The Yale expositor., 1905-01-13
Asking For a Girl
tOriginal.l

he was to find her father and ask his
consent to their marriage. Mr.. Scho-
field lived at Glenwood, n suburban
village, alone while his family were
In the country, and Bertram preferred
to go there to see him rather than at
his Office in the city. He concluded to
go out after business hours and return
for dinner. A train left the station at
o'clock by which he could reach
Glenwood at $50, get the ordeal off his
mind and return in time to dine at his
club with friends at Z.
| The route was entirely new to him,
and he asked a gentleman on the train
sitting next to him If he would kindly
notify him when the train reached
Glenwood.
II get out there, or, rather, at East
Glenwood," said the man. "Your sta
ton is the next beyond"
"Can you direct me to the residence
of Harris b. SchofeldT asked Bert
ram.
Certainly. / know him very WELL"
And he gave the desired information.
Since the gentleman knew Mr.. Scho-
field, Bertram concluded to find out
what sort of a man he was.
1--WE never met the gentleman"
said Bertram, ''but / hear he is a very
pleasant man."
Him." drawled the gentleman,
pleasant enough IL you don't antago-
nize him."
straight laced or a man of the
world?"
"Well, If / wanted to ingratiate my
self with him l wouldn't mention
wines, liquors, cigars and such things"
'In that case I'm in luck" remarked
Bertram. II thought I'd go out in the
smoking car, but concluded 1 would
not"
Fright you are. Old Schofield would
want you to hang yourself up to air
before going into his presence after
smoking"
"Glad 1 made an engagement to dine
at my club with some chums."
The trainman threw open the door
and cried, EAST Glenwoodv' and the
gentleman arose.
"Good evening"" he said. 81 wish
you luck in getting away from Scho-
field to dine with pleasanter company"
Half an hour later Bertram reached
the house he sought and sent up his
card: The butler was gone long while
and when he returned bore on a tray
an amber hued fluid in a wineglass
''Mr Schofelds compliments. He's
dressing for dinner and says you might
like n cocktail while you're waiting"
1t occurred to Bertram that either he
had got into the wrong house or his
prospective father-in-law was trying
to test him.
Thanks" he said; 81 never drink"
The butler set the glass down with
out further remark. Bertram let it
stand untouched. Mr.. Schofeld was
very long in dressing, and Bertram be-
came impatient. He looked ut his
watch every five minutes and at last.
saw that he had but ten minutes for
the ordeal and ten more to catch
train to get him back to the city in
time for dinner. Tapping an electric
bell, he summoned the butler and ask
ed him to say that his time was linn
tied. The butler after protracted abb
sence returned with another cocktail
and an apology from the host for keep
ing him waiting.
Bertram was now sure that he had
got into the wrong house. But in
quiries made of the butler only went to
prove that he had not. Then he was
sure he was being put to a test. He
was getting angry.
"Please tell Mr.. Schofeld," he said
sharply, that I have an engagement
to dine with my minister In the city at
and beg that he will give me FIVE min
utes at once"
A reply to this was shouted over the
wait. Put q bottle Of champagne on
fce."
Butler said Bertram, perplexed,
twill you kindly inform Mr.. Schofield-
Mr. Harris b. Schoheld-that / have
come to see him on a matter Of i'm
portance to myself and a member Of
bis family. Let him assure me that
I'm not in the wrong house and I will
try to wait patiently"
Again the answer came over the bal
ulster, this time mingled with other
matters
Martin, what have you been doing
with my shaving brush, and where are
the towelsT then an interval, follow
ed by, "Oh, tell him to be gone If he's
in such q hurry"
Bertram threw himself on a sofa, and
In due time the odor of cigarette pre-
coded footsteps on the stairs, and a
gentleman entered. Bertram was
dumfounded. He was the man he
had met on the train. He wore a very
cheerful smile and, marching up to
Bertram, gave his hand cordial shake.
Pardon my ruse," he said. "The
temptation was beyond resistance.
knew you must be Bertram Hall, and
I got out purposely at the lower sta
ton, reaching the house just before
you. And now trust you will yield
this once on this important occasion
and drink one OF these beverages while