Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-04-29
On the Horns Of
a Dilemma
He Was Obliged to Sit Be-
tween Them.
By F. A. mitchell

By +. A. mitchell 8
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
1t is supposed that all marriages
among rich persons are marriages of
convenience and without love. That
is not the case. Miss Anita De Roode
and l are lovers; we are rich, and eX-
pect to marry her. | admit that there
has vet been no formal engagement.
made up her mind. Whether her
hesitation comes from a doubt that she
loves me well enough to marry me or
whether she is looking for a man of
prominence as well as wealth I don't
know, for she has not told me.
/ 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 enhancing
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 II
she loved me she could not help re-
spending to my impassioned words.
Nevertheless returned to the city
disappointed. was not refused. 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 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 passably refined chap like my
self asks girl to marry him she at
least hesitates before turning him
down.
l had letter from Chesborough this
morning-Chesborough is in Rome
about 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 fell
low letter of Introduction to me and
wants me to put him into my set.
don't see how am to do so without
letting it be known that he is 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. was there. as l usually am.
after 4 p. m.. and put him up with a
visitors ticket for two weeks l hope
he'll do the same for me when go to
London. but the Londoner has con-
venience in his club in a house rule
that no stranger is to be received
However. Chichester seems to be a
good fellow. and ! am fond of Ches-
borough and glad to oblige him.
Chichester says he doesn't care to
know many people. only few of my
intimate friends. He positively de-
clines to be introduced as anything but
plain English gentleman of the mid
die class l have taken him with me
to the Ashtons and the Spencers and
nave arranged for a week end at
Lenox with the De Roodes. He tells
me that the income his father allows
him is not sufficient to return favors
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 few days. Anita
seems much pleased with him.
Three weeks have passed since Chi
chester came to New York and intro
duced him to Anita. He has passed
the principal part Of that time al
Lenox. What it means can't imagine
unless he has admitted to Anita his
identity. could ask him If he has
done SO, or could ask the question OF
her. But shall ask neither. If they
wish to make match they will not
find me a dog in the manger.
j
What 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 that is the rea-
son why he has supplanted me without
her saying so. 1t is certainly a very
good and practical reason. and l have
i no protest to make.
had scarcely read the letter when
in came Chichester for my congratu-
/ lations managed to give them. af.
fecting some warmth. but it certainly
was difficult. He expressed himself in
debted to me for life that had intro.
duced him to so admirable woman
| Then n troubled EXPRESSION cama over