The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-06
A THREE-PART
STORY
>~--~~-~-~~-~-~-~~ By-----~-~~~~~~--
FERGUS HUME
rCopyright.l
PRETTY MISS
JONATHAN

"Oh, 1 know all about that" said Mrs.
Dawson, cutting him short ''She falls
short of your standard of feminine excel
lence 1 remember the picture you painted
of her last year, and how you expressed
your detestation of the American girl.
Well. she is you see-faulty, but charm
ing Yet, if you are in love with her don't
let Kendrck carry her off. Marry her
yourself"
But
LET me tell you a parable. Mr. Conway.
A certain man picked up glittering stone
Said he, 1t glitters and glitters, but it's
only a piece of glass. after all. and not
worth keeping Then he threw it away,
and ii was picked up by his neighbor. The
neighbor did not throw it away, but exam
ined il carefully Then said he, 'Lo, it is
not glass, but diamond worth a kings
ransom "
'Well?"
"Well!' replied Mrs. Dawson, with SUI
preme disdain. Cannot you read my rid
die? Are you going to throw away the
diamond because you believe it but worth
less glass? Take my advice, Mr.. Conway"
she added, earnestly, ''be the second man
of my parable
When Leonard returned home that even
ing he thought long and deep over Mrs.
! Dawson's allegory. II seemed to hint at
/ some mystery connected with Matty of
which she was cognzant. He felt inclined
| to propose to Matty and take the chances
| of her being the costly diamond or the
| worthless piece of glass, but he dreaded
| lest she shoulc prove to be the latter rather
than the former. His mother called him
| into her boudoir before she retired that
| evening. She was radiant.
Lord Kendrick asked me if he could
speak to Matty tomorrow afternoon" she
said, smiling at her son.
docs he intend to propose?' asked Leon
ard, with an odd feeling in his breast.
'Of course he does. 1t will be brilliant
| match for Matty.''
'Will she accept him, mother?'
my dear, she would be mad to refuse"
| answered Mrs Conway, impressively
Lord Kendrick is young, handsome, titled
and wealthy. What more could the girl
| want?"
Leonard muttered something uninteIligi-
BILE and left the room quickly The news
dismayed him greatly. He was on the
point of seeking Matty with the intention
of asking her to become his wife. Two
circumstances restrained him. The one was
that Matty had gone to rest, the other that
| it would not be fair to Kendrick Conway
| thought of Mrs Conway's parable again,
and made up his mind what course to
| adopt.
| IF she accepts Kendrick I'll 60 on a
shooting trip TO Africa he decided "but
| If she refuses him-ah!'--he drew a long
breath-''if she refuses him I'll see if Mat
/ or no mic of ola
Next day he saw nothing of his cousin,
as he resolutely kept away from home All
the morning he remained at his club, and
caught a glance of Kendrick looking ra-
diant with expectation Of success. Not
feeling inclined to speak to his rival, he
left the club and went for a solitary stroll
| in the park.
In the afternoon he could bear the sus-
pense no longer, and returned home to
learn the worst. Itswas now close on 5
o'clock, and Kendrick must have learned
his fate. Leonard entered the house with
an assumption of calmness he was far
from feeling. AS he assembled the stairs
Kendrick came hastily down and brushed
past him without word.
IL say, Kendrick! 1 say"
Lord Kendrick muttered hurried excuse
4
the footman to open the door, did so him
self On the stairs Leonard remained
transfixed with astonishment, yet with a
| feeling of exultation in his heart. He took
in the situation at glance.
''She has refused him. he thought. low
fully. Now it is my turn"
Without giving himself time for further
consideration he ran upstairs and entered
the drawing room
Matty looked strangely at him as he en-
tered. With the unerring instinct of a
woman she guessed his errand from the
expression of his face. and her heart gave
a throb of joy as it was borne in on her
that Leonard had come to ask her to be his
wife. Now came the crucial test of her
| capability as an actress.
He thinks III drop like a ripe peach"
she murmured, as he came towards her.
"Well, we shall see."
Leonard caught her hands passionately
'Matty," cried her cousin. ''you have re-
fused him.
What do you mean?" she asked, snatch
ing her hands away. II guess you're too
| free, Cousin Leonard"
II met kendrick. / saw his face-yo,l-"
81 have declined the honor of becoming
mo; l am glad! l am delighted. IL
wish you to marry me-.
Matty looked at him with a well-simu-
lated look of surprise. No one would have
guessed the power of her seIf-controI from
the careless glance AZ the man kneelng at
her feet 1t was the moment of her re-
venge.
You wish to marry me?" she replied.
slowly. well, Il
II love you, Matty! love you"
"Sakes alive, just hear hint" laughed
Matty, with mirthful eyes.
Leonard sprang TO his feet with scarce
ly suppressed oath. The remark grated on
his ears. A diamond! This slangy Amer
lean fiirt-ratber was she the worthless
piece of glass! Still fascinated by the
piquant beauty of her face, he made an
| other attempt.
This is no jest. Matty. Will you be my
wife,?
Your wife? Well. 1 should SMILE"
This finished il. Without a word. with a
glance full of impotent anger, Leonard
swiftly left the room. Matty was triumph
ant, but looked anything but pleased at
the success of her comedy. Her smiles van
ished as the door closed, and she sat down
on the sofa, biting her lip to keep back her
| tears.
81 said | would bring him TO my feet in
spite of slang and eccentricity." she NUT