The record-union., 1899-03-20
A LACK OF DECISION.

Never was man, not even pale young
curate, SO beloved as my friend, Walter
Oman; but whether for himself, <or for
the comfortable income that was his,
or for the quite notorious dearth of men
at Mapletree, or for the spirit of mere
rivalry among a multitude of maidens,
who shall say? Enough that he was
loved, loved by May Holt, tall, fair and
sympathetic, skilled to set a bashful
man at ease; by Mona Forshells, dark,
elegant, vivacious, warranted to wear;
by Evelyn Maynard, prettiest of them
all; by Miriam Pennell, a delightful
girl, not beautiful, but merry and
adored in Mapletree; by three Miss
Mannings and by four Miss Hewitts; /;
by five Miss Joneses and Miss Nora
Earnsley; by Ethel Birchington, and
all mammas.
Now, 1 am not prepared to hold a
brief for Walter. AS the eldest Jones
girl said: why can't he make up his
mind and choose one of US, and save
us all this trouble? It's so selfish!"
And she stamped her pretty foot.
But the wind bloweth where it listeth
and Walter had no wish to choose. He
much preferred to wait, and being per-
haps a humorist, perhaps a cynic, he
maintained an attitude of absolute i'm
partiality. He played golf with Miss
Holt. shot with Miss Forshells, sketched
with Miss Maynard, gave aims with
Miss Pennell, played tennis with the
Mannings, croquet with the Hewitts,
biked with the Joneses, rode with Miss
Earnsley, smoked with Miss Birching-
ton, and dined with the mammaS as
often as they asked him and he could.
Moreover being Of a hospitable nature,
he returned their hospitality. Gave
casual luncheons charmingly gave
teas the most delightful from rare
china in the midst OF Chippendale, gave
little dinners admirably arranged, at
which each mother in turn was asked
to occupy the head of Walters table.
1 ventured to suggest to Walter this
was cruel, and had spoiled Mrs. Man
ning's dinner more than once, if no
one else's. But he merely smiled and
said: "At any rate, it's better than
being rude, and he continued his con-
tented way, the crown of maiden medi-
tation, the desire of marriageable Ma
pletree.
Man is the hunter, woman is his
game" SO says the rough King in
Tennyson's Princess" But what if
man be not disposed to hunt? 1t does
not follow there will not be sport.
Walter was hunted.
Miss Forshells took to golf. Miss May
nard shot, Miss Holt played tennis,
Nora Earnsley sketched, the Mannings
rode, the Hewitts biked, the Joneses
smoked, Miss Birchington gave aims,
Miss Penneu smiled. Walter waited,
and I watched the pretty comedy life
had devised for my amusement.
The pace quickened. 1t was thought
that Walter showed a preference for
May Holt Immediately all Mapletree
began to play There was a dearth of
caddies; school children turned truant;
fortunes were being made and Miriam
Pennell had her work cut out to keep
the place in order Her caddies' bank,
my poor suggestion, am glad to think,
was in a fair way of success, when
Walter tired of golf and looked TO
sketching Immediately odds shifted
on Miss Evelyn Maynard, who, it was
murmured. had obtained unfair ad-
vantage by being first in the field, and
sketching club was formed in her de-
spite.
I ventured to condole with Miriam
Pennell on the closing of her bank, but
the dear creature did not seem to mind.
1T was a first-rate idea" she said,
"but it meant new set of accounts.
you know, and I have seven already
Whereupon she laughed merrily, as was
her wont.
The hunting season came, and with