The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-10-05

vTTDWWWS oferedit for amia.
bility and sweetness OF disposition, I
may a. well state at once that have o
manageable brother.
Being possessed also Of fair amount
OF brains, was never for moment
deceived as TO the nature OF the atfec-
ton lavishod upon me by most Of my
female friends. But when my deares.
chum, the girl really ii ought loved
nc for my myself alone, told me she
was engaged TO be married TO my
brother, Fred, my grief and anger
knew no bounds.
= Ihad gone over to stay all night with
Maud, and had laid awake till q. m.
exchanging condolences, and all the
time the sneak never said word about
Fred. At last / dropped of to sleep
aud was just In the midst Of n glorious
dream, in which 1 was leading the
cotillon with magnificent man with
soulful eyes and bank account in
seven figures, when Maud suddenly
threw hor arms about iny neck, entire
ly shutting OFF my wind and soaring
me almost Into nervous prostration,
aud with burst Of tears confessed
that she had been keeping a secret
from Inc for two whole days, and that
we were to be really, truly sisters, not
just sisters in affection, as heretofore,
etc.
managed to wrigsle out from rr-
dor Maud's arm, and then ] sat up in
bed md said things. T don't remem.
ber exactly what they were, but they
must have been pretty bad, for Fred
didntspeak to me for week (of course
Maud had TO tell himl, and Maud her
self went around looking like suffer
ing martyr whenever VIC Glanced to be
under the same roof.
was convinced that was the most
miserable girl in the world after that,
and the worst Of it was that overy.
body, including Maud herself, thought
that L was only mad because she was
engaged first, au imputation which
need not say was entirely unjust.
I'm sure I could not see what Maud
had done that was so wonderful any
way. Fred is anything but brilliant,
and never considered him even
good.looking, while as long ss mamma
lives he hasn't II penny to his name
except his salary, which is by no
means princely.
But Maul You'd have thought
she'd landed n Vanderbilt or poet
laureate the way she acted.
Ipretended not to notice her airs
and nursod my grief in proud silence,
but had no doubt that I was the
most wronged aud unhappy creature
that ever lived, until subsequent
events taught me that our affairs are
arranged by an all.wise Providence in
whom we may safely trust, no matter
how dark our way may seem at the
time. / shall never doubt the wis.,
dom OF Providence again.
To begin with, found I was likely
TO get lot of amusement out of this
engagement. Fred was madly jealous
of Maud all the time, though anyone
could see with half an eye that che
was simply mad about him and in
deadly foar Of losing him herself.
He would come homo at least three
times a week, pale, haggard aud wild.
eyed, q man bereft Of hope. The
rest Of the time he was madly joyful
and talked about Maud as if she was
several degrees higher than the
seraphim. 1t was enough to make q
st. Bernard dog laugh just to see
him.
I also found further consolation IL
the fact that his state of mind inter
fered seriously with Fred's appetite
that got oil the extra pudding and
things that had always fallen to his
share (Fred was always greedy
thinS), and then Perecval Jones camt
from abroad.
Perceval was a millionaire's son
with o face too beautiful for words
and taste for Ibsen.
OF course all this mado him desira
bic beyond most other men, but
must say the way the girls Of Archer
Vile made different kinds OF fools o
themselves about him was enough t,
disgust even woman's rights advo
cate with her sex.
need hardly say that I was smar
enough to treat Mr.. Jones witt
marked GOODNESS. The first time
met him my behavior seemed to puz
zle the pampered youth. The secon,
time he appeared distinctly grateful
On the third he asked permission +
call, and I went homo at peace wit
all the world, even Fred.
For five consecutive afternoon
after that sat by the tea table in til
back drawing room. attired in N
best gown, expecting Perceval-i
vain.
On the sixth lie came.
"What q delightful surprise, sal;
gushingly. / was o trife nervou
from waiting so long.
"Ah, thanks" he remarked, lool
ing disappointed.
And then mamma came in, ond j
spite OF my previous warnings fl
ished things by treating Mr.. Jones /.
If he were Albert Edward or Ma,
Hanna or at least royal duk
Mamma never could resist o million
sire.
Our visitor took his leave in le,
thon half ON hour, and knew tn
unless adopted desperate measure
Percevsl Jones was lost to me 70
ever.
But I'm not one to give up easil
and after thinking hard thinks {
night I finally hit on plan and we
to sleep at dsybreak and slept t
noon as sweetly and as innocently
child.
Early in the afternoon telephone
TO Maud and asked her to 90 with 1
out to the golf links at 4 o'cloc
Then telephoned to Fred to me
ms there and proceeded to make
fetching toilet with o light hea
When we reached the links there "
Mr.. Jones the had mentioned that
was going the day before).
He was looking bored as usual, b
cheered mp when I treated him wi