The Press., 1899-11-30

way. Fred is anything but brilliant, and I never considered him even good looking, while as long as mamma lives he hasn't penny to his name except his salary, which is by no means princely.
 But Maud! You'd have thought she'd landed Vanderbilt or poet laureate the way she acted.
 1 pretended not to notice her airs and nursed my grief in proud silence, but I had no doubt that I was the most wronged and unhappy creature that ever lived until subsequent events taught me that our affairs are arrang- ed by an all wise Providence in whom we may safely trust, no matter how dark our way may seem at the time. I shall never doubt the wisdom Of Providence again.
 To begin with, 1 found l was likely to get a lot of amusement out of this engagement Fred was madly jealous of Maud all the time, though any ono 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 a week, pale. haggard and wild eyed, man bereft of hope. The rest of the time he was madly joyful and talked about Maud as if she was sev- eral degrees higher than the seraphinl. It was enough to make St. Bernard dog laugh just to see him. I also found further consolation in the fact that his state of mind inter- fered seriously with Fred's appetite, that I got all the extra pudding and things that had always fallen to his share Q'red was always greedy thing), and then Perceval Jones came from abroad.
 Perceval was a millionaire's son, with a face too beautiful for words and taste for Ibsen.
 Of course all this made him desira- ble beyond most other men, but I must say the way the girls of Archerville l made different kinds of fools of them selves about him was enough to dis gust even q woman's rights advocate l with her sex. .. I need hardly say that I was smart enough to treat MT. Jones with mark
 
 my behavioB seemed to puzzle the pampered youth. The second time he | 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 that 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" I said gushingly. was trifie nervous from waiting so long.
 "Ah, thanks!' he remarked, looking disappointed.
 And then mamma came in and in spite of my previous warnings finish ed things by treating MT. Jones as if he were Albert Edward or Mark Han- na or at least royal duke. Mamma | never could resist a millionaire. Our visitor took his leave in less than half an hour, and I knew that unless I adopted desperate measures Perceval Jones was lost to me forever. But Pm not one to give up easily. and after thinking hard thinks all night I finally hit on a plan and went to sleep at daybreak and slept till noon as sweetly and as innocently as a child
 Early in the afternoon 1 telephoned to Maud and asked her to go with me out to the golf links at o'clock. Then I telephOned to Fred to meet us there and proceeded to make fetching toilet with a light heart. When we reached the links, there was MT. Jones Che had mentioned that he was going the day before).
 l He was looking bored, as usual, but cheered up when I treated him with ! naughty cOldness.
 l eluded his attempts at conversa- tion, however and threw Maud in his way whenever I could.
 I was rewarded by seeing him seat himself by Maud's side and commence disquisition on Ibsen as Fred came around the hill on his bicycle No sooner did Fred's eye light on the couple than he commenced to glare like a madman, and in spite of my in- nocent efforts to keep him away he wound up by being so outra geously rude to MT. Jones that that gentleman was confounded, and Maud went home in tears.
 As for me, went to bed happy. My plan was working to a charm.
 A day or two later I got mamma to ask MT. Jones to dinner and managed to have him take Maud out. That set tied it. Fred treated Perceval in such Ian insulting manner that even he could hardly. overlook it, and he left early, to mammals distress and my secret joy. l After that 1 began: to meet Perceval every time I went out of the house. No matter whether walked or drove or rode a wheel I was sure to en- counter him before long, and he would escort me on my way, leaving me al ways on our. return at the end of the street leading to our house.
 Since your brother, who is your guardian, dislikes me so I cannot go to your ho'ne," he would say regretful- ly, and would blush and stammer an apology. 'But must see you in spite of him." Perceval would add with a ! in the seventh heaven.
 At last after three weeks of this sur reptitious eourtship Perceval could stand it no longer. .~zse
 Be my wife, Rosamondv' he cried one day. Never mind what they say at home. must have you. I never knew what love was before"
 Poor boy, he had never known the bliss of trying for what he wanted. Before this it had always dropped into his lap. sss
 But l couldn't trust him even then. "Oh, nov' said timidly. T dare not. Fred would kill you if he thought of such thing"
 "Let him try" said Perceval valiant ly. "I'll have you in spite of him. See, | here is the minister on his norch Roso.