Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-04-25

at least he had no very weak ones. HIS
virtues and vices were all of the mega
tive order, except that he possessed a
splendid temper.
The paternal consent and blessing
were soon given; and then appeared on
the scene Mrs. Richley, who, duly
prompted by her daughter, added her
blessings and congratulations, till Phil
felt that he could do no less than kiss
his bride elect, in most calm and de-
corous way, in full view las was proper)
of her loving parents.
Moreover, he was invited to take up
his abode there for the remaining fort
night of his leave; and in good or evil
hour, as it may seem to each individual
reader, he accepted. The luxurious
establishment in Marquis square suited
not only Phil's notions of comfort bet
ter than his three-hoor bedroom and his
club dinner, but also the state of his
pockets. Rooms and dinner were gratis
in Marquis square that was a great
point. All went well for few days, till
the arrival of some country cousins,
who, being newly married, expected to
see every couple of lovers as demonstra-
trative as themselves. Phil did not
do enough kissing to please them !;
he did not squeeze his fair ones hand
orally agreeable without seeking per-
petual tete-a-tetes with his fancee.
my dear Thedosia," observed Mrs.
Russell one evening, on their return
from the opera, whittier Phil had escorted
them, ~ suppose it is not the fashion !;
but really, now, if my William, in our
courting days had not put his arm
around my waist as we drove in a car
riage, and in the dark, l should have
been seriously uneasy"
Another time it was, dearest, how
very odd that Capt. Kerr never seems to
care to be alone with you. My William
could not bear third person in the
room l''
Theodosia might have disregarded
this, but her own sense told her that
Phil was not a devoted lover; and
though the congratulations of the
Kerr family had been most enthusiastic,
though they had mentally dopted
daughter and sister, dear to their aristo-
cratic hearts, yet there were suntlry out
lying members who would have preferred
Phil's bride being considerably younger
and very much prettier, even if her
pockets were not so well lined.
No, this heresy against the right
divine of gold, Theodosia secretly re-
sented, and again she had visions of the
baronet, and thought that "Lady Nc
Gregor" sounded quite as well as, or
better than, the Hon. Mrs. Kerr" In
short, having landed her fish, Theodosia
was getting weary of it.
The pleasure to her was in the catch
ing, not the keeping, and Phil was far
too secure and careless to please her.
Courteous and eeEtlemanly he could
not fail TO be, but he was no actor. He
could not assume a virtue he had not !;
and he could not speak POLITICALLY, when
he was feeling peculiarly cool and in
different.
So the time went on, till, on the
morning that he was to leave, it was
Mrs, not Miss Richley, who greeted
him on his entrance to the library.
at is very painful task, Captain
Kerr, that is imposed upon me, but 1
have no resource" were her opening
ter's feelings; indeed, in this instance,
1 quite coincide in them; so does her
father. We all feel that there does not
exist between you the love which alone
can render marriage state of blessing,
and it is better at once to end this
hastily-formed engagement"
Phil stared, but said nothing.
Mrs. Richley, having applied filmy
pocket-handkerchief to her eyes, went
on:
"Do not answer me, Capt. Kerr"
(Phil, by the way had not attempted it);
" this decision is final yet, as an inter
view with my daughter would be very
painful to her, and useless to yourself,
1 must beg that you will at once leave
the house without urging il"
What could Phil say? A certain
sense of relief, too, flashed over his
mind. He simply bowed, expressed his
thanks for the hospitality and kind
ness he had received, his regret at the
sudden, and, he must observe, unex-
planned termination of his engagement,
and requested that a cab might be
called to transport himself and his port
manteau to the club.
So ended PhiPs dream of an heiress.
Yet, that heartless young man was ac-
tually heard to whistle GA te cara ~
as he drove away from Marquis square !;
and Mrs. Richley would have felt her.
self more than ever justified had she
read his thoughts: "Free, even if a
beggar. Rosebud, may think of you
lovingly now."
Phil did not lament when he found
next morning that sudden orders had
come for the regiment to sail for
Canada.
One week later and he was on board
the troopship, as 1t steamed down the
Mersey, and the band struck up "The
Girl Left Behind Me-" A dear, sweet
face seemed to hover before him, with
bright, soft eyes, not cast up and down
and sideways, like Theodosia's pale
gray orbs, but yet which spoke of a
bashful affection as pure and true as
ever throbbed in the heart of a gentle
born English maiden.
Yes, the hackneyed old tune carried
his thoughts away to bygone time and
a southern land, and Phil Kerr came
to the conclusion that he was, as he
himself would have expressed it, ga
BRUTE" and that he had been "a big
fool"
Phil was the only patient passenger
on board for. strange to say, he had be-
gun to think, and seriously, too. Per-
haps the bracing sea air affected his
very easy-going ideas on many subjects;
perhaps it was that he had nothing to
do but to smoke, play whist, and think;
but certain it is, that the gallant, self
satisfied, and careless Phil began to
think his honorable self but doubfully
worthy Of that fr11a 1oua