Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-03-07

| been all right without III, out ne Hau ~
choice; he tried to throw loyer-llke
ardor into his voice as he said, do not
keep me too long in the agof1ies OF sus-
pense. dearestr' but he felt certain
sense of relief in the fact that, not being
formally accepted, he could not be ex-
pectcd to imprint kiss on his fair ones
cheek There was not much OF rose
bud blush, and good deal OF Tondre dt
riz there, and it looked dusty, to say the
least.
Miss Richley had strict sense OF pro-
priety, or rather desire TO avoid It's pc
ing known TO the world at large how far
matters had gone in any little affair OF
this kind, therefore Phil was not called
upon for any display OF devotion; and
when he put his heiress in the carriage
which was to convey her back to the
mansion in Marquis Square, where the
family resided during the season, the
farewell on either side was so studiously
courteous and commonplace that the
acutest of cbaperons could not have de-
tcctcd anything particular.
Phil chartered hanson, lighted
cigar, and drove back to London, ponder
ing on his present position, and wonder
ing lazily how it would all turn out; but
AS he dismissed the vehicle at the club
door a woman offered him roses for sale
He stopped. and shade came over his
handsome insouctant face as he gave her a
sixpencc and took pale tearose from
her stock.
II wish I was rich man for your sake,
daring,n was the thought that flashed
across his mind; but the Rosebud to
whom that thought was dedicated was far
away across the seas, and Phil dismissed
the passing cloud, and went up the steps
humming gay air.
Next morning, however, his courage
slightly failed him, when he went TO his
necessary interview with the senior part
ncr If he did not succeed, he would
probably have the pleasure of making the
acquaintance of the Commissioners in
Bankruptcy; and if he did But the life
that such success cntailcd offered pros
pect not too agreeable to the wellborn,
thorough bred Philip Kerr.
Apparently the visions of the night had
not presented the Scotch baronet. red
hair, splay feet, and all, in too delightful
a view to Miss Theodosia Richley " be-
sides" as she mentally observed, after
all. dearest Philip was an Honorable. "
So, dressed in most elaborate morning
costume, all white furbclows and blue
ribbon, she welcomed the handsome rifle
man with one of her most fascinating
smiles.
Mr.. Richlcy, though only a shop-kcep-
er, was at heart true gentleman his
daughters welfare and happiness were
his first consideration.
T.ct her future husband he often said,
''be gentleman, and, above all, "a good
man, and III find the money for house
and home such as she has always been ac-
customcd to-
Under these circumstances Phil's hon.
est acknowledgment that he had nothing
to offer in the way Of settlement was no
bar to his prospects. His handsome face,
his kindly, genial manner, won Mr.. Rich
Icy's heart, and the acute old ira esman
read his character truly. If he had no
very strong points about him. at least
he had no very veal. ones. His virtues
and vices were all of the negative order,
except that he possessed splendid tenn
per.
The paternal consent and blessing were
soon given; and then appeared on the
scene Mrs. Richley, who, duly prompted
by her daughter, added her blessing and
congratulations till Phil felt he could do
no less than kiss his bride-elect in a most
calm and decorOus way, in full view Gas
was proper) of her loving parents.
Moreover, he was invited to take up his
abode there for the remaining fortnight OF
leave; and in good or evil hour, as 1t
may seem to- each individual reader, he
accepted The luxurious establishment
i'm Marquis Square suited not only Pills
notions of comfort better than his third
floor bedroom and his club dinner, put
also the state of his pockets. Rooms and
dinner were gratis in Marquis Square;
that was a great point. All went well for
a few days, till the arrival of some coun-
try cousins, who, being newly married,
expected to see every couple OF lovers as
demonstrative as they were themselves.
Phil did not do enough kissing to please
them; he did not squeeze his fair one
hand in corners and he made himself
generally agreeable without seeking per
petual tete a,tetcs with his fdncee.
"My dear Thcodosia," observed Mrs
Russell, one evening, on their return
from the opera, whittier Phil had escorted
them, 81 suppose it is not the fashions
but really, now, if my William in our
counting days had not put his arm round
my waist as we drove in a carriage, and
in the dark, too, should have been seri-
ously uneasy"
Another time it was, dearest, how
very odd that Captain Kerr never seems
to care to be alone with you! My VIII
liam could not bear third person in the
room!'
Theedosia might have disregarded this,
but her own sense told her that Phil was
not IA devoted lover; and though the con
CALCULATIONS of the Kerr family had been
most enthusiastic, though they mentally
adopted Theodosia and her thirty thou
sand as a daughter and sister dear to theil
aristocratic hearts, yet there were sundry
outlying members who preserved the
right to opinions Of their own, and
would have preferred Phils bride being
considerably younger and very much
pretter, even if her pockets were not SC
well lined.
Now this heresy against the right
divine of gold Theodosia secretly resent
ed, and again had visions OF the baronet
and thought that Lady MGregor'
sounded quite as well as, or better than
the Hon Mrs. Kerr" In short, hav
ing landed her fish, Theodosia was getting
weary of it.
The pleasure to her was in the catching
not the keeping, and Phil was far too Sc