Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-08-05

1
know Miss Matthews quite well. She
| is coming to lunch with me next
week"
Is she?" he said. eagerly. And
you will ask me. too? But that is 100
good of you?"
Not at all I shah be pleased
Romance deserves encouragement in
these prosaic days. She is a charm
ing girl-EJhel Matthews. l have
known her quite long time. We
might go to a picture gallery after.
wards. James Hart is coming
She rose 10 so. and extended her
hand with a smile of encouragement
10 him.
"Good-by, she said. Il have an
early dinner engagement. and l must
go now. Don't forget-lurch at 2
o'clock"
You haven't given n4e your ad-
dress"
She took out a cad from little
jeweled case and gave 81 to him.
No ? Clarendon apartments he
4
am most grateful"
And as she went away and his
glance followed her, he said to him
self:
THAT was a good move of mine.
But what piece of luck"
The little square" luncheon party
rising diplomat, talked even better
a rising diploma talked even better
than usual, because he was anxious
to please Miss Beresford. Ethel Mat
thews, who was accustomed to de-
mand and receive admiration with
GOODNESS that is characteristic of the
latter day young woman, accepted
Mr.. Homes attempts to be generally
gracious and they were quite friendly
by the time they arrived at the gal
leries.
Mary Beresford, watching the prog
ress of the little romance with a thrill
at her heart that was half pleasant
and yet had a touch of odd sadness
, in it, decided to see tie thing
through; and later, she invited both
Ethel and Mr.. Home to dine with her
the following week and do a play.
1t was nice and civil of Mr.. Home,
she thought, 10 manage a call en- her
in between the two festivities, and
she received him with gracious cordi-
ality.
They drifted into talk about them
selves, and she learned many inter
esting things concerning him, SO that
they seemed like old and intimate
| friends when they parted.
The theater party promised well at
the commencement, for the fourth
man was a steady going, middle aged
widower with pronounced views, and
Mary monopolized him in order to
give the romance freedom to develop
itself.
Yet presently it seemed as if some
thing had gone wrong. Ethel Mat
thtws was distinctly initiating the
widower in the early stages of the
art of Irritation, while Lawrence
piqued, no doubt-betrayed desire
to take refuge from her neglect with
Mary.
1t distressed Mary greatly. She
was surprised to find that she was
full of indignant sympathy with Law
lrence-for, after all, love disappoint-
ments are usual occurrences; and
that she was actually taking a dislike
TO Ethel because that tickle young
Iperson had deserted Mr.. Home for
the widower.
1T is charming of you to take it so
well she murmured to Lawrence,
when he begged the privilege of driV-
ing home with her; but, of course,
you must not let it become real
iquarrel. You must insist on seeing
Miss Matthews to her home"
His face fell
But she has already arranged" he
said, that our honorable and worthy
friend should be her escort. / should
not like to intervene"
And a moment later Miss Matthews
settled the point herself by departing
with the widower and taking a briet
and chilly farewell of Mr.. Home.
AS Mary drove towards home she
was trying to think of appropriate
words wherewith to console this
lblighted lover; but she found it so
dificulI that when they reached the
fiat she said nothing and could only
endeavor to convey ner sympathy by
lingering hand clasp.
May | n3t come in for moment?
he said. u have something import
ant to say to you
Poor fellow!" she reflected. He
is wrethced, and and may be going to
do something desperate. must per-
suade him to be calm"
So she gave a gracious assent.
81 have been looking for"-.d to
this evening more than / can say,
Lawrence began. ''Will it bore you
if refer to my romance?"
She turned to him with tears OF
earnestness shining in her eyes.
"Of course it will not bore me,
she assured him. 81 cannot express
to you how sorry / feel, how sincerely
/ sympathize with you. But think
that Miss Matthew'S"
He interrupted her by taking her
hand.
Need we talk about Miss Mat
r. eaf5 ,r,bsro and