El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-12

1
| 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 l 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" 1 said
gushingIy. l was trif1e nervous from
| waiting so long
"Ah. thanksr' he remarked, looking
| disappointed.
And then mamma came in and in
spite of my previous warnings finish
ed things by treating Mr.. Jones as if
he were Albert Edward or Mark Han
ma or at least a royal duke. Mamma
never could resist a millionaire.
Our visitor took his leave in less
than half an hour, and l knew that
| unless 1 adopted desperate measures
Perceval Jones was lost to Inc forever.
But I'm not one to give up easily,
and after thinking hard thinks all
night finally hit on a plan and went
to sleep at daybreak and slept till
noon as sweetly and as innocently as
child.
to Maud and asked her to go with me
out to the golf links at o'clock. Then
telephoned to Fred to meet us there
and proceeded to make a fetching
toilet with a light heart. When we
reached the links, there was Mr.. Jones
Che had mentioned that he was going
the day before).
He was looking bored, as usual, but
cheered up when 1 treated him with
naughty GOODNESS.
/ eluded his attempts at CONVERSE
ton, however, and threw Maud in his
way whenever 1 could.
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 mailman, and in spite Of my in
nocent efforts to keep him away he
wound up by being so outrageously
rude to Mr.. Jones that that gentleman
was COMPOUNDED, and Maud went home
in tears.
AS for me, 1 went to bed happy. Ny
plan was working to a charm.
A day or two later l got mamma to
ask Mr.. Jones to dinner and managed
to have him take Maud out. That set
tied it. Fred treated Perceval in such
an insulting manner that even he could
hardly overlook it. and he left early, to
mammals distress and my secret joy.
After that L began to meet Perceval
every time l went out of the house.
No matter whether 1 walked or drove
or rode a wheel l 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, l cannot go
to your hone,' he would say regretful-
ly, and 1 would blush and stammer an
apology. But must see you in spite
of him." Perceval would add with a
melting glance, and l would go home
in the seventh heaven.
At last after three weeks of this sur
reptitious courtship Perceval could
stand it no longer.
'Be my wife, Rosamondv' he cried
one day. Never mind what they say
at home. l must have you. 1 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.
But I couldn't trust him even then.
ooh, nor 1 said timidly. 81 dare not.
Fred would kill you if he thought of
such Il thing
LET him try" said Perceval valiant
ly. "I'll have you in spite of him. See,
here is the minister on his porch. Rosa
mond. Come, darling, he will give me
the right to claim you from your
brother"
And before 1 knew what 1 was about
1 found myself in the minister's par
lor being married in a bicycle skirt
and pink cotton shirt waist.
Ten minutes later l walked into
Fred's office, leaving Perceval wait
Ing outside, looking a little pale about
the gills. but with a combatiye CLEAN
in his eye.
Fred" remarked coolly as look
ed my brother square in the face. 81
want to thank you for what you've
done for me. I'm Mrs. Perceval Jones,
by your leave"
Then a smile of incredulous relief
spread over his face.
Gosh" he calculated. ITO think
that the fellow actually wanted you.
-ChicagO rimes-HeraId.