Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1899-11-10
MY ENGAGEMENT.
when a Man Changes HIS Girl,
He Had Better Notify His
Jewelcr.

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We have ALL suppose, In our lives
made blunders-littlc plumbers. big
plumbers, and so forth. till one reaches
the pitch Of irrctrieynblc hlunder-
and I have lust escaped Ia the con.
sequences Of one that for t. moment
WAS likely TO prove irretrieyable.
was-I had foollshly allowed my
self to he fascinated 10y Miss Stranger
fOrd-ycs, fascinated Is, ! think, Just
the word TO meet the case.
Phyllis Is n dear, quite a dear, and
Tor a time submit that ] was totter-
ing on the brink. I believe. as a mat
ter of fact. that did propose once or
twice. but OF course | knew she'd say
no" She's so sensible. But, for one
awful. terrible moment at the time
I'm going TO tell you about thought
she was going to forget herself and say
"ycs."
You see. the truth IL. one Is a little
bit afraid OF Miss Strnngerford. Ey-
erything viii seem TO be going swim
mlngly. and you think you're getting
on quite well aud being rather clever
and all that. and then you look up and
you see something In her eyes which
sobcrs you down again. It's In her
eyes. Somewhere right at the back Of
them there's kind OF glistening twin
kle that makes you feel that you're a
fool
Now. Laura Is not like that. She Is
clever and knows all about books,
music and lbsen. and she hardly ever
smiles. hut Miss Strangerford Just sits
curled up In her chair and chatters
about nothing In particular. and says
funny things which make you laugh
and dresses very smartly. and even
sometimes smokes cigarettes, and yet
directly one begins TO talk about deeper
subjects she stays quite quiet aud
keeps tina, funny look In her eyes. for
all the world as II she was laughing at
you TO herself.
Last summer. down on the river. we
got ON awfully well at first. 1t was
later on that | came to the conclusion
that IL would be a mistake to carry
matters further. and as she had just
well not exactly refused. but put me
of for the second time. thought 1t
better TO let the matter drop.
Then ! met Laura. Laura adores
music halls. She says that she thinks
the color scheme OF the ballet most in
.tr,,,IVa aud has anuna In tho conglu.
sion that II Is unconsciously based on
the primitive principles OF color music.
I am sure she's right like them my
self.
I saw a good deal OF her after that
dinner. and last week we practically
became engaged Naturally wanted
10 give her some souvenir TO common
crate the day-not the ordinary, vulgar
ring but something with latent mean
ing In H. Laura Is great on latent
meanings. SO knew she would apprc-
ciate IL,
ON the morning after the engagement
| went To Somerton. the jewelers., and
explained what | wanted. Dickson,
their head man. spotted the idea at
once.
You want something with n pretty
sentiment In lt-something original"
couldn't think Of anything my
self, but he showed me a design which
he declared would be- just the thing.
Ii was sort OF brooch, with two
hearts-one ruby and one a diamond.
The ruby was supposed TO be mine, be-
cause Dickson explained that II slgni-
fled passion and devotion. The two
big stones were bound together with a
true lovers knot In diamonds-a copy
Of an old pattern. he assured me, and
very pretty II looked. l gave him my
card TO slip into the box when II was
sent home.
"what inscription, sirf" he asked as
| was leaving the shop.
OF course. directly he asked me that
was stuck. So just told him TO put
on the usual sort Of thing and TO send
Il 10 the young lady at once. together
with my card.
Two days later among my mornings
letters | received note from Miss
strangerford asking me TO 20 10 tea.
had Intended going TO see Laura, but
ON getting telegram 10 put me on, de-
cided TO go and see Phyllis.
was shown into her boudoir and
found her. as usual. curled up In an
armchair. smoking cigarette. IL
struck me that she was looking ex'
tremely pretty, and for one heeting
second l almost wished-that Laura
smoked.
Also. II Laura has a fault-which,
mind you. am not prepared to admit
still. II she has a fault, II Is that she
has quaint ideas on the subject Of hair
dressing. Now. Phyllis Is always beau
tifully "coiffe."
For my part felt little uncomfort'
able. but Miss Phyllis was not In the