The Delta independent., 1900-02-16

at me little. but treated him WITH
deserved contempt. After about ten
minutes OF desultOry chatter he took
himself Oh.
Miss Phyllis watched the door clOss.
behind him. and then. suddenly turn.
ing to me. she stretched out her hand
and said:
My dear Gerald. how can ! thans
your
confess that was considerably
taken aback.
Il think" continueti Phyllis. without
noticing my surprise. -that you ARE
the most generous and forgiving per-
son In the world"
Il wus afraid" said !. 'rhat you
were offended with me. but you arr
not. are you. since you've asked inc 10
Gomez"
''Offen,isd.' said Miss Phyllis. My
dear Gerald. whatever made yOu think
that! You're a dear. Size. I've got Il
on
did see. and TO my horror realixesl
for the first time that the Elistcnins
object which I bad been admirinx 80
much In Phyllis chiffon was the brooch
That" ! gaspssi. lis little me-
mento Of our-of my 'engagement-'
Yes" said Phyllis. smiling. u cOn-
slider myself really engaged now"
You don't mean to say." stanimcr-
I'd. that you
"Oh. hut I do. she interrupted
.'Really. really . dor Aud her cycs
sparkl.Ii.
There Is q mistake somewhere
explained cOufuss.dly. "I-that Is. you
Il mean . ani engng gs,i.'
Naturally" said Miss Phyllis. rails
Ing her eyebrows We are both en-
gaged-isn't II spleiidisi?'
But" managed to calculate Mt
Inst. with more force than pOlIteness.
I'm engaged to sOue one else. not To
you"
This speech. blunt and plain enough
In It's way. M-'niesl TO AFFORD Thy his iiS-
finite anusrinsns fhr ruristl herself
up more tightly In her chair and fairly
quiverrtl with nupipr''sS4si nferriment.
"DOn's you unslcrstaimi!'' ! explain
I'd. - an, engaged sO Miss Ainesly-
l-aurn Ains~ly. snd-of course. I'm nw-
fully sorry. but that WAS sent you by
mistake"
Phyllis managed TO subdue her
laughter.
My dear Gernid. please don't IOOi
like that" she said. wlping she tears
from her rysr with Nm al,~ur1 iitfic
pocket handkerchief. ''YOu seesin't
look No ws.ssrOa~. even II you ,ii',
think . was guinG TO acceps yOl.-
sex? You went into xOip~rtOn'x aud or
dersl this brOOch and told them ~
send IL direct 10 the la,ly's h0use.
1t never S~eliss.J TO have 0arurrej to
you to ineptios her naue. ami - they
had made .ousrihiug for me NJ your or-
der In axr~ IAss they naturally COO
eiudsSi that shis WAS for me. too. aai
sent II Oh by q Hss-ns~aRrr With Jour
card. ! knew u was . mistake. 20 ]
sent my maid down to Inquire. u was
not tlld,cuis to gsis'~s sii~ srvth-''
'Oh: snIJ lamely.
There. here you nr,'. you xilly boy"
slsr said. l,oi,ling out the hrOoch. "ltun
away sO Laura with u. md forgive use
for plnyInx a Jsactirai joke on yoa. hut
you did hDok such II picture VI dis
Eay-'
'-Won't yOu keep II. plCase! said ]
humbiy. u ought sV pay pensity for
my stupidity
Its awfuiIy goosI Of yOu. s:Srshi.
sud It's very pretty. hut ! don't know
that ! ought to. I've isrn cugxged
slns~ "Wednesday. yvu ser. ~ Captain
Alahon."
''Ths very thing ! criesi. turning TO
the. inscription ON the back. II wan
engngssI on "Wednesday. too: see. heres
the date"
Phyllis looked
-ls do~s sr~in 10 ht u u!cs'iy." shv
said. -Slsy ! really keep III"
-f'ienrsr do said I. and 10 be- says
snyti,Iug tell hin, h Was q premature
Christians Offering"
am glad tls~ mistake bsv4s'sssi aft
~ all. for am very fond of Phyllis.
And we'll. Captain MaisOn. or what
ever his unns~ is. - . very lucky p'nn.
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