The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-07-17

81 really believe, said Lady Francis
with a shudder, to her friend Clare
Il really believe that wretched man is
making love to me-"
Good gracious, my dear, how terri
BILE! 1t will spoil it all if you have to
refuse him." exclaimed Clare Melton.
By this time Samuel w. Brown and
the Misses Brown were celebrities.
Everyone had heard of the great Amer
lean heiress. but Jack Trimston did not
seem bit nearer to marriage. Lady
Francis was in despair. They will
ruin me, between them," she moaned.
why, ] have actually Overdrawn my
account at the bank"
1T will be all right, mother, when
marry Katie. Old Sam will stump up
the dollars, as he expressed it, laugh
cd Jack.
Il wish you would propose at once.
We really cannot 60 on living in this
extravagant manner. l am positively
ruined" moaned Lady Francis.
Fancy half a million of money, mo-
ther! Why, you can have as much as
you like when it is mine"
Matters, however gradually became
desperate. Every one was talking of
Jack and the heiress, and was wonder
ing why the engagement was kept a
secret: for surely" they reasoned,
''they must be engaged or they would
not be going on in this manner" And
by degrees they began to associate the
name of Samuel w. Brown with that of
Lady Francis.
Fancy the old tabby going in for
~ hot ;nh f.,o
Lady Oldin to her husband.
HE is worth a million of money!"
said his lordship drily, "and Lady
Francis is not rich"
At last the crisis came. Lady Fran
els received an intimation from her
banker that he could not cash any
more of her checks. Nothing could
save her, therefore, but Jack immedi-
ate engagement.
On his arrival home her ladyship ex-
planned the startling news to him.
Il will propose to morrow" he re-
marked, "but perhaps l had better
write and get an appointment with the
old gentleman and sound him."
He accordingly dispatched the fol-
lowing epistle:
terview tomorrow morning at II at the
Langham? | wish to speak to you on del
icate subject, and hope to see you alone.
please remember me very kindly to your
daughters, and believe me, yours very
IS. w. Brown, Esq"
"There, mother" he remarked, 1.-The
die is cast, Tomorrow will decide my
fate"
The next morning while he was seat
ed at breakfast with Lady Francis, a
letter was handed him by the servant
He read it quietly, and then, afer lit
tie hesitation, passed it to his mother.
1t ran:
"MY DEAR SIR: | shall be most happy to
see you, as suggested, at II. If however,
the delicate subject you refer to has refer
ence to the absurd rumorS connecting my
name with that Of your mothers, L hardly
think you need trouble to call, as | am hap
py to say that my wife is still alive. Yours
is indeed a strange country Just because
your good mother took kindly interest in
me, her friends Immediately put it down
that she is about to become Mrs. Brown. [
am sure that there has never been anything
in her conduct to justify such an aSsump-
ton, and l venture to offer her, through you,
my most sincere sympathy that her cOnSid-
crate attention should have been so miSun-
derstoOd. Believe me, very truly yours,
SAMUEL w. BROWN"
''P. ST. see by your note that you send
kind remembranceS to my daug ghterS. They
are at school in Boston. You mean, L pre-
sumo, my nieceS, Mary and Katie. Poor
girls they will | fear, find it hard work to
settle down as goyerneSSeS after all the gay
ETY. you have SO kindly shown them" m."-LOi,-
dom TRUTH