hero stood appalled,. What bale
full influence had changed his shy. del
lcate Ida into this resolute vixen? He
was no Petruchio, to undertake the
Tanning of the Shrew," and he bit his
lips. W0
Alexander, by all means!" cried Ida.
waving her little straw hat around her
mead exultingly. Alexander and the
| admiraI!"
New friends" bitterly thought the
major, as he turned away and noise
lessly retraced his steps. Madison
was right; she never could have cared
for me. Well, I'm glad have found it
out before it was too late Alexander
-Alexander-if I knew who the VIII
lain was l would punch his head for
him." .
And Major Kingsbury just succeeded
in catching the last down-train for
New York by running himself into a
violent perspiration.
The first person he STUMBLED over as
he entered the hotel corridor was Mich
olas Madison ".
"Hello!" calculated Madison.
Thought you had gone ove-making
up the river?" ...
Give US your hand, old friend!"
said kingsbury, impressively. you
were right-about-abou what we
spoke of this afternoon. I have been a
fool. But don't think I shall repeat
the experiment"
And he passed wretched and sleep
less night, alternately raging at Ida
Casserly's treachery, and wondering
who Alexander" and the admiral"
could possibly be.
The next morning brought little.
scented note in Ida's dainty handwrit-
ing.
How have I offended you?" it ran.
You came last night, but you went
away without seeing me. What has
gone wrong? Surely you will not deny
me the opportunity of pleading my
own cause. I shall be at home this
evening again.
IDA"
She's right" said the major. "Of
course, she never will be anything to
me again, but ought certainly to al
low her the chance of explanation"
Major kingsbury took the evening
train once more. Ida was waiting for
him on the veranda this time.
Ralph"
Her pretty, pleading eyes-her out
stretched hand! Ralph Kingsbury
would have been either more or less
than man to have resisted them.
What has offended you. Ralph?"
she asked, piteously
Tell me-" he said, still striving to
speak sternly. "Who Is Alexander"
Alexander"
Eyes, and the Admiral!"
Ida looked at him as if she believed
him to be crazy.
Ida, accidentally heard you talk
ing to your sisters on the lawn last
| night. You distinctly stated that Won
preferred the aforementioned gentle
men-and that the major was-was-''
Ida burst into a merry peal of ire
pressible laughter.
Stop, Ralph, stop!" she cried. IT
understand it all; remember 1t now!
Yes-I did say sol"
You did?"
and I mean it, too, Ralph" she
added, with eyes that sparkled rogulsh-
ly. But you misunderstood the mat
ter altogether. We are going to have
a new border of tuiips-the Duo Ma
ior' is an ugly brown, old-fashioned
bulb and Alexander and The Admit
raj are beautiful double yellow varie-
ties! Look at Vicks' catalogue for
yourself. II you don't believe it."
Major kingsbury's face cleared I'D as
radiant as a spring morning.
What a goose l have been. Ida," he
cried, rapturously
"of course you have, you dear old
dariing!" said Miss Casserly.
And when they parted, the pearl
cross hung round Ida's neck, and the
day for the wedding was set! Mr..
Madison was scandalized when he
heard that his friend was determined
to persist in his infatuation.
But there's no accounting for these
things!" quoth he.
Miss Casserly changed her mind
about the tulips, however. and for Ma
jor Kingsbury's sake. the ugly brown
tulip still keeps its place in the bulb
bed, although Alexander" and "Ad-
miral Kingsbergen" are planted in the
places Of honor
Tasted for Seven Years.