Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-12-24
FAIR OR DARK

WM Pelham propose last night!
But, never mind. of course he
didn't, or you wouldn't look so cross
and streaky this morning
Lady Margaret. whose temper some
times matched her hair, was lOlling in
her own particular arm chair beside
the fire. Raising lack-luster eyes from
the pages of the Morning Post, she
treated her sister Celia to a CLASSY
stare.
Gross and streaky?" she repeated.
slowly. We'll, | suppose it takes a
fair woman to look beaming by IL
O'Clock in the morning"
Celia, ON tiptoe before the fireplace
smiled az her own pink and white re-
lection la the mirror.
"WheU man does not propose
she announced, apparently addressing
the coal box, at Is invariably the wom
ans fault. Why did you manage so
badly"
Silence.
"Either," proceeded Celia, "either
you snubbed him atrOciously, or you
encouraged him indecently. Which
was itT'
Still silence.
Celia, though delighted with her
own e:oquence felt she had missed the
bull's-eye.
Twisting round on the fender stool.
she faced her sister.
Margaret" in tragic whisper
Margaret were you mad enough to
laugh at him?'
The Morning Post rustled impa-
tiently.
You think you know everything
Celia, but you don't"
But mean to-" replied the other
significantly, land good intentions
count for something. It's no use quib-
bling" she went on. you did or said
something to gag Geoffrey Pelham.
What was it?"
Lady Margaret gave mirthless
laugh
"Oh. he proposed, right enough" she
said.
The blue china eyes opened wider.
Proposed, did he? Then why on
earth"
Then Lady Margaret dropped the
Morning Post.
Celia she asked. you admire
dark men. don't your"
The whilom inquisitor blushed.
Most awfully," she murmured,
but what Of that?"
Nothing, only l don't; and last
night L"
Good heavens!" gasped Celia, 81 be-
lieve you told him So"
Silence
Margaret (sternly,. | give you up.
You tell that peacock Of Godfrey
that you don't admire him. and then
weep inside the Morning Post because
he didn't propose"
"Oh, dear" mOaned the culprit. 81
only said how queer it felt to find my
self accepting him when I'd loathed
dark men all my life"
And. pray. what did he say?" in
CURED Celia. with the air of the kind
keeper to the prize imbecile.
"He-he jumped up. turned blacker
than ever. and said since he was per-
sonaily repugnant to me he would re-
tract his unfortunate proposal"
Him." said Celia. in scornful pity,
Il should think you and Sidney Rendle
had better marry each other"
Sidney Rendle? Why?"
"Why not? He's almost an Alblno;
fair enough to please even you, l i'm
sgine and he loves dark women"
How do you known"
He told me So
Told you so! When? Last night
Yes; he was quite charming to me
till we went out to find a glow worm
ana then-then thought he was going
to. but-but-"
But he didn't" supplied Lady Mar
garet Drying her eyes. she sat up.
When young man doesn't pro
pose" she quoted. ut is invariably the
womans fault Why did yon manage
SO badly?"
1T was not my fault" cried Celia
81 neither snubbed nor encoura geo
him. l didn't laugh at him nor cen
sure his appearance 1t was he who
said, all Of a sudden and without any
warning. that he had an aversion t.
fair women. Oh, it was awful" an(
Celia, too produced her handkerchief
And what did you say?'
81? l said it was a pity he hadn't
told me so before. and that I hated
AfbinOs myself. and glow worms, ant
balls. and"
"If you please, my lady. Sir Godfrey
Pelham is in the dra wing room anf
begs you will see him for one mo
ment."
The maid addressed Lady Margaret
who after hasty interview with tn,
mirror. glanced lnterroga lively at he
sister