Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-09-10
BOTH INCORRIGIBLE.
70 r OUS1N PERCY has returned froIn
his wanderngs," announced Mrs.
Brandenberg, laying down her paper.

will have her for dinner and tea, for ball and
luncheon. at charming little tete-a-tete meet
ings, etc, until he'll have to give in from
sheer helplessness and marry her"
II fail to understand you, Mortimer, said
his wife, Grossly.
Come now, don't get angry, Floss, but
YOU know you love nothing half so well as
making match for people who are too
stupid to arrange one for themselves. And
/ must confess you've made some jolly good
ones, toe" he added, diplomaticalIy, seeing
a dangerous sparkle in her eyes. But you
must confess there are just two people you
cannot do anything with-Percy and Nir-
ginia Tarelton."
Percy and Virginia Tareltonl" exclaimed
Mrs. Brandenberg, clapping her hands &c
sta4ically. "Thank you, thank you, Morti'
mer; you've suggested the very thing. Nir'
ginia and Percy are admirably suited to each
other-the same artistic tastes, the same IN
tense love of travel both with independent
fortunes, and"
"And," interrupted her husband, you
could no more induce the one to marry than
the other. No, Floss, you'll have to give
them up; they're perfectly hopeless, unman-
ageable."
go away, Mortimer and don't be so silly
l tell you they were made for each other and
am only doing my duty in bringing them to-
gether," said Mrs. Brandenberg, tossing her
head defanty.
Gang yer own gait, missus," replied her
husband, smilingly, "and meet with defeat.
But I'll wager that is all you'll meet"
"What'Il you wager?' queried the little
woman, briskly.
THE price of your portrait painted by
fNt-- l III E.l hat hl
would never have to pay it. Done! And
intend to win," Mrs. Brandenberg cried,
gleefuly, Just as, by strange coincidence,
the door was thrown open and Virginia Tar
elton was announced. Mr. Brandenberg cast
q quizzical glance at his wife as he escaped
from the room, but she was already embrac
ing her dearest Virginia and did not notice
him. Miss Virginia was a rather stately
young woman of eight or nine and twenty,
handsome, accomplished, and very wealthy,
but having been raised by a maiden aunt who
had met with disappointment in love in
early life and had in consequence turned
into a veritable man.hater, Miss Virginia
had been led to believe that men at best
were untrustworthy creatures,
Flossy Brandenberg, who was very fond
of her, had made several unsuccessful at
tempts to make her happy for life by marry.
ing her to some venturesome suitor, but Nir-
ginia fought shy of all such well meant aid.
When, therefore, her friend began to re-
count the many attractions and virtues OF
her Cousin Percy Virginia listened but cold
ly; finally, being rather hard pushed, she
turned at bay.
"Look here, Floss" she said, energetically,
please say nothing more about men and
marrying to me. I'll have none of it!"
"Marrying" exclaimed Mrs. Branden-
berg tartly. "Why, Virginia, pardon me II
say what seems uncompimentary, but
Percy Pentacoast would not marry you nor
any other woman-under any considera-
ton"
"And why not, pray?" demanded Virginia,
quite hulfed.
Because" her hostess replied, solemnly,
"Percy has just as intense a loathing for
matrimony as you have. | never knew a man
so insanely opposed to anything as he is TO
marriage. And it's shame, toe, for Percy
is so companionable, enormously wealthy,
has Travelled the world over, paints plays di-
vinely; in short, l know of nothing that he
is not master of.
"And nothing could induce him to marry?
Are you sure, Floss?" Virginia inquired, eau
tiously.
"Quite sure" was the decided response.
"Then," said Virginia, drawing a breath OF
relief, you may introduce him, Floss"
Mrs Brandenberg seemed suddenly to lose
all interest in Cousin Percy. She stifled a
yawn before replying, carelessly: 81 will if l
ever get chance, but Percy so seldom goes
out. But perhaps | could arrange it,, doubt
fully.
Miss Virginia's feathers were rufiled She
colored up angrily. Pray don't put yourself
out on my account. It's of not the slightest
interest to me, she said, stiffiy, and then
plunged animatedly into discussion Of the
new play. But when she had taken her de-
parture Mrs. Brandenberg laughed aloud as
she said to herself:
Point one scored"
The day was an eventful one for Mrs. Nor
timer Brandenberg, for Miss Tarelton had
hardly left the house when Percy Pentacoast
ran in to pay his respects.
you came just too late to meet one of my
most interesting friends, his cousin said as
she greeted him warmly, after which she
broke into praises of Virginia and kept it up
until Percy interrupted her, sarcastically.
I'm fact, she's perfect female paragon,
suppose he said,
II
ing sad, "far from it, Percy. She would be if
it were not for the unnatural antipathy she
has for marriage. wish it were possible for
you to meet her Percy, for you have so
many congenial tastes and pursuits, and you
would be perfectly safe in her society and
could enjoy it freely, knowing that even if
you wished she could not be induced to
marry you"
''You wish it were possible. What do you
mean by that?" demanded Mr.. Pentacoast,
stung into interest at last.
"Oh, Virginia has built such a Chinese
wall about herself that she's almost inacces
sible," she replied
"Ive scaled some pretty high walls and
broken through many Others" Mr.. Penta
coast said, rather sulkily, "and if wanted
to make myself agreeable to any woman
would do so, whether she wiled it or not"
You're game, Percy, my boy, but you'll!
not likely be tempted in Virginia's case, as
you'll probably not meet her" and then,
having accomplished her end, the wise
woman changed the subject When her
cousin left her he was pledged to attend a
small dinner the next week, which she gave
in his honor, and, singularly enough, he took
Miss Tarelton in to dinner.
Mortimer" said Mrs. Brandenberg to her
husband, two months after her dinner party,
you'd better arrange with Chatran for my
portrait"
What" cried Mortimer, jumping up in
surprise.
81 was sure ! could do it," said his wife,
dimpling with delight. "There are more
WAYS than one to pain an end nv dear