The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-10-01

- . - 40 =: ~ Il
a naphazard suggestion" he repeat
ed, with more than usual seriousness.
YES: that would have been differ
emit"
And supposing--" began Vance,
with the air of a penitent.
But Enid cut him short. "Of course,
you are lawyer and a man of the
world. Mamma has such perfect conf-
dence in your judgment that she fell
in with your scheme at once"
Miss Strangeways, l assure you
never dreamed for an instant my sug-
gestion would have been taken up. Can't
you see how 1t all happened? The
drawing room full of people chattering
about you, drawing imaginary pictures
of your taste, appearance, and so on.
Uncle Herbert, in one corner, saying
you ought to be worth at least rail-
road president. Aunt Sophie confidlng
to her opposite the difficulty of getting
off some of her sisters children:"
"Yes, dear Aunt Sophie"
you see, the whole thing was in the
air. so to speak you were TO be thrown
into the society of some one"
1T was tremendous joke"
"All sorts Of impossible peoples
names were mentioned" said Denzil,
half i'm self-defense.
ITO save me from which you very
nobly suggested Alfred"
"Oh, only in fun. We were all laugh
ing"
'You knew hlm?'
"We have always been close friends"
"And you promised mamma" said
Enid, stroking rose softly; toto
throw us together"
Il had not seen you. If had only
known"
'Oh. but that increased your latitude.
! might have been simply horrld."
IL was half in jest l never thought
for a moment the thing would be re-
ceived so seriously"
"Of course not. 1t isn't really seri-
Gus at all. Marriages nowadays"
Don't be cruel. Surely you can see
how l have meted out my own punish
ment | would give anything not to
have said it. The only consolation /
have is that Alfred Is my best friend
1t was strange how the briary stems
Of the roses would hang themselves On
the sides OF the bowl and refuse to be
placed in an orderly manner, and when
they kept tumbllng about they drew
So much water away with them that
soon the little rosewood table was in a
state of food. Vance took out his hand
kerchief and built up little cambria
dyke. Enid watched him unprotest-
ingly, and both stood together In silence
for few moments. Presently she said
after all, Alfred Is not so bad. He
has mt least one idea In three wee,.s,
which, as men go nowadays. is encour-
aging. isn't it:'
Hes better than hundreds began
Vance.
'Oh, yes; know | ought TO be very
grateful. After all, as you say, might
have done worse He's q capital polo
player, isn't hep
"Yes."
"And tolerable bridge partner Per
haps his laugh is little too strident
and his expression just wee bit va
cant, but we can't all be intellectual
and, as Uncle Herbert says, intellectual
people are frightfully rapid eaters
And then, he's SO rich he really doesn't
need brains. And as you have arranged
he Is TO marry me--of course 1t doesn't
matter-only-"
only what. Enid?"
well. l seem so horribly ungrateful
and fault-finding. But / was going to
say, l wish Alfred had a little more
sympathy and charm, and one or two
Of those hundred little unnameable
graces that attract girl. And I sup
pose all men are selfish, and mamma Is
always saying plain men make much
the best husbands In the long run. Sc
suppose taking Alfred all round. any
girl who marries him ought to fee
very
II think so,' acQulesced Vance, with
quaver.
"And to think that 1t was all your
doing"
"Only the first part" in tones OF
eager denial.
And then Alfred's presents. Look
ut these lovely roses! Aren't they per
feet? Do you tell him to get me roses
because you know | love them best OF
all flowers, or is 1t quite his own idea 2
well, did suggest"
81 knew 1t. And the operas. Away:
my favorite one. That was you, too
| must say, Denzil, you have thrown u
together. under the very best circum
stances. and II you should ever set III
as real matrimonial agent" ENID
looked up, and, catching sight of Den
zirs rueful expression, began to laugh
He tried to Join in, but failed. "Well,
he said, turning aside; II deserve it
Enid dropped softly on to the sofa
II think 1 ought to tell you.' sh'
said, pressing her fingers into thu
springs Of the sofa and becoming sud
| DENY very grave and mysterious, "tha
| have found out things about Alfred.
Denzil became alarmed.
why, what do you mean?"
81 mean he isn't as fond of me as b,
was"
Nonsense"
"In fact he-he has admitted It,"