The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-05-16

| an impassioned love letter, In fact and
l said over and over again what de-
light 1t would be to me to see her--I
| mean my fiancee-alone for five min
utes, for her old cat of an aunt never
gives her moments peace"
But, by the way, you, don't mind let
ting me know the name Of the girl"
Let you know! Certainly not. /
wouldn't reveal it for worlds"
Il mean dear boy the name of the
| girl you are to marry"
| "Oh, don't mind telling her name 10
| you, of course. You've met her-Bessie
Biddulph."
There was another pause and then
Atock cried: II have 1t! 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 to admit that my let
ter TO Miss Biddulph went astray, and
| there's nothing in the letter TO prove to
whom 1t was addressed! 1t COM
mences, MY Darling Girl"
"Ob, Miss Biddulph knows you've
only got one" laughed Atock.
"Hang it all, can't you have sensep
said Richard, thoroughly irritated.
| Seeing that his friend was truly per-
picked, Atock began again:
"It 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 a proposal is accepted with
alacrity? If one girl does such thing,
why not all?
81 mean TO meet the girl" he went on
savagely. I've gained lot by telling
you about my worry, haven't l?
shall meet her and tell her it is all
her or myself. l might have called
upon her; perhaps I'd better wire, but
on the whole | think ! shall see her
though I've no respect for the brazen
baggage"
shes not brazen baggage" said
Atock, with sudden warmth.
How in Heavens name do you
know" cried Lyon. II never men,
toned her name"
mo, you did not" said Martin, "but
/ think you should be just TO the poor
girl; you're very fascinating fellow,
you know, old chap, quite ladykiller,
you knowr
"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
l believe O'Connell called a particular
ly offensive piece of womanhoOd.
Thank Heaven"
"Thank Heaven that you've got
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 lady, for whom I have
profound respect" continued Atock. II
was with her when your letter ar
rived"
"And you respect lady who can
accept such an invitation as was
mineV asked Richard.
Certainly cam" 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: 1 dined with the Pur-
seIb Ou IUesudy. Aud laIner 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
ature which | had asked her to put to
you under pretext Of being a soul
thirsting for knowledge. l know you
are fond of being consulted as a kind
of watchdog of knowledge. OF course,
she could make neither head OF tail
of your letter, and II made hec write
and accept y6ur invitation, which ap-
pointment, of course, she never in
tended to keep; and I-well, l called
10 see you this morning just to see the
effect her letter had had on you. OF
course, 1 did not know then that you
were engaged to be married. So your
faith in womanhood is still intact"
"One's faith is, suppose, stronger
after such tests" said Richard. grave
ly; but he added, with a smile, "in