Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-09-10

would have happened had he answered
6 Yes" Would his cousin have had
IN apoplectic fit Che looked very near it
IS it was) and gone off the hooks at once,
eaving everybody happy evei after
ward? or would he have sent for his
lawyer and devised everything he had to
the County Lunatic Asylum on the
spot7 Percival had felt that this cru
cial matter must crop up sooner or later,
and had nerved himself for the en-
counter. 81 have no wife," he went on,
&c but, that is the same thing, Sir Geof-
frey, so far as my future is concerned, 1
am engaged to be married" -" r.a
"What, to that hop-picker's daugh-
teri" Numbered the old man, who, it
seemed, had been making keener in
quiries into Percival's affairs than he
had any idea of. ..t Lna f.n.1
Swell, sir, her father is a hop
merchant" returned the young man,
cody, "and I dare say has made some
pretty pickings; but I don't think he
would like to be called hop-picker. I
may, perhaps, be allowed to add that
your use of the term is not very polite
to me-" '..
His face was very white, and looked
all the whittier by comparison with his
companions, which was scarlet. They
were both in frightful rage, the one at
a white heat, the other boiling.
"And who the deuce are you?" ex-
claimed Sir Godfrey, in precisely the
same tone Though he aOos such an
aristocrat) as the butchers boy used
who, having run the leg of his wooden
tray into the dukes eye, inquired of
him: "Who the deuce he was that he
should be so particular about his eye
sight?"
"My name is Percival Fendall, sir
A man that boasts better blood than
you, inasmuch as he can count genera
ton beyond YOU" This reply, intended
to be satirical, was an inspiration, and
had quite the contrary effect to what he
had expected. He had accidentally
protected himself as it were by this in
terposition of the others fetish, as
though it had been shield.
"By Jove, that's true" said Godfrey,
regarding him with undisguised admira-
ton. "You're the eleventh of us,
though not quite in the direct line. l
am glad you appreciate the circumstance
at its full value. I had been told by s.
mischievous fellow that you had been
shrinking of spelling our name with a
capital F."
"That would be blasphemy indeed
said Percival, without moving muscle.
"Of course it would" put in the bar
onet eagerly. +" perceive that my in
formant was liar. You are worthy of
your name, and you were only joking
though let me observe that l don't like
such jokes-when you talked of being
engaged to this Miss Lake."
"Blake, sir, is her name," continued
Percival, with unrutfled calm; it is a
very decent one, though she doesn't
spell it with two little BIS. She is 8
delicate-minded, honorable gentle
woman, and / mean to marry her."
What, without my consent?"
Ono, Sir Godfrey. | hope, with your
consent. You have only to see her, and
I venture to think you will confess that
Miss-the young lady in blue, whom
you were SO good SIS to recommend to
me-cannot hold s candle to her."
"But her blood, sir? You, of all men
shouldI understand the Importance, the
necessity, the indispensability-" The
baronet supplied in expression and ges-
ture what was wanting in words.
81 do, Sir Godfrey. Science has
lately corroborated your opinion upon
that point. To persons about to marry
it recommends the microscope. Mary 8
blood shall be subject to investigation. ;"
"What nonsense you talk! As if it
could possibly be blood like ours! Be-
ware how you trife-or rather how you
venture beyond trifing-with persons
of this class. A blot on the 'scutcheon,
remember, is ineradicable."
eff Fendall were to break his word,
Sir Geefrey, would not that be a blot on
the1scutcheon?" .-.
It was cruel of Percival to place his
kinsman on the horns of such dilemma.
But there is no fetish so utterly illogical
and, to say truth, SO selfish and egotis-
tical-as that of blood.
"The promise was extracted from you
by passion" answered the old man,
"and is therefore invalid" Then, as if
aware of the monstrosity of this position,
he went hurriedly on-as after one has
skinned over thin ice-to paint the hor-
rors of an unequal marriage. "Look at
young Lascelles; if he had married as
his uncle wished him, he might have
stood for the county; q man whose ances-
try is only second to our own, but who
chose to throw himself away on female
nobody; respectable, I dare say, she may
be-her father lives in Baker street, and
is of the name of Jones. What was the
result of it all? Why, young Lascelles
was compelled to walk to the hospitals"
If he had been made to walk the
plank, it is impossible that Sir Godfrey
could have spoken of the fact with more
sincere compassion for the young mans
unhappy fate.
81 know Lascelles." said Percival
cheerfully; che lives close to the
Blakes."
"Very likely" put in Sir Godfrey,
dryly.
And has already acquired good
practice" continued the young man.
&C He fold mo he ia noIch HAMMER thon