The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-13
FROM JEST
TO EARNEST.

You talk as IL | were conundrum.
80 you are. Now look here, Dewey;
let's have a clear comprehension OF the
matter. Do you love Alice Winter"
''well-yes-I rather think. on the
whole, that am little taken with the
sparkling brunette"
"a little taken How very enthusi-
sstic you are And she, poor child, is
more than little taken with you"
II iatter myself that you are right"
well, then, why don't you ask her
TO marry your
Dewey groaned. .H
There It is,' he exclaimed; you are
ali In such a hurry. Can't man ad-
mire q girl without being brought to
book for 1t the very next day? | won't
be hurried. When l get ready I'll ask
Alice to marry me. Are you satisfied,
dear boy?"
He threw himself lazily on the grass,
ainSing his cigar into the very heart
of q cluster OF wild flowers and making
an impromptu pillow Of his arms,
crossed Under his head.
"sleep, then" said Trevor, contemp-
tuously. Il can't afford to lose the
brightest hours Of a golden day like
This"
Our hero had not lain there many
minutes before the soft. chime OF girlish
voices sounded through the tiny bugles
sf summer insects and the monotonous
murmur OF green boughs overhead.
"Girle!" muttered Dewey; cant
fellow be clear Of 'em anywhere? But
they are on the other side Of the copse,
that's one blessing, and II keep quiet
they'll never beat up my ambush
There we're on the other side Of the
copse-three bright-faced, merry girls
IN futtering raiment.
TITS so delightfully."- cool here" said
Rlldexarde Aymer, a fair young blond,
ms Saxon as her name.
"And one can talk here. too" said
Mary Bell. AT the hotel one is never
certain of not being overheard"
Ralph Dewey gave a silent chuckle at
thts announcement.
Alice White, leaning against the
twiStsd stem OF the veteran wild grape
vine, devoted her attention to her par
asol handle. She was the prettiest Of
the three, with deep. liquid brown eyes
and hair black as the blacklist jet,
while her skin, just touched with the
creamy tint that characteriZes the ere
ole. slowed carmine on her cheek.
"Alice, do let me try" said Hide
xarde. 1T will be such splendid joke,
and your complaisant adorer is SO long
e. v,aabtnU IN his mind "
Butch. dear me.-what Will Cap
fain Aymer think?"N
He'll be delighted; men always
glory In a bit of mischief, and Kent is
such splendid actor"
DO, Alice!" urged Mary Bell. ut
will be just like the theater. Hide
xardss brother is to be pretend to be
desperately in love with you and you
are to encourage his attentions until
that slow-moving Dewey is brought to
the point. expect to enjoy the prog
ress of the situation intensely"
"But your brother must fully under
stand the scheme" said Alice, hesitat-
ingly.
''Of course--shan't explain II to him
myself? There's not bit OF harm in
It, and Mr.. Dewey certainly needs some
stimulus Now, do consent! Kate will
be here this every evening, remember"
"she doesn't forbid It, Hildegarde,"
eagerly cried Miss Bell, ''and all the
world knows that silence gives consent.
Come, see how long the shadows are
getting?"
And soon the three graces futtered
down the hillside.
Dewey rose to his feet and walked
Away also.
my dear little girls" said he, by
way of soiloquy. "it's a very cleverly
ooncocted plan. but 1t won't work. and
I've no doubt shall enjoy II as much
rs Miss Bell proposes to do" And he
began 10 chuckle again, to think how
completely he should out-general his
feminine adversaries. 'I'll keep Alice
In suspense for another month, just to
pay her for that" he added within
himself. Il like the girl well enough.
but for all that won't be hurried into
mstrimony."
Knowing what he knew, therefore
Ralph was not at all surprised that
evening when he walked into the hotel
craving room to see stylish young
man sitting on the sofa devoting him
self to his own Alice White.
Let 'em work." said Mr.. Dewey.
with covert smile.
Then he sat down to play backgam-
mon with pretty widow
From beneath her long lashes Alice
watched her lover.
III doesn't produce any effect at all
npon him--the brute" said Hildegarde,
who had expected to see the delinquent
brought to terms forthwith.
THAT is because we do not put 1t on
strong enough. said the captain. Alice
III may call you Aliceg"
"0h. certainly-it Is all In the play"
replied Miss White.
well. then. Alice, / think we ought
TO promenade through the halls arm in
srm while, and II we we're to whisper
instsad Of speaking aloud, think"
Alice laughed and consented, and the
whole long evening she and the captain
exchanged very commonplace remarks
in very confidential whispers. while Mr..
Dewey and the widow played back
garnmon serencly