New-York tribune., 1900-07-01


Metford groaned audibly.
1T must not be!' he exclaimed Indignantly
c-Shall not BET" he muttered inwardly) You
Cont love the girl you have admitted it; you
Rre not half as fond Of her of that newest pup
Of yours" ('-I would Gle to save her half a mo-
ments pain, and ! don't suppose she cares a
straw for me- ne reelected btterIy) - feel
Ike kicking you!"
BE looked like kicking likewise.
kick me, thump 3ne. CT do what you will
cid chap. My feeling is just this: I a
worthless sort of fellow, have gone the pace
and don't deserve the love of any woman in the
WoT7d'-
what man ever did?" growIed Metford.
oh but you haven't a notion what a thorough
bad lot I've been! Don't look so unbelievng!"
proceeded the Noteworthy corvalescent. 4 was
going to tell you something that Jess told me
which makes me toIeraby sure that Miss Weth-
e-ed-but you would only scof- l never knew
such a fellow you, upon my word"
Mettord smiled iUegibly.
'sThe position is a very simple one" he said
Assuming that from what your sister has
beer-pardon me for saying so-unWisely sNg-
gesting TO you, Mary-I mean, Miss "etneseo-
cares enough for you to marry you, worthless
and heartless but toIerably goodlookinG chap
Ike You, who, you justly remark, DOM oe-
serve the love OF any woman, nor, for that mat
the succession 10 one ol tIc oiN-SN ~N-0
vealthiest baronetcies in Fngland"--
he paused his face white and drawn lines
visible upon il that were not there when thls
debate began
-@You haven't any love to offer her. You don't
know what love IS. You merely want to cancel
a supposed debt Of gratitude by Offering her
your looks, your wealth-everythins you nave
except the only thing that a woman ike mary
Wethered hUngers for!"
He was becoming eloquent, too eloquent ana
he perceived it
Love viii come later" winston ahs"eFeu
confidently; gratitude is said to be akin TO
lave The girl is not quite my style admit;
hut Ike her-I really do, old chap! She Is
passably goodlookfng although. 1 suppose, one
eculd hardly call her pretty
Metford snOrted-
..sj,ps TeJl-suficiertly wei, that Is for
drawing room purposes Don't look SO oeAsliS
s-,-nflII; OF course you can't appreciate any
thing humber than Italian opera She plays the
piano nearly as well Jess does. t24bs inter-
estingiv. and has I must say, the gentlest voice
imaginable Whatever you may choose to say
yo, old calculating cynic, am more inclined &c
agree with my sister Jess that # return 10
Irdia without asking the girl to be my VIE l
shan be the stuPldest, most uHgratefui ahc most
contemplate beast on earth
II warn you" said Metford warmly that Il
T,fe.ieya herself 10 you, you VIII repent yourSeH
within week and the g.rl vii find you out ana
h. the most miserable woman on Gods e2rth-
you won't listen TO my words Of wisdom OF
course: for all the pig-headed, obstinate
I1uIes''-
"A somewhat mixed metaphor" laughed Win
ston, Unabashed-
MIXED metaphor be hanged Be a man and
= e,enternani co away uii5 eciared, and If, after
-vou have had SIX months 20 thinh about it, you
feel something more th&n gratitude stirring
within your bosom, get six months leave, return
10 England, insert your head into the matri-
noniaI Ioose-and be hanged 70 you"
arI3eastIy old cynic!" declared the blase Lieu
tenant i like your contounoed impudence
talking about love! Why. I don't believe you
rossess even the rudiments Of q heart! Damned
GOOD chan ali the samet You shall be my best
man Tomorrow or the next day l shall lndlte
z hyperbgIic episJle TO Miss Mary, asking
whether she cares enough Cor d fellow 10 wait
for him until he gets his captaincy. 1t may be
for wears as the scag says but l fatter myself
lam well worth waiting for, and l don't propose
N take the risk Of any other fellow-a cold
blooded chap Ike you, for fnstance-steppmg
into the lists during my absence
Netfcrd was speechless with contempt IhdI
WINSTON should have proved himself such an
unmitigated cad!