Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-09-27
S.sss.

Also, If Laura has ,fault-which
mind you, I am not prepared to admit
still, if she has a fault. it is that she
has quaint ideas on the subject of hair
dressing. Now, Phyllis is. always
beautifully "coiffe."
For my part l felt a little uncom-
Portable, but Miss Phyllis was not in
the slightest most generous and for
giving person in the man there, and
he glared at me little. but. treated
him with deserving contempt. After
about ten minutes of desultory chat
ter he took himself off.
Miss Phyllis watched the door close
behind him, and then, suddenly turn
ing to me. she stretcher out her hand
and said:
'My dear Gerald, how can 1 thank
you?"
I confess that I was considerably
taken back.
II think" continued Phyllis, without
| noticing my surprise, ''that you are
the most generous and forgiving per-
son in the world"
II was afraid" said l. chat you
were offended with me, but you are
not, are you, since you've asked me to
Gomez"
"Offended!" said Miss Phyllis. "My
dear Gerald. whatever made you think
| that? You're a dear. See, I've got it
on"
l did see. and to my horror I real
lied for the first time that the glisten-
ing object which l had been admiring
so much in Phyllis chiffon was the
brooch 1 had ordered for Laura.
THAT" 1 gasped, sis little memen-
to of our-of my engagement"
eyes," said Phyllis, smiling, 81 con-
slider myself really engaged now"
"You don't mean to say" 1 STAN
mered, that you"
ooh, but I dol" she interrupted.
Really, really 1 dol" And her eyes
sparkled.
There is mistake somewhere" l
explained, confusedly. "I-that is,
you'll mean I am engaged"
Naturally" said Miss Phyllis, rails
ing her eyebrows. eve are both en-
gaged-isn't it splendid?"
"But," I managed to calculate at
last, with more force than politeness,
"I'm engaged to some one else, not to
you,"
This speech, blunt and plain enough
in its way, seemed to afford Phyllis
infinite amusement. She curled her.
self up more tightly in her chair and
fairly quivered with suppressed merri.
ment.
Don't you understand" I explained.
II am engaged to Miss Ainesly-Laura
Amnesty, and-of course, I'm awfully
sorry, but that was sent you by mis-
take"
Phyllis managed to subdue her
laughter.
"My dear Gerald, please don't look
like that" she said, wiping the tears
from her eyes with an absurd little
pocket handkerchief. you needn't
look so woebegone, even if you did
think was going to accept you. l
promise not to marry you. Can't you
see? You went into Somerton's and
ordered this brooch and told them to
send it direct to the ladys house.
cit never seemed to have occurred
to you to mention her name, and as
they had made something for me at
your order in ages past they naturally
concluded that this was for me, too,
and sent it on by a messenger with
your card. l knew it was a mistake,
so I sent my maid down to inquire.
1t was not difficult to guess the truth"
"Oh!" said l lamely.
There, here you are, you silly boy!"
she said, holding out the brooch.
Run away to Laura with it, and for
give me for playing a practical joke
on you, but you did look such a pic
ture of dismay!"
''Won't you keep it, please?" said
humbly. II ought to pay penalty for
my stupidity
cts awful!y good of you, Gerald,
and it's very pretty, but don't know
that I ought to. I've been engaged
since Wednesday, you see, to Captain
Mahon."
"The very thing!" 1 cried, turning
to the inscription on the back. II was
engaged on Wednesday, too; see, here's
the date"
Phyllis looked.
cit does seem to fit in nicely" she
said. "May really keep it,"
"Please do" said I, ''and if he says
anything tell him it was premature
Christmas Offering"
I am glad the mistake happened
after all, for am very fond of Phyllis.
AndAwell, Captain Mahon, or what
ever his name is, is very lucky man.
The governor of Iowa gets only So
900 year salary.