Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-04
From Noah's Sunday Times.
OUT OF SEASON.

I = p e..
"There is nothing SO CO ltemptible as
a weak man." said Mrs. Dalamere to
her grandniece. "Your father is a
weak man, Charlotte. Why isn't he a
bishop, or something's Why aren't you
settled? Why is your father always
coming to me for money? Because he
is weak, and y0lt--'' r
There was unutterable scorn in the
infection of the cid lady's voice.
isn't this a twice told tale aslnt? p
replied Charlotte, in wearied tone
that had become hsbitual to her.
He wants TO go to town this season
for what? To pour over old trash in
the libraries all day, and dawdle at his
club in the evening. And as for uoo,
how much do you suppose your three
seasons cost me, Miss Delamere? There
was the carriage and your lady's maid
(you haven't got one now, have your
and your dresses-goodness, why two
thousand would not cover it land
here you are still-Mariana in the
Moated Grange, seven-and-twenty if
you're day. You'll not go to town
with my money! p
"I do not particularly desire to-"
"No; / know it. It's that which ir-
ritates me. There's no spirit in you.
You look as white as milk. That lazy
Brian is at the Court again-dawdling
I do hate dawdlers." And out she
swept. ks
Though use had made Charlotte
calm and indifferent under these Oft
repeated ieers, she would. have been
less than woman if the recollection
of three unsuccessful seasons had not
been little bitter. Had she not been
"fast" enough, or was it simply her
lack of dowry
The Rev. Lord Talbot Delaware, her
father, was indeed brother to peer;
but as eight healthy children INTERVIEWED
between him and the estate there was
no prospect of an improvement in the
weak mans fortune. Charlotte had
seen less handsome women than her
self marry with eclat. Her mind was
perhaps little too well stored for social
success.
clay Brian" a clerk in a we'll
known Crown Office, lifted his hat neg
igently to Aunt Delamere as she drove
past, while he leant over a gate with
his friend Mr.. Martin, tenant at the
Court Farm. He had run down for a
few days at Easter, as he said, to give
the dogs an airing" two settlers and a
spaniel were playing, about at their
feet.
"You seem rather dull, Martin" said
Brian, offering his cigar case.
They were examples of two most op-
posite types of men-one tall, swarthy,
and obviously weary; the farmer short,
stouter, and, though very little older in
years, showing his age more.
II am" he repGd. 81 am dull. I
have something on my mind. Come
home Will you write a letter for me ?"
"Of course" said Brian, smiling.
But he did not smile when he found
what the farmer, with the strange dis
inclination to use pen and ink often
characteristic of his class, wished him
to write. It was an offer Of his hand to
Charlotte Delamere.
81 know Pm beneath her." said
Martin; " but, you see, she has had
three season, and is not-well, not quite
SO young, now; and and well, I love
her, and [ have money"
The letter was written.
Neither did Charlotte smile when she
read it.
Chow strange it should be in has
handwritingw she thought. Poor
Martin he is gentlemen in heart and
manner, though not by descent. I am
sorry for him."
She wrote, and broke her refusal as
gently as possible. Martin was not sat-
ished. He begged Brian to obtain an
interview for him, knowing that he was
on visiting terms at the Rectory.
With some reluctance Brian went
Strange that he could not look Char
lotte in the face while he delivered his
message strange, that his voice should
falter little.
"I will meet him at four o'clock," she
said, !" in the lane by the copse."
The east wind blew cold and keen:
but the sky was clear and blue, and the
sun, though low, was bright. Between
the hedgerows of the lanes it was
warmer. She gathered g. few ane