Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-03-24

Dn him.
"Should you, Dottie? Then l will
help youp' cried Lydia gayly. "And
now let us put our heads together.
This is what we decided upon Lydia
was to write to Hiram at once intimat-
ing that she had experienced a change
Of heart and that she might be induced
to listen to his suit. She requested him
to call the following Monday afternoon
|, we decided, should wait two days
and then write in somewhat vague and
general terms of my lonely condition,
the fact that / was not averse to marry
ing again and wind up by asking Hiram
to call on Monday afternoon. This we
did. Lydia received a prompt reply to
the effect that Mr.. Cadwallader would
call upon her as she suggested. My let
ter also received an immediate response.
He would come to my house on Monday
afternoon.
What we planned was that we should
be together when Mr.. Cadwallader
called at whichever house he should
come to first (there was little doubt in
my mind which one it would beg, and
that we should walk into his presence
together. What fun it would be and
how crestfallen he would look when he
found that we knew each other We
imagined his embarrassment as he would
stammer and bungle in trying to explain
his position before both of us.
Monday afternoon came. was in my
room, dressed and ready for the expect
ed summons from Lydia, when, to my
surprise, my maid brought me Hiram
card. l told her to fly with it to Mrs.
Lydia Cadwallader. In ten minutes
Lydia was with me, having entered
through the area, her head wrapped in
veil We waited a few moments until
we were more composed and then de-
scended the stairs together.
We entered the parlor hand in hand
and stood before our former husband.
Hiram rose and shook hands, first with
me- then with Lydia. This is an I'M
expected pleasure, he said to her. He
did not seem to be greatly embarrassed
He resumed his seat and waited ex-
pectantly.
1t did not seem nearly so funny as
had expected. felt very i'll at ease as
Lydia and stood side by side but it
was my cue to speak.
"Well, Mr.. Cadwallader, l said,
"now that you see us together perhaps
you will decide which of us you really
want.
Eyes, will you please make your
choice, sir?" said Lydia. with a cour-
tesy.
Decide? Choose?" he repeated cool
ly. do these words pertain exactly to
the present? p
did not quite understand what he
meant by this, but the remark had an
unpleasant sound to my ears.
Between two ladies, each of whom
I know to be so charming and agreea-
| bic, " he went on, sit would be most
difficult to make a selection. l am
afraid it will be necessary to consider
the matter from a business point of
view, much as 1 dislike to give it so
prosaic a turn. To you, madam" he
said bowling to me, ~ made a PROPOSE
ton last Monday. l have called with
the understanding that am to receive
your answer today. Am l rightT"
"You are, sir" l replied, feeling
that Hiram was getting rather the best
of the joke.
"And the answer isl"
"a decided Nor"
He bowed again. II cannot question
the wisdom of that decision, coming, as
it does, from one who has ever shown
such excellent taste"
"From you, madam, continued Hi
ram, looking at Lydia, 81 have received
letter intimating that you have some
kind of communication to make to
me. A little later 1 should have called
at your house, as you requested, to
learn the nature of it. Perhaps you
will be good enough, since 1 am so for
tunate as to find you here, to deliver
the message to me now"
Certainly, replied Lydia. at is
this, sir-I will never marry you.
"You will never-I beg your pardon.
l did not quite understand that last. "
"Marry you, repeated Lydia family.
"Oh, yes; thank you'll mean thank
you for repeating the words, said Hi
ram, who, was very sure, now had the
best of it. "And now that the business
part Of our interview is so quickly and
so happily settled perhaps you will
permit me to say to you ladies, as to
two old and dear friends twas there the
slightest emphasis on that 'old?D that
1 expect to be married in April will
send you both cards, and it will give
me pleasure to have you at the we'd
ding and meet my bride, whom you
cannot help admiring for her beauty. "
Having said this, Hiram took his hat
and politely bowed his way out leaving
Lydia and me feeling very crestfallen
over the collapse of our scheme.
"Where was you spiritH" said
sadly.
"And where was your ready tonguef'
returned Lydia. Gould you find moth.
ing to say to him after that dreadful
bluff he made about marrying some
body else?"
mot a word" said l. 81 was toe
Istounded at his GOODNESS. What Aplomt
the man had to talk about marrying il
April when he was raging inwardly
because we had both thrown him over p