The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-04-04

kNIEAs
She nodded Still. was not quito
satisfied.
You surely do not think so badly OF
me as 10 believe" hesitated.
She burst out laughing.
There! have so much faith In you
that / will congratulate you on having
an income Of two thousand pounds "A
year."
Now, really, this Is wonderful"
cried "And /, too, must congratulate
you on being an helress to the tune
OF fifteen hundred pounds a year"
Say, rather 'condole with. she
added But who told you?"
"A little bird" / answered. And
who told your"
Evidently the same little bird"
"A very old bird, II you ask me-"
exclaimed, checking myself too late
to avoid one of those sudden bushes
10 which every dinner table Is subject.
A litter went round the company Hor-
rors! There was a helping of pleas
ant before me. heard Mrs. Carruth-
ers saying sweetly. Il am SO
sorry. Phil; try another piece"
vainly protested that | had not re-
ferred to the fowl, but being greeted
with cries of Name! Name!" The
contretemps was very annoying-as
felt that | was now thoroughly In
Mrs. Caruthers' bad books, and al
/ 10 n ,ak rvrrhn ~ mo, hah
been talking about, still-such is the
effect of a guilty conscience felt
sure she must think that | had re-
ferred to her. Miss Delayne also did
not seem over pleased at my innocent
indiscretion which had directed the
companys attention to her, and sho
occupied herself with Captain Rodg-
ers, who was on her other side. He
was an old acquaintance Of mine, one
of those generous, good-hearted sort
of fellows who is always stony broke,
and who will always step into the
breach to help a friend.
had often told him that would ono
day find him a rich wife, but now that
| saw him talking with Miss Delayne
did not feel so particularly keen
about my suggestion to Mrs. Carruth
ers, as it happened to interfere with q
brilliant plan which had just thought
of and which would dish Mrs. Carruth
ers so nicely. l recognized at once tina
it would be difficult to put the cas'
too bluntly to Miss Delayne, so accord
ingly, when later in the evening
found myself ensconced with herin tn
conservatory, l proceeded to let he
unfold the plans / had thought GU
over my cigar l little thought wha
/ would happen in the same conserva
t tory in about three weeks time.
Mrs. Carruthers is a most enter
) tanning hostess and an amiable won
/ an" remarked, by way of preface
"and she has one set sin. But thi
! is the first time she applied her enel
4 gies in my direction, although she ha
known me ever since l was so high
n What are you going to do?" aske
d Miss Delayne.
f Rather ask, What are we going
l. dor" said, not wishing to reply
such a delicate personal question. :"
r all rests with you" l continued, adj
ing quickly, whether we are to di
i please her by avoiding each other {
+ deceive her by pretending to fall
:, with her views"
Il Miss Delayne's eyes twinkled.
Mr.. Mellor, you forget that the
: are other ways. might, for instanc
pretend that did not want your COZ
- pany, while you could easily salts
Mrs. Carruthers by your actions tn
7 you were doing your best to carry o
her schemes"
- Yes, 1 assented, not at all eagerl
"Or," she continued, you cOu
leave suddenly tomorrow on urge
- private business"
quite so" l faltered
"But it would be very selfish Of I
80 to spoil your holiday here?"
80 mot at all,"I interrupted
- "And rather like your second i'd
=, In fact, it would be great fun, thir
to upset Mrs. Carruthers little pla
- for once"
- "That is just what thought" 1
- claimed.
I'VE could be a lot in each othe
49, company" she said.
90 And especially when Mrs. Carru
~ ers is about I added
80 81 have expectations, and don'tw;
- any man to marry me for them"
-, "And I have money, but if l tool
- wife she should only take me for
- merits"
on "'That is capital" she said "Tl
re- we are agreed in our views of life.
10 us shake hands upon it."