The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-01-16


1 went home at peace with all the
world. even Fred.
For five consecutive afternoons after
that 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
gushingly. l was a trifie nervous from
waiting SO long.
"Ah, thanksv' 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 millionaire.
Our visitor took his leave in less
than half an hour, and / knew that
unless 1 adopted desperate measures
Perceval Jones was lost to me forever
But I'm not one to give up easily,
and after thinking hard thinks all
night finally hit on plan and went
to sleep at daybreak and slept till
noon as sweetly and as lnnocently as
a child.
Early in the afternoon l telephoned
to Maud and asked her to go with me
| out to the golf links at o'clock. Then
l 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
naughty coldness.
I eluded his attempts at converse
ton, however, and threw Maud in his
way whenever I could.
was rewarded by seeing him seat
himself by Maud's side and commence
a 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 madman, 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 confounded, and Maud went home
in tears.
As for me, went to bed happy. My
plan was working to a charm.
A day or two later I got mamma te
ask Mr.. Jones to dinner and managed
to have him take Maud out. That set
tied it. Fred treated Perceval in sucf
an insulting manner that even he could
hardly overlook it, and he left early, tt
mammals distress and my secret joy.
After that began to meet Perceva
every time I went out of the house
No matter whether l walked or drove
or rode a wheel 1 was sure to en-
counter him before long, and he woult
escort me on my way, leaving me al
ways on our return at the end of th'
street leading to our house.
"Since your brother, who is you
guardian, dislikes me so, 1 cannot g
to your hone," he would say regretful
ly, and would blush and stammer al
apology. "But must see you in spit
Of him." Perceval would add with {
melting glance, and I would go hom
in the seventh heaven.
At last after three weeks of this SUI
reptitious courtship Perceval coul
stand it no longer.
'Be my wife, Rosamondw he erie
one day. "Never mind what they sa
at home. I must have you. 1 neve
: knew what love was before"
Poor boy, he had never known tn
bliss of trying for what he wanted
Before this it had always dropped int
, his lap.
: But I couldn't trust him even ther
t "Oh, nor said timidly. 81 dare no
$ Fred would kill you if he thought G
! such thing"
"Let him try" said Perceval valian
j ly. @Pl have you in spite of him. Sc,
: here is the minister on his porch, Ros:
:, mond. Come, darling, he will give N
j the right to claim you from you
9 brother"
t And before l knew what was abol
s I found myself in the minister's pa
lor being married in a bicycle ski
It and pink cotton shirt waist.
It Ten minutes later 1 walked in
Fred's Office, leaving Perceval wal
9 ing outside, looking a little pale abo,
=, the gills, but with a combative glea
e in his eye.
e Erred" remarked coolly as 1 loo
IS ed my brother square in the face,
: want to thank you for what YOU
u done for me. I'm Mrs. Perceval Jone
W by your leave"
e. Then a smile Of incredulous reli
If spread over his face.
"Goshw he calculated. "To thil
~ that the fellow actually wanted you
is Chicago Times Herald.