Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-11-15


deliberately taken advantage of his alb
senee to come and see You upon a sub
iect which nearly concerns my happi-
ness. / should have spoken about it
last night but that I could not command
your attention save for few moments
at a time. Now, however, we are safe
from interruption. y
''But, Mr.. Murley, it would be so
much better if you would call when my
father is in. -
''Oh, that is not important my dear
Miss Lirripip. 1t is a subject that may
be settled by you alone"
''Please, Mr.. Mur1ey, do not tell me
about it now" pleaded Lydia. '|The
windows are open, you know, and there
are servants about the house, and"
Observation-Disclosures!
This time Horace, as well as Lydia,
was greatly relieved, but Mr. Murley
was furious. ''Let me see you to-mOr-
row." he said, hastily.
''Yes!nO! nor returned Miss Lirripip,
thankful for any opportunity of getting
rid of him. '.Good-by, Mr.. Murley,
Goodbye And the same servant who
showed up Sir Pertinax Popinjay showed
down Mr.. Merton Murley, who glared
at the Baronet with look which spoke
volumes.
..NIy dear LYDIA said Sir Pertinax
as he offered both his hands to Miss
Lirripip; ''you were really charming
last night. | never saw such perfect
sylph in my life, and many people
agreed with me. You were the belle of
the room. There is no doubt about it. y
I'm sure it is very good of you. Sir
PertinaX, to say so," returned Lydia.
But l thought that the Countess her
self"
''Oh, the Countess! She and you can
not be mentioned together, my dear.
Every one said so. And besides, the
Countess of course is married. She has
met her fate. Ha, ha! But you--you
are still-my dear Miss Lydia. 1 may
be fool; but, upon my honor, have
come here this evening with the deter
mined intention of asking you whether
you will have me. You know I worship
the very ground you stand on And, to
! Lydia's great CONSERVATION, the old
! gentleman, ere she could prevent him,
gallantly knelt at her feet, and took her
| hand, with the evident intention of
pressing it to his lips.
''Do get up, please, Sir Pertinax, !"
said Miss Lirripip, forgetting for mo-
ment that Horace Freake was within
hearing, but anxious that the Baronet
should not make himself unnecessarily
ridiculous even to her. ''You can talk
just as well if.you sit down; but really
you mustn't talk in that way. Idon't
want to be married; indeed, 1 don't.
You know like you very much, but l
couldn't possibly marry you
Sir PertinaX rose with dignity and
L. IL 1T 1, 4
hoped, Lydia, that you liked me well
enough even for husband. What you
say, however, may not be final, because
nothing can alter my regard for you,
and perhaps in the future you may
think better of me-"
81 could not think better of you than
do" returned Miss Lirripip, feelingly,
''and you do not know how sorry I am
that this has happened. We can never
be the same to each other. [ am sc
sorry"
Sir Pertinax began to feel sorry, too,
for up to that evening he and Lydia had
always been like uncle and niece, and
in an uneasy way he turned the CONVEX
sation into another channel. But he
could not for long carry it on, and in
less than a quarter Of an hour he SAID
gOod-by, like a sensible man as he was
in spite of his weakness, and departed
No sooner had he quilted the room
than Horace emerged from his hiding
place. Lydia blushed to remember al
that he had overheard; but he did moi
allude to it. Lydia" he continued
almost as if nothing had happened tc
disturbe him, Il love you truly and with
all my heart viii you, can you learn
to love me, for your love alone will
make me completely happy"
'.Do not ask me-, . replied Lydia, who
was once more seated. You know what
have just gone through. My head is
in whirl.
''But think how happy you can make
me, Lydia! You would be everything
TO me, as, indeed you are already, anC
1 would spend all my days in making
you happy"
1t is unnecessary to chronicle the
whole of the further conversation thai
took place. Suffice it to say that al
last Miss Lirripip discovered not only
that she could, but that she actually did
love Horace Freake little, and on the
strength of that she promised TO marry
him.
Horace was in the act of presuming
upon this promise by kissing Lydia fol
the hrSt time, and was enjoying one Ol
the happiest moments of his life, wher
another of those furious rattattatatS
shook the house.
''AnotherP" said Mr. Freake, with &
smile. II shall 60 back to my retreat
until we know who has arrived, for now
1 must be on thes spot to look after you. ,
And in spite of Lydia's protestations
he once more retired to the back draw
ing-room.
, Two minutes afterward the General
very hot and very angry, stamped VI
stairs and burst into the presence of hi
daughter. Everything has gon,
wrong!'' he exclaimed. ''They voteC
me out of the chair; they flew in m,
face; they decided that the wretche(
! foreigners don't want cold baths. Ant
he pounded with his stick, which he hat
brought up with him, and looked a
: Lydia. as though she were the cause Q
his discount tlTe