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Show j ! $ 4, 4. . .j. .;. . . j Perfection at j Discount By H. IRVING KING ; v : -:- .;. K-ti .;. 4. - .;. . tCuDvriKlit.) "pilF-Y SL,y that the Athenians exilei Ari.--tide because they got so evei lasting tired of hearing him callei "The Just." It was some such hie: as tliis that caused Irene Kimball ti say "No" 10 Alfred Tren.aine. All tin people of his litlle town trumpeted hi praises in season and out of season Irene's acquaintances Including he father and mother never tired of tell ing her how fortunate she was to havi such a model young man with suet rosy prospects before him as a suitoi for her hand. Tills finally got ot Irene's nerves, and when ut last Alfrer asked her to be bis wife, and slum his budding greatness, she answeret she fell herself utterly unworthy t( be the spouse of such a perfect being and begged to he excused. She was sorry as soon ns she hat said it ; but she bad been espivlallj irritated that day by the con versa tior of girl friends who. at an afternoor tea. hail gabbled and gabbled to hei about her luck in having such a suitor ns Alfred Tremalne. Was she to heal that sort -of thing all her life? Wlier she was un old woman would people come to her and say. "Ob. how fortu iate you were in your marriage!" Not much. Irene bad a rather good Idea of her own merits, and craved a little just a little need of acknowledgment acknowledg-ment for them. She did not relish the prospect of passing her days simply as the fortunate girl who had married mar-ried Alfred Tretnnine. She had to acknowledge that all that was said in praise of Alfred was true, but she was tired of being reminded of his excellences. As for Alfred, he was a wise young man not quite so wise as people thought him perhaps, but wise: and when Irene rejected his first proposal he accepted her decision cheerfully. After Irene had said her "nay" to Alfred she became rather cross and fretful, which condition of mind was not ameliorated by the reproaches of her parents, which were showered upon up-on her liberally when they learned of her rejection of Alfred's suit. Finally she anounced her intention of going for a visit to her Aunt Selinn in a distant dis-tant city. "I want a vacation," said she; "1 am suffering from too much Tremalne." Aunt Sellna was ancient and lively, and a confirmed matchmaker, as all well-conducted spinsters are. "Oh, I am so glad you are here," said the aunt. "Not married yet, of course, or I should have heard of It. And I have got just the man for you." "Not a perfect creature, I hope," replied re-plied Irene. "Perfect !" cried Selina, "far from It. In fact, he's not brilliant at all. i wouldn't for the world have you marry a man who was your superior. Such marriages never turn out well. He is simply a good-natured, plodding sort of youth who Is bound to be able to provide for your comfort possibly supply you with some luxuries. In picking out a husband always pick an inferior, so you can manage. I met this young man at a summer resort last month, and as soon as I clapped my eyes on hiin, I said, That Is just the husband for Irene.' I got your letter yesterday morning saying you were coming, and this afternoon I met the young man on the street and asked him to call." Irene listened with little Interest to her aunt's chatter, saying: "My dear, dear nunt, I shall probably never marry," mar-ry," and then changed the subject. She wondered if Alfred, back there in Clay-ville, Clay-ville, was missing her! And she laughed to herself as she thought that the husband Aunt Selina had picked out for her was, at least, a decidedly imperfect tiling. "And it is just such a man I mean to marry if I ever marry." mar-ry." she thought. "Who knows but something may come of auntie's plans for me after ail ?" Evening came, and with it the selection selec-tion of Aunt" Selina. "He's here," fluttered flut-tered Selina; "lie's in the parlor now. Come while I introduce you Don't mind his being rather awkward in society so-ciety and not over well-stocked with brains." Selina and her niece entered the parlor and there stood Alfred Tremaine I "Alfred I" gasped Irene: "You here? Is this a conspiracy?" "Not on your aunt's part," replied Alfred. "You see, ' happened to meet Miss Selina last summer, but did not know of your relationship. When I learned it, however, and that you had gone to visit her. I packed my grip and came to the city. I managed to meet your nunt and to get invited to tlie bouse to meet you." "What's all this?" cried Aunt Selina "Have you two been playing a trick on me?" "I have. Miss Selina," replied Alfred, Al-fred, "and I beg your forgiveness. You see, 1 proposed to your niece two months ago and was rejected. It is now time that I proposed again. What do you say, Irene?" "Well," replied Irene, "since there seems to he no help for It and A 11111 Selina assured me that you are in all ways my inferior I suppose I must say yes." "And I," laughed tlie old lady, "say Bless you, ray children!'" |