The daily Alaskan., 1915-08-11
On the Horns of a Dilemma He Was Obliged to Sit Be-
 tween Them.
By E. A. MITCHEL


 and are lovers; We are rich, and ex- pect to marry her. adpit that there has yet been no formal engagement. That Is because Miss De Roode has not made up her mind. Whether her hesitation comes from @ doubt that she loves me well enough to marry me or whether she is looking for man of prominence as well as wealth 1 don't know, for she has not told me.
 l went to LenoX yesterday, where Miss De Roode lives, and begged her to give me final answer. The spring is on, and spring is the season for love. We walked out In the spacious grounds surrounding the De Roode mansion, and so fragrant was the air, so entrancing the lances of sunlight piercing the branches on which the leaves were sprouting, so delicious were the songs of the birds, that It seemed to me if she loved me she could not help re- spending to my impassioned words.
 Nevertheless I returned to the city disappointed. l was not refused. l was still held in doubt Anita admitted that she preferred me to any other man and did not tell me that her feeling for me was not love. But she would not promise to marry me. suppose l must possess my soul In patience. If were poor or not even very rich would con- slider myself dismissed, but there are nowadays so few of us millionaire bachelors who have anything except our wealth to recommend US that when q passably refined chap like my self asks a girl to marry him she at least hesitates before turning him down.
 l had a letter from Chesborough this morning-ChesborOugh is in Rome about q man he met there who is com ing to New York; second son or some thing like that of an earl. with an elder brother dying of lingering dis ease. Chesborough has given the fel low a letter of introduction to me and wants me to put him into my set l don't see how l am to do so without letting 1t be known that he Is a noble man, and ChesborOugh says that he wishes to remain incog. Doesn't want to be fawned on, suppose.
 
 Chesborough's friend, Chichester, called at the club today and inquired for me. I was there, as usually am, after 4 D. m., and put him up with a visitors ticket for two weeks. hope he'll do the same for me when I go to London, but the Londoner has a con- Venience in his club In house rule that no stranger is to be received. However, Chichester seems to be good fellow, and 1 am fond of Ches- borough and glad to obllge him.
 Chichester says be doesn't care to know many people, only few of my intimate friends. He positively de- clines to bu introduced as anything but a plain English gentleman of the mid dle class. l have taken him with me to the Ashtons and the Spencers and have arranged for a week end at Lenox with fhe De Roodes. He tells me that the income his father allows him is not sufficient to return fa7ors from multimIllionaires, and this Is the reason for his inCog.
 
 Just returned from the De Roodes, having left Chichester there to con- tinue his visit for a few days. Anita seems much pleased with him.
 Three weeks have passed since Chi chester came to New York and l intro duced him to Anita. He has passed the principal part of that time at Lenox What 1t means can't imagine unless he has admitted to Anita his Identity. l could ask him if he has done so, or l could ask the question of her. But I shall ask neither. If they wish to make a match they will not find me dog in the manager.
 
 What I have been looking for has happened. Received a note this mOrn- ing from Anita announcing her engage. ment with Chichester. She doesn't say that she prefers him to me or me to him. Of course he has told her that he Is very near an earldom, and she ex- poets me to understand thnt is the req son why he has supplanted me without her saying so It Is certainly a very good and practical reason, and l have no protest to make.
 I had scarcely read the letter when in came Chichester for my congratu- lations. I managed to give them, af- fecting some warmth. but It certainly was difficult. He expressed himself in- debted to me for life that l had intro duced him to so admirable a woman. Then a troubled expression came over his face when he said:
 ''But how am to bear the expenses attending an engagement with one whose position in the American social world Is so exalted2 My income Is to- tally inadequate"
 I believed that when his brother died