Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-27
10 they como over 2"

y, l.
me at the point of my stick
"Now, Jack, dear, do be serious. am
so interested in all this. Are you sure
about the money ?"
81 believe it is all right"
"And, dear, would you really marry
her?'
eff 1t is case of coming "a cropper
or marrying her l shall select the latter,
said Jack.
Lady Francis'was in a flutter of ex-
citement during the ensuing week. Fan
cy, dear n nice girl with five hundred
thousand pounds" she remarked to Glare
Melton.
American girls are quite the rage now
the men are all wild after them," said
Glare.
Lady Francis's face assumed n serious
expression.
1--WE must take care that dear Jack has
plenty of opportunities. 1t will be shock
ing if all the men run after her." she an
swered gravely.
"The best thing You can do is to give
cut that Jack is engaged, said Glare.
"You can do that for me, dear"
''Of course, but you will have to en-
tertain and make much of them-Ameri-
cans are mad after society and our set. ="
at will be very expensive, but sup
pose there is nothing else to be done. 4"
sighed Lady Francis
The Browns arrived in London and put
up at the Langham Hotel. Lady Fran
els called on them Immediately after their
arrival. She was delighted with Katie,
and told her friend Glare that, with ex-
ception of the American accent, "she
was just as good style as any one else.
They are so quaint and original, my dear.
Fancy, they call their father Uncle
Sam.
"They will soon settle down to our
ways. Look at Lady Wilton-who would
imagine that she was an American ?" said
, Glare, soothingly.
"That's true, dear. l assure yon Katie
will create quite sensation. She is real
ly very pretty and graceful, and full of
vivacity.
"If she be SO nice Jack will have to be
careful, and you had better not introduce
her to any one until it is all arranged.
$50 [ told him, dear, but he won't lis
ten to me. He says we must give a din
ner to them next Thursday, get all our set
to call, and give a ball next week.
81 don't think 1t is WISE" said Glare
IhellOu, SERIOUSLY.
perhaps not, dear, but what can 1 do D.?
Jack is so obstinate and l positively be-
lieve he is serious at last"
Lady Francis had half dozen of her
relatives to meet the Browns. The din
ner was, of course, perfection, and the
guests well chosen-two lords and a duke,
with their respective wives-and as there
were no young men Jack had Katie all
to himself. Samuel w. Brown did not
appear bit abashed in the presence OF
the old nobility. He was a shrewd man,
who had studied human nature, and had
seen many phases of life, and his anec.
dotes of America were most interesting.
He described graphically his experiences
of Californian life in the old days of gold
mining and wild speculation, and his no.
BILE listeners, who had never before met Q
character like Samuel, were deeply inter
ested in his narratives
Next day, when Lady Francis was talk
ing over the dinner with her old friend
she said
'Oh, / am so nervous and excited abou
it all. Fancy the Duchess praised he
most warmly !"
| "Her position then will be assured,
5 added Glare, decisively
l "And Lord Oldin wants to get tn
elder sister for his son." continued Lad
Francis. "It will be such n nice conneC
/. ton"
"But when is Jack going to propose .?
81 am sure ] don't know. Perhaps a
y the dance, | wish, dear, it was all al
!, ranged, for it will be most expensive fo
e e me if it lasts long, and l really cannC
u afford it.
1t was most expensive, for Jack got hi
Il mother to pay for everything, and he an
s Horny Smily, Lord Oldins second sol
had pleasant time Of it, "running tn
G heiresses, as Jack expressed it. at her g,
e pense.
Il The ball was great success, and Kat
Is G. Brown created quitea sensation. JAG
was most attentive to her, and she actua
a ly danced six times with him. He ALLOW
ed, however, the opportunity to pai
I without proposing to her, much to Lad
Francis's indignation,
l. Jack and the Browns once again r
II lapsed into the same pleasant Bohemia
70 life. One day they went to Windsor. IL
d. next to Hampton Court or Sandov
IL Races, and so on. Lady Francis was ne
vous and shocked, for Samuel Washin
ton Brown allowed the girls to do exact
lS as they liked, and seldom accompanit
ed them.
Of 81 calculate young people like beil
Ill left to themselves. You and / did lol
ago, Lady Francis, he used to say.
b '1es, but 1t Is not our custom" 81
lie protested
r. 81 don't believe English girls are hf
as as wicked as you think. Why don't V,
III trust them a little more 2" he asked.
Nv She did not exactly know what answ
IL to make, so mattered something incohe
ent about society.
We "All artificial, Lady Francis-all hun
=, bug. 1t is great pity it is so. Socie
80 spoils you all. Do you know that Du
OF yours would make good fellow if
III, were not Duke, and Lord Oldin has
er head as well screwed on as any man in t
>, States. You, too, are clever wom
y yourself Lady Francis" he continue
II like you, and guess like your Il
as bility too-when they thaw."
lie Lady Francis could not altogether Il
r. derstand or appreciate Samuel w. Brow
ny Indeed, she was growing quite concern
'er about hlm. He had habit of calling
- her at all sorts of hours, giving as an {
al cuse that the girls were "away with t
Ia boys, and he was lonely.
re"lly DeneVe, SAID Lady Franc
nd with shudder, to her friend Glare
lri really believe that wretched man is ms
ing love to me"
Good gracious, my dear, how ter
es, BILE 1t will spoil it all, if you have
u refuse him, exclaimed Glare Melton.
we by this time Samuel Washington Bro
and the Miss Browns were celebriti
IN Every one knew or had heard of the or,
sH, American heiress, but Jack Trimston ,
not seem bit nearer to marriage. La
Francis was in despair. "They will ri
'r' me between them" she moanei ''Wl
, have actually overdrawn my account
e." the bank"
ow ut will be all right, mother, wbel
III marry katies Old Sam will sstrn,,o