He Did His Best

"Halloo.Charley, wakeup! Don'tliethere fike a soinnolent log!" But Charley Evans only responded with ( succession of convulsive sneezes and , groans. i "Cold in the hend, eh? Never mind it- vp with you!" "Up indeed, with knifelike pains shooting up and down every joint in a fellow's body, and nis head feeling as if a i weight of lead were tled to every individual iair." "Remember your engagement, Charley. Remember that the girls expect every young man to do his duty this splendid day." Mr. Evans groaned. "Ralph, your list of visita iscomparatively small; you must go and make my apologies." " Well, atrreed. But first let me give you acup of coffee." "Never mind," groaned Charley. "What was I goingto say? Oh, you must go and see Flora Howard for me. I told her last night that I should have something very particular to say to her today, and she'll think it a purposed affront if she hears nothing f rom me." "What shall I teil her- that you havo a woeful cold in the head?" "Nonsense. Just explain mattere to her and say that- that- in short, convey to her the idea tbat I love her and ask her if she will have me." "Rather an awkward message for a third person to carry. Hadn't you better wait nntil you can plead your own cause in propria persona?" "No, no - it's a question that admits of nodelay. There are a dozen beaux flirting round her the whole time, and it won't do to lose my prize for lack of decisión. Just act as my proxy, Ralph. I know she will say yes." "On my soul.Charley, I wish you wouldn't send me on this particular errand. Can't you flnd some other messenger?" "Oh, I understand what you mean," said Evans, tossing restlessly on his pillow. "I know you were rather an admirer of Flora's at one time, but you must be aware that you never had any chance in that quarter. Don't be selflsh - and, besides, I would rather send an honest, stupid sort of a fellow like you than any one else. No offense, Ralph, I hope?" "Oh, no; of course not," said Ralph Brevcster demurely, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, ril do my best." As Ralph Brevvster walked rapidly along j the ice glazed pavements he could not help mentally reverting to the gentleman he had left behind him. "Pretty cool, I must say!" he remarked to himself. "I've seen a good many evidences of Charley Evans' selfishness, but j this is the most convincing of all. Does he suppose I have no feelings? And then his calm way of taking it for granted that Flora Howard is dying for him. I'd rather undergo the rack than to do Charley's courting for him- but I mustn't indulge these lachrymose sensations." The slanting afternoon beams peeping into Charley Evans' invalid chamber played all sorts of merry pranks around his disheveled hair and restless head, and finally creeping up the wall vanished away into the purple mysteries of twilight - and Ralph Brewster did not appear to report progress. Charley grew impatient. 'It isn't particularly favorable to an angelic disposition to have a cold in your head, with aching bones and quivering nerves and a cranium throbbing as if somebody was trying to split it apart with a dull hátchet. Nine, 10, 11 o'clock sounded on his straiued ear, and still Ralph's familiar footstep had not fallen on the stair. What could have delayed him? And while he was revolving probabilities and possibilities in his weary brain ilorpheus considerately came tothe rescue, and he feil asleep to dream of standing bef ore the altar with Flora Howard. It was on the evening of the third day from this eventful first that Charles Evans sat before his fire, very cross beeause the doctor had prohibited his going out for a day or two. Suddenly the door was flung open, and Ralph Brewster burst in. "Halloo, old fellow. Howareyou? Surprised at my nonappearance, eh? Well. here I am to make all the necessary apologies and explanations." Charley held out his hand with a lazy acquiescence in whatever might befall that was wortby of u nobler cause. "Well, Charley, I went to see Flora, as you wished me to." "Did you?" said Charley, rather brightening up. "What did she say?'.' "Why, I commenced by making all apologies for your absence - which, by the way, didn't seem to affect her very powerfully- and then I played offhand into the love subject." "Well?" demanded Charley eagerly. "The strangest part of the matter was that she didn't understand me, but seemed to imagine that I was making love for mygelf - and before I could explain she had hidden her pretty face on my shoulder and confessed in the sweetest words woman ever faltered forth that my sentiment was not altogether unreturnedl" Charles Evans turned very red, sprang up, and theu changed his mind and sat down again. "Well- what next?" "Why, you can imagine the delighted perplexity of my position. Of course, I couldn't bawl out, 'You're mistaken in the individua!, Miss Flora- I am only courting inbehalf of Charley Evans; now, could I?' " Charley Evans stared fixedly at his friend, but made no answer. Ralph went on: "So, when I discovered that the brightest dream of my life - hitherto deemed as visionary and unapproachable as the very stars of heaven - was a blessed reality, I accepted the priceless treasure with the resolution to deserve it if possible. And as she was annoyed by the importunities of one or two wealthy suitors, who were favored by her parents, I concluded that the sooner matters were broue;ht to a crisis the better. So we quietly slipped away and got married the selfsame evening! And now I claim your congratulations!1' Charley elaborately pulled out his pocket handkerchief, but not as his alarmed friend imagined to give way to a burst of vain tears, merely to sneeze! "Well. Ralph," said he composedly, when that operation was nafely over, "you're a lucky fellow, and I'm not sure, after all, but that you deserve it." "And you will come to visit Flora and myself in a friendly way?" "As soon as I'm able to go out. Please