The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-23
the room Then John became more

It's really to bad that Walter has
fallen in love with Florence he began,
for he hasn't the ghost of a show In
act 1 am expecting Mrs. Sutcliffe to ask
me as to my intentions any day.
rather think She imagines I am only
triff1ing with Flo's affection"
Your egregious conceit is certainly
the most colossal thing 1 can see in the
surrounding country scenery this even
ing" was the Longs gruff commentary
on this Introduction.
John passed on, his serenity not in the
least disturbed
THE thing is practically settled, I tell
you. We had long talk in the park
last night, and I could see that she was
only waiting for me to say the word.
L don't want her to think she has cap
tured me. too easily
Pray hand yourself another bouquet.
1t is most entertaining" said Long, fill
ing his pipe.
AS you know" continued Jack, as he
glanced across the room to observe his
reflection in the mirror, "I have politi-
cal ambitions, and I fancy Florence
would make a capital wife for receptions
and that sort of thing. She is clever, too,
which is more than can be said for most
pretty girls
Here the coming statesman rose and
struck an attitude as though he were
addressing applauding thousands. Yes.
SIR with q wave of his hand, "she is
the one to help man like me-
The sitting broke up at this point, and
Long was left to think the situation
over
John always did think himself a
deuce of a lady-killer," he ruminated,
land I am more than half afraid he's
right in this particular instance. How
ever I'll reconnoitre, and see what can
be done for the Dock -
A few nights later, Long was seated in
the parlor Of the estimable aunt of the
cause of so much trouble, and that
sprightly fairy herself was humming to
herself some snatch of a popular comic
opera air close by.
1--WE never see much of you now" she
said, your two friends are much more
observant of social obligations"
Business, pressure Of business, denies
me the pleasure of emulating them in
so pleasant a duty he replied.
MIR. Hamilton was here last night"
she continued, don't you think he is
clever?"
Jack isn't exactly a stick" he con-
coded.
How can you be so grudging in your
praise? I think he is one of the most
brilliant and entertaining men 1 have
ever met"
Jacks got a cinch, all right groaned
Long to himself. "rhe Docks simply
nowhere"
But there is something patriarchal
about him for so young a man, dubbed
the youthful psychologist. "He is d man
one can respect, but I could never
fancy myself falling in love with him.
You can't, eh?' grinned Long, in
much more animated manner. Come to
think of it, I guess you're right though
1 never remarked his popularity in this
respect before. He's certainly one of the
oldest men of his age ever saw
That night, about midnight, Long broke
into Walters room and, tumb,ing him
out of bed, shook hands with him as
that gentleman was blinking his aston
ised eyes.
What in thunders the matter with
you?" he growled. "Have you gone
mad?"
mo, but I know some one who has,
and another who would be nearly SO if he
knew as much as I do"
That was all he said, and he left the
room, leaving it's occupant under the i'm
preston that he had been toying with
something even more eXhilarating than
highly mobile speculative stocks.
Summer ripened into fall and still the
visitor from New Jersey found herself
the guest of her aunt. Miss Florence was
the recipient of attentions from any num-
Der of men, but it was generally under
stood that Jack and Walter had the
pole, and were making a neck-and-neck
race of it
To Long the former frequently confded
that he would not much longer delay TAX
ing the fatal plunge. That he did not
hold the winning cards never for a
moment crossed his mind, and he felt
a genuine pity for his old friend, who
was again destined to defeat in the race
for the best prize they were ever likely
to compete for.
The Dock kept his own counsel, and for
a love-sick swain manifested surprising
ly little jealousy toward his rival. One
night Long came home with the informa-
ton that Mr. Sutcliffe was in the city
and yielding to the pressure of his daugh-
ter, had consented to allow her to re-
main until after Christmas, and that he
himself would run up for few days dur
ing the holiday week. John was seen to
smile significantly, as if that was some
thing that vitality interested him, but the
exasperating little Walter relapsed into
one of his preoccupied, uncommunicat1ve
moods.
In few weeks, the three young men
opened their mail one morning, and found
among their business letters dainty invi-
| tations to Christmas dinner with the
| SATELLITES, which were accepted.
A few days before this date John con-
fded to Long that he intended making
| Florence Christmas present of a formal
| tender of his hand and heart. The father
| would be there then, and the necessary
formalities could be dispatched without
needless delay. 1t did occur to Long to
| undeceive him there and then, but he de-
| cided to let his vanity run into a real
crusher, which it was badly in need Of
The Natal Morn dawned in due course,
and, on getting out of bed, Long Strolled
across into Hamilton's room in his dress
| ing gown. The two exchanged the COM
| pliments of the season and were chat
ting when they heard Walter in his
| room at the piano. The Dock" said
John, 'he's been up for a deuce of q
| long time, 1 heard him pottering about
more than an hour ago. I wonder if he's
been up to mischief Just then came
a knock at the door, and in obedience
| to Johns loud come in,' a servant en-
tered with an immense bundle of parcels
and letters.
! ''Ah, Christmas presents, 'Timeo Dan
aos ct dona ferentes' laughed he, quot
| ing from his compact residuum of Vir-
| gil. Lets see what I have drawn. -
Package after package was opened and
the gifts duly admired. Finally very
small one was reached, on which was no
/ clue to the sender.
| whats this, I wonder?" unused Jack.
| as he tugged at the string The outer
J covering off, the inner package was dis
closed, and inside this another.
The mystery deepens," remarked the
complacent Hamilton, as he tore off the
last covering and brought to light a copy
of morning paper.
Something about me in this, I s'pose, -
he said, as he opened it up. In an inner
page circle of red ink attracted his at
tention, and this Is what he read:
] The engagement is announced of Miss
Florence Sutcliffe, of Orange, N. J., who
has been on a visit to this city, to Wal.
ter Cunningham, the brilliant young at.
torney. The marriage will take nlace Il