Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-09-14
An UNCONSCIOUS ALLY.
ALPS Fair In War and In Love,
Especially In Love.

l have always had remarkably
| large number of friends Of my own
! sex. Lest this should lead people tc
! give me an undue amount of credit fol-
amiability and sweetness of disposition
| l may as we'll state at once that have
| d manageable brother.
Being possessed also Of a fair
amount of brains, l was never for "A
moment deceived as to the nature Of
the affection lavished upon me by
most of my female friends. But when
my dearest chum, the girl really
thought loved me for myself alone,
told me she was engaged to be mar
ried to my brother Fred my grief and
anger knew no bounds.
l had gone over to stay all night
with Maud and had laid awake till 3
a. m. exchanging condolences, and all
the time the sneak never said word
about Fred. At last dropped off to
sleep and was just in the midst of a
glorious dream, in which was lead
ing the cotillon with magnificent
man with soulful eyes and bank ac-
count in seven figures, when Maud
suddenly threw her arms about my
neck, entirely shutting off my wind
and soaring me almost Into nervous
prostra ton, and with burst of tears
confessed that she had been keeping
secret from me for two whole days
and that we were to be really, truly
sisters, not Just sisters In affection. as
heretofore, etc.
managed to wriggle out from under
Maud's arm, and then | sat up in bed
and said things. ! don't remember
exactly what they were, but they must
have been pretty bad, for Fred didn't
speak to me for week (of course
Maud had to tell him), and Maud her
self went around looking like IL suffer
ing martyr whenever we CHANGED to be
under the same roof.
was convinced that l was the most
miserable girl In the world after that,
and the worst Of it was that every
body, including Maud herself. thought
that was only mad because she was
engaged first. an imputation which ]
need not say was entirely unjust.
I'm sure 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 as mamma lives
he hasn't a penny to his name except
his salary, which is by no means
princely.
But Maud! You'd have thought
she'd landed a Vanderbilt or a poet
laureate the way she acted.
l pretended not to notice her airs
and nursed my grief in proud silence,
but / had no doubt that | was the
most wronged and unhappy creature
that ever lived until subsequent events
taught me that our affairs are arrang-
ed by al all wise Providence In whom
we may safely trust, 40 matter how
dark our way may seem at the time
shall never doubt the wisdom OF
Providence again.
To begin with, l found was likely
to get a lot Of amusement out of this
engagement. Fred was madly jealous
Of Maud all the time, though any one
could see with half an eye that she
was simply mad about him and in
deadly fear Of losing him herself
He would come home at least three
times week, pale, haggard and wild
eyed, a man bereft Of hope. The rest
Of the time he was madly joyful and
talked about Maud as if she was sew
eral degrees higher than the seraphim.
1t was enough to make st. Bernard
dog laugh just to see him.
| also found further consolation In
the fact that his state of mind inter
fered seriously with Fred's appetite,
that | got all the extra pudding and
things that had always fallen to his
share GNred was always greedy
thing), and then Perceval Jones came
from abroad.
Perceval was millionaire's son,
with face too beautiful for words
and a taste for Ibsep.
OF course all this made him desira-
bic beyond most other men, b,N must
say the way the girls of Archerville
made different kinds of fools Of them
selves about him was enough to dis
gust even womans rights advocate
with her sex.
need hardly say that was smart
enough, to treat Mr.. Jones with mark
ed GOODNESS. The first time met him
nv behavior seemed to puzzle the
pampereu youth. The second time liz
appeared distinctly grateful. On The
third he asked permission to call, and
went home at peace with all the
world, even Fred.
For five consecutive afternoons after
chat sat by the tea table in the back
drawing room, attired in my best
gown, expecting Perceval-in vain.
On the sixth he came.
"What a delightful surprise said
gushingly. | was a tritle nervous from
waiting so long.
"Ah, thanksv' he remarked, looking
disappointed.
And then mamma came in and In
spite of my previous warnings hnish-
I,, %,,ofipo NJ TOnos If