Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-04-05
GIFT OF THE
GROOM
By OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON
1911, by Associated IItera-y P.es..

Eric Prescott stood at the windo
OF his little real estate office In Ford
port. He had opened It in the fall
and now II was spring.
He looked at the landscape COM
placently well pleased with himself
for various reasons. In the first place,
coming from the south, he had shiv-
cred and shaken all the cold north
ern winter; but the warm May wealth
or suited him. The freshness of
everything, the little yellowish green
leaves, the smell of the lilacs and the
songs OF the birds made Fordport
more like home.
Another reason for his felicity was
the little office and the row OF six
nearly completed frame houses half a
block down the street. He could sea
the latter from his window. The Out.
SIDE work had been done before the
rough weather and the inside during
the Winter months. Nothing remained
to be done but the trimming, paving
n one extra coat of paint on each.
Eric Prescott was engaged to be
married to Roee Marshall, the belle OF
~Fordport. When he had settled In
the village eight months before Rose
was engaged to marry Tom Lyle.
The minute he saw Rose, Eric made
up his mind to have her. The fact
that she was engaged to Tom Lyle
was nothing to him.
Few girls would have been proof
against the siege he immediately laid
to Roses favor. His southern accent
and excellent taste In clothes, which
set off his tall slender figure, made
him fayorite with all women.
Eric showered gifts OF candy, roses,
books and music on Rose, who re-
fused them all at first-then accepted
Afew Mowers reluctantly and finally,
overwhelmed with many attentions,
succumbed completely. Then she and
Tom quarreled and that was exactly
what Eric wanted. They were soon
engaged and Rose was seemingly hap
Ply. She was the envy OF all the Ford
port girls.
h corner house In the row was
to be hers when they were married.
Eric gave her to understand thai be-
fore she had accepted him. She 1oked
at home about loving the house as
much as she loved Eric.
The house began to ooh different
from the others in the row. The
porch was extended around the side
n made two feet wider than the
other porches.
Rose, busy with her trouseeau, ap-
peared to be very happy ne the we'd
ding was a month away. She seldom
saw Tom Lyle. He was spending
most of his time now at the farm a
graduated herself that she had es-
capped a life Of monotony in the coun-
try. Town life suited her.
One day she met Tom driving two
strange men toward the farm. He
seemed to be explaining something
to them and merely nodded at Rose.
She went home thoughtfully. He evil
IDENTIFY was not unhappy.
The day following this meeting
with Rose, Tom hitched his little
black mare to the runabout and drove
over to see his chief councillor and
confeasor, Aunt Polly Goodwin. She
was taking q nap" in her sitting room
when Tom drove in at the gate.
What news, Tommy Sit right
down here. Now tell me-is there
much coal on the farmf"
Yes, Aunt Polly, acres Of 1t they
say. Congratulate ne. / am a rich
man"
BLESS your heart, Tommy" said
the old lady, wipinS her syes with the
corner Of her apron. Il am SO glad,
so glad for you"
Thanks, Aunt Polly, but riches do
me little good now" he returned 4
little bitterly.
The old lady looked at Tom keen
~. 1T you don't mind me mention
ing 1t. Tom. l have been doing q lit
tle thinking lately, since You talked
Of finding coal. May suggest a lit
tie plan9 You used to take my
advice"
!. Fire away, auntis, that's what
came for"
Well, II Is this way l hate to see
q fine girl like Rose Marshall throw
herself away on that southern dude,
and ruin 10 life at the same time.
Her heart Is In the right place. but
I. MINK, $40 State st.