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Show msssmmmmmmmm ILKIl OWN BLUNDER. Carolyn Yernet wo of tint order ot woman to whom their admirer ar wont to apply audi adjectives a "ruga!," "ru-ga!," "magnificent," "Imperial." Many Igvera sought to win bcr, and many wero disappointed when rumor announced her engagement to young Krank lteade. To bs sure, Frank was handsome as a prlnco and brilliant a to wit and talent; was poor, hadn't even "expectation." "ex-pectation." Early orphaned ot both hit parents, be waa educated for the law by a rich uncle, wbo mads It understood that said education waa all he meant to give Prank. ills presumptive heir waa another nephew, Frank's cousin. Well, these considerations had their weight with Miss Vernet, and she bad hesitated before accepting the young lawyer, but hla attraction of mind and person prorod too much for her worldly world-ly wisdom, and It was an engagement. Only she stipulated that It should be no mors until Frank should havs euM-clrnt euM-clrnt Incomo to support her In good atyls. Of course Frank mutt needs go away lo seek his fortune. He went to Hurope. Hu-rope. There was a tender parting between be-tween the lovers, at which Carolyn was tearful and despondent, Frank brave and hopeful. "Don't think of my absentee, dearest," dear-est," he urged cheerfully. "Think ot tbe time when I shall return with a fortcme to offer you " "Iteturn when you will, Frank." sobbed Carolyn. "You shall find me true. I will wait for you faithfully, dear Frank." Frank lteade went to fiuropo, nnd for a month Carol) n waa Inconsolable. Inconsol-able. However, thla did not laat long, and at the end of a month Carolyn had so far recovered from her grief a to accept ac-cept an Invitation to Mra. DoSmlth's soiree. At that soiree she met Albert Heads, that fortunate cousin of Frank'. Mr. Head wa a rather good looking young man. She saw at once that ho wa destined to become her adorer. HeslJes. he waa Frank's cousin, reason rea-son enough why she should like him. Still sho did not speak to him of Frank; neither did Mr. lteade alludo to hla cousin, but Albert wo Ignorant ot Miss Varnct's engagement to Frank, He begnn from their first meeting to dovots himself to hor, and Miss Var- SAVUI) HIS LIFE, net, not being blind, especially to such attentions, did not mistake It, yst she did not dlscouiage him. And when occasionally she heard tome comment from "society" not flattering flat-tering to her constancy, she said Indignantly! In-dignantly! "Of courss the mutt go about with tome one, and who could be a mors proper escort than Frank's cousin!" So sho continued to "go about" with Albert Itra'i Ot course, you see ths sequel. Ci v n loved Frank, Under tbs tasclnatlou of his presence sbs bad yielded her selfishness, but now that be had gons, wordllness had resumed Its swsy, and ambition began to suggest sug-gest that Albert waa a better match than Frank. "Society," that nstule and considerate consider-ate body, had long forgotten the event and was not In the least aurprlaed when Miss Vernet authorized the Information In-formation that she was soon to marry Albert lteade, und society thought It a very sensible proceeding And Carolyn married Albert lteade. They went to II 0 with Uncle Jenkins, who gave tbe bride a set of dlamonJt and did the handsomo thing generally, and somebody was good enough to send to Frank In Hurope a paper containing con-taining the marrlago notice What u crushing blow to all his hope that notlcs was h never told any one. Ho did not return home, and society was lift to forget or remember him as It would. It chose to remember him, for Carolyn, Car-olyn, riding on a ferryboat about two years after htr marriage, heard a lady and gentleman at her aide convening aa follows: "I suppose Maria told you abont her friend Frank Heads' good fortunsl" queried tbo lady. "No. What about him? I understand that he wa rather unfortunate at one time." "You mean about hi engagement to that Mlaa Vincent, wa It I suppoie. Yes, he did take her Inconstancy very badly, Maria says They say she wa a great beauty, and men ar silly about a pretty face begging your pardon, roon ami!" "Orantedl" laughed the gentleman; "proceed." "Well, you know, as soon aa hs wa safely out of the way she married a rich man, tome relatloa to Frank Tteade, I believe." "Yes; I haw heard all about that" "Well, now comes the sequel. Frank went to Switzerland on eoms wild-Eooee wild-Eooee chase, and while there saved tbs llfs of a certain rich, benevolent.eblld-leat benevolent.eblld-leat gentleman. Well, the benevolent old gentleman Insisted on taking hi brave young prervcr home to England Eng-land with him. Then ho adopted him, and now bo has capped the climax by dying and leaving hi Immense fortuno unconditionally Id Frank. Now, won't that b a bitter pill to the falthles beauty?" Carolyn heard no more, but shs had heard enough and lalsr the story had plenty of confirmation It wa a bitter bit-ter pill to her llut tho woral wa not yet In tbe course ot nature Uncle Jenkins Jen-kins died and wra burled, knd hi taw-ler taw-ler came to read tho will to the heir presumptive. With serene satisfaction satisfac-tion Mr. and Mrs. lteade listened to tho following: "I give and bequeath to my ntphw, Albert lteade, all the property of which I die posaeased, amounting " Hero the lawyer paused to wlpo his spectacles, "Amounting lo 15,000, Invested In" etc That was all. Uncle Jenkins apparent ap-parent wealth had been all a sham, and Carolyn had sold herself for 15.0001 She had lost not only a true, loving heart, but what waa of more value a princely fortune. Cincinnati Post |