Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-24

..T7vERYBoDY said that we were made
IL for one another" concluded the girl
did not then understand this phrase, but
she explained it TO me
They mean that when are grown up
we shall marry one another" she said.
The prospect did not allure me, 90" l
gasped.
But we sha'n't." she added
How do you know that?" ] asked.
II shall refuse you,' she said.
"Supposing I don't ask you to marry me,
though?"
20, but you will"
Il won't"
1T would be rude not to-
Not after what you have told me-
You should always give a lady chance
to alter her mind"
who told you that?" I demanded grossly,
for her airs of superiority CALLED me.
'I found it out by myself"
II don't believe you"
Yes, you do" she said
And when l thought it over concluded
that she was right.
She stayed with us for eight years, and
then her father returned TO England from
India and took her away. She went to live
with him on an outlandish island some-
where. and ten years passed before ] saw
her again,
Them one night, dined with Lady For
far, a very old friend of our family took
down a demure little person In blue
frock.
saw much of Mabel, despite our efforts
to keep apart. Our friends were very
friendly.
Look here, Mabs,", said l, at last, this
is absurd. Everywhere | go | meet you
/ believe you do it on purpose"
Il don't" said she. But why does it
annoy your
You know how We dislike one another?'
I'VE don't dislike one another"
II feel sure you areSwrong so. OF course,
YOU are right" said l. But I wish we
could do something to prevent it,"
why don't you marry?" she cried
That's right Drive me into uncongenial
wedlock. 80
II merely suggested it for your benefit"
said she II can keep my temper when
/ we meet
BY Jove have an idea" I cried
| Well pretend to be engaged"
II don't think l should like that" said
Mabel And, besides, what good would
| it do?"
They would leave us alone, then"
"Yes--alone altogether"
| "Is that usual?"
| She nodded. still" she said Il don't
| think they would he quite anxious about
us We should he spared a little Of their
onicous friendship 1t might be rather
| restful"
We decided to try the experiment. I
| bought ring and asked one or two men to
keep mum about my engagement to Miss
Wakeham.
That same evening my mother warmly
| congratulated me, and my father offered
TO pay my debts. I had forgotten this con-
| tingency and ! wired to Mabel, How about
| our parents?'
She took no notice of my frantic mes
| sage.
| Thomas" said my father. (He gave me
| t4at name, so | suppose he has right to
| use it, Thomas, you have made me a
happy man. There is no girl I could have
| nreferred" Crhere were many girls whom
| preferred , This one wise act of yours
| atones for all your faults" he went on
(He is on the bench and rarely descends
from it, "Of course there is nc necessity
for a long engagement"
"AlI engagements do not end in marri-
age" ! reminded him,
| This one will" he rejoined with such
conviction that / thrilled with supersttious
dread.
'Mabs," said ] when we next met II
wish had not bought that ring"
80 do l." said she. at is utterly
hideous"
This affair will end in disaster" I re-
| marked recalling my fathers ominous
words.
| "Oh WELL If the worst comes to the
worst we can always quarrel" said she.
| I'VE do" said |.
| 81 mean that we can always end our
| engagement by saying that we have quar-
| relied"
I'm not sure that ] want to part from
| YOU altogether Mabs After all, your dis
like of me is rather amusing"
| 81 don't dislike you" she said Still. |
| do begin to wonder if this experiment Is