Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-17

"And tolerable bridge partner. Per
haps his laugh Is little too strident,
and his expression just a 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 it doesn't
matter-only@"
"Only what, Enid?"
"Well, 1 seem so horribly ungrateful
and fault-finding But 1 was going to
say, wish Alfred had a. little more
sympathy and charm, and one or two
of those hundred little unnameable
graces that attract a girl. And l sup
pose all men are selfish and mamma is
always saying plain men make much
the best husbands In the long run. So
l suppose taking Alfred all round, any
girl who marries him ought to feel
very fortunate"
II think so," acquiesced Vance, with
a quaver.
"And to think that it was all your
doing"
"Only the first part" in tones of
eager denial.
'And then Alfred's presents. Look
at 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 it quite his own idea?"
"Wel1. I did suggest"
az knew it. And the operas. Always
my favorite one. That was you, too.
1 must say, Denzil, you have thrown us
together under the very best circum-
stances, and if you should ever set UP
as q real matrimonial agent" Enid
looked up, and, catching sight Of Den
zil's 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
'I think 1 ought to tell you," she
said, pressing her fingers into the
springs Of the sofa and becoming sud
denly very grave and mysterious, "that
1 have found out things about Alfred"
Denzil became alarmed.
"Why, what do you mean?"
81 mean he isn't as fond Of me as he
was"
Nonsense"
"In fact he-he has admitted It"
Admitted 1t! Alfred hasY'
"Um!" Enid nodded. A look Of per-
plexity came over Vance's face as he
stood there following with his eye the
girls forefnger which ran up an down
the pattern Of the sofa.
"You mustn't believe 1t; really you
mustn't" he said, rather huskily.
at try not to-" returned Enid, brave
ly.
Gas long as you-you-love him."
continued Vance, with a convulSive eff
fort, as if ''love" were an extremely
difficult word to pronounce.
"Yes,'' acquiesced she. II understand
that. but even if he is tired Of me he
might have kept 1t back for another
fortnight. Would you think it hard
to pretend to be very, very much in
love with me for a fortnight?"
Thus directly appealed to, Vance
stammered out some quite inaudible
reply. Then he tried to explain what
he had said and became incoherent. In
the midst of his confusion, Enid came
to his assistance.
Anyhow, we don't mean to alter our
plans now. And if Alfred doesn't care
for me, it isn't his fault, is it?"
"But, Enid" began Denzil, rather
hopelessly.
"I know it's very horrid and unrea-
sonable."
"But you are really convinced that
Alfred returns your love?"
"I thought he was very fond of me
until this morning. But now 1 know
he doesn't care rap for me. But there,
what's the use of discussing it? Every
things settled"
"But it must be altered" protested
Vance.
mo-" said Enid, with imperturbable
decision.
Vance bent over the arm of the sofa,
and spoke with great fervor:
at would be Madness"
Enid answered with an air Of stoical
resignation
''We-we were thrown together. You
ought to be the last person in the world
to try and upset our plans. 1t was
your idea from the first"
EYES," admitted he, lamely. "But l
thought Alfred"
eff he slips through our fingers it
may be years before we can find an
eligible substitute. nd-and-I'm
aging very rapidly"
Vance leaned forward and gazed
into the fresh, glowing face.
"Enid, you are not serious"
ooh, l don't know; but am deter
mined"
what to do?"
$40 carry out our plans to the let