The following Saturday fortnight the _Bittleton Press_ scored what journalists call a “scoop” at the expense of the rival and Radical organ, the _Advertiser_. Such is the reward of sound political principle! Here is the paragraph--“exclusive,” the editor was careful to make you understand: We are privileged to announce that a marriage has been arranged and will shortly be solemnised between Captain Spencer Fullard, D.S.O., of Gatworth Hall, and Henrietta, daughter of the late Rev. F. E. Tyler, Vicar of Worldstone. We extend, in the name of the county, our cordial congratulations to the happy pair. Captain Fullard is the representative of a name ancient and respected in the county, and has done good service to his King and country. The romantic story of the lady whose affections he has been so fortunate as to win will be fresh in the minds of our readers. As we sympathised with her sorrow, so now we may with her joy. We understand that Miss Gladwin of Worldstone Park, following what she is confident would have been the wish of her lamented father, the late much-respected Sir Thomas Gladwin, Bart., M.P., D.L., J.P., C.A., is presenting the prospective bride with a wedding present which in itself amounts to a fortune. Happy they who are in a position to exercise such graceful munificence and to display filial affection in so gracious a form! It would be indiscreet to mention figures, but rumour has not hesitated to speak of what our gay forefathers used to call “a plum.” We are not at liberty to say more than that this in no way overstates the amount. Whereupon, of course, the Bittleton Club at once doubled it, and Miss Gladwin’s fame filled the air. This was all very pretty, and it must be admitted that Beatrice Gladwin had performed her task in a most tactful way. For reasons connected with the known condition of the finances of the Gatworth Hall estate, it sounded so much better that Miss Gladwin’s present should come as a result of the engagement than--well, the other way round. The other way round would have given occasion for gossip to the clubmen of Bittleton. But now--Love against the World, and an entirely unlooked-for bonus of--“a plum,” as the editor, with a charming eighteenth-century touch, chose to describe the benefaction. That was really ideal. Really ideal; and, of course, in no way at all correspondent to the facts of the case. The truth was that Miss Beatrice Gladwin had secured her “fair fight”--and, it seemed, had lost it very decisively and very speedily. As soon as it was reasonably possible--and made so by Miss Gladwin’s action--for Fullard to think of marrying Nettie Tyler, he had asked her to be his wife. To which question there could be only one answer. Miss Gladwin had given away too much weight; she should have quartered that “plum,” I thought.