The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-05-13

Mabel Vining was a bright, pretty
girl, with a complexion like wild roses,
eyes like sapphires, and smile like q
sunbeam; and-a thing which is per-
baps rather unusual in pretty girls
her disposition corresponded to her
appearance.
OF the three men who were reported
to be in the running for her affections,
Philip Dixon had G1S00 per annum;
Walter Libstock, $1,000; Alfred Her
BERT &700. Mrs. Vining regarded them
In that order. valuing them by the pc
cuniary standard. Mabels standard
was the amatory standard. One of
the three she loved. For the other
two, except as friends, she cared not
o rap. But she had not yet declared
her preference for the favored one.
She wished first of all to bring her
mother round to her own way of think
ing.
'Dixon, my boy" cried the love-
crazed Libstock, life is impossible for
me without that divine angel. If |
cannot win her for my wife, shall
certainly go mad, or die, or both"
Dixon was a hnd-hearted man, who
was readily touched by the sight OF
distress and woe. So that, instead of
saying to the distracted lover, Don't
be a fool" or Die, then, and have
done with it," he answered, sympathet-
ically: Pm awfully sorry for you, old
man. Have you proposed, may l ask,
and been refused, Or"
Proposed? No, indeedl" retorted
Hbstock, half fiercely. whats the
use of my proposing as long as you
are hanging about after her?"
81? What the deuce do you mean? ]
have never thought of Miss Vining in
that way, nor, am sure, has she OF
me-" exclaimed Dixon in great aston
Dishment.
Herbert came to see me this morn
Ing and told me something very par
ticd1ar. Herbert was good enough to
say" continued Libstock, that as he
could not win Miss Vining and happi-
ness himself, and that as she had as
sured him in the most candid manner
that there was no possible chance OF
his ever doing SO, he would rather
see me marry her than anybody else
and that was why he had come and
recommended me to press my suit;
which, considering that he himself
had been rejected, was most handsome
and generous of him. Don't you thinl,
so?
II do, indeed, Iibstock. There's not
one rejected suitor in thousand who
would be man enough to do such a
thing" assented Philip Dixon, emphat-
ically.
"But Herbert said-and quite agree
with him." went on Libstock, fixing
his solemn, gloomy eyes upon the
others face, that you are the obsta-
Gle, and that until you are out of the
way, Mrs. Vining will not let Mabel
accept me-"
'Psha! my dear fellow. Miss Vinine
has never thought of regarding me in
the light of lover, as l have already
told you."
"But, as I, also, have already told
you, Mrs. Vining has. There's the
crux. And so, by Herbert's advice
I've come to you as to a true friend
and thorough good fellow, to seek
your kindly cooperation. Dixon" (his
voice suddenly took tone of piteous
appeaD, you don't love her. She's
nothing to you. It-it-won't be any
grief to you to have your proposal re-
fused"
my proposal?" calculated the
amazed Dixon.
"Oh, Dixon, my true friend, my dear
friend. my best Of pals, couldn't you
for my sake, In order to ensure my
lifelong happiness-to say nothing OF
hers--couldnt you, oh, couldn't you
write and ask her to marry you, add
ing that you had lately experienced
heavy losses, that your income was
now re6cced to only f500 year, but
: that you-you-loved her very dearly
and hoped that she would overloob
your poverty, and become your wife:
OF course. she'd refuse you; and under
the circumstances described In your
letter, her mother would back her ur
in her refusal. So the ground would
be CLEARED for me. And all would
come right" cried Lbstock, his face
flushed and his eyes burning with
eager excitement
Dixon tried to resist. But the 9th.
ers eager insistence carried him of
his feet
And at length he was induced, OF
rather l should say, impelled against
mis- will by the lovers resolute deter
animation, to write the letter. It rar
~ follows:
my Dear Miss vining-I write Z