The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-05-18

gives her a moments peace"
"But, by the way, you don't mind let
ting me know the name of the girl"
Let you knowl Certainly not. /
wouldn't reveal it for worlds"
Il mean dear boy, the name Of the
girl you are to marry"
ooh, don't mind telling her name to
you, of course. You've met her-Bessle
Biddulph."
There was another pause and then
Atock cried: Il have it! Why not get
Bessie-I mean Miss Biddulph-to meet
the lady"
Really, you're getting to be idiotic,"
shouted Lyon. "a nice time I'd have
explaining how the whole thing hap
pened! I'd have 10 admit that my let
ter to Miss Biddulph went astray, and
there's nothing in the letter to prove to
whom it was addressed 1t COM
mences, My Darling Girl"
"Oh, Miss Biddulph knows you've
only got oner' laughed Atock.
Hang it all, can't you have sense?"
said Richard, thoroughly irritated.
Seeing that his friend was truly per-
picked, Atock began again:
1T is worrying, but where, to revert
to my original question, does your
gloominess and loss of faith in woman
hood come in, and is there anything
very, very discriminating in the con-
tents of your letter"
Nothing discriminating but how can
one have any faith in woman if you
can invite an almost unknown girl of
| undoubted social position and blame
less antecedents in the manner / have
told you, and, discover to your horror
that such proposal is accepted with
alacrity? If one girl does such a thing,
why not all?
II mean to meet the girl" he went on
savagely. 1--WE gained lot by telling
/ you about my worry, haven't I? /
shall meet her and tell her it is all a
mistake. / don't want to compromise
her or myself I might have called
upon her; perhaps I'd better wire, but
on the whole / think shall see her
f; though I've no respect for the brazen
baggage"
"She's not brazen baggage" said
Atock. with sudden warmth.
How in Heavens name do you
know?" cried Lyon. Il never men,
toned her name"
mo, you did not" said Martin, "but
think you should be just to the poor
girl; you're a very fascinating fellow,
you know, old chap, quite lady-killer.
you knowp
"Well, thank Heaven, I'm not an ex-
asperating idiot. Thank Heaven, I've
got ideals and live up to them. Thank
Heaven I've reverence left for true
womanhood, though that reverence has
been rudely shaken by this-this-dis
graceful parallelogram in petticoats as
believe O'Connell called particular
" offensive piece of womanhood.
Thank Heaven"
"Thank Heaven that you've got a
friend who can help you out of the
mess your high-fown ideas have got
you into" said Atock II happen to
know the lady you are speaking so dis
respectfully about"
You do?" cried Richard. "Who is
she, thon-for l shall not tell you, even
If you're right?"
"Her name is Ada Beatrice Purser,"
said Martin solemnly.
Lyon gasped.
"She is a lady, for whom I have
profound respect" continued Atock II
was with her when your letter ar
rived"
And you respect Il lady who can
accept such an invitation as was
mine?" asked Richard.
Certainly l can" calmly replied
Atock you're not the only one en-
gagged to be married, my boy. am
engaged to Miss Purser."
"Then what on earth is the meaning
of her conduct?" asked Lyon.
simply this: dined with the Pur-
sers on Tuesday. Ada's father has
consented to her marrying me, She
received your letter in the envelope
which you had addressed to her in re-
ply TO the questions on English liter
allure which had asked her to put to
you under pretext of being a soul
thirsting for knowledge. I know you
are fond Of being consulted as a kind
of watchdog of knowledge. OF course,
she could make neither head or tail
of your letter, and II made her write
and accept your invitation, which APP
pointment, of course, she never in
tended to keep; and I-well / called
to see you this morning just to see the
effect her letter had had on you OF
course, / did not know then that you
were engaged to be married! So your
faith in womanhood is still intactw
"One's faith is, I suppose. stronger
after such tests said Richard. crave