The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-06-14
Ter. much to Ltdy Francis lndigna-


tion.
Jack and the Browns once again re-
lapsed into the same pleasant Bohemian
life. One day they went to Windsor,
the next to Hampton Court or Sandown
Rlces. and SO on. Lady Francis was
nervous and shocked, for Samue. WASH
mgton Brown allowed the girls to do
exactly as they liked, and seldom ac-
companied them.
81 calculate young people like being
left to themselves. You and I did long
ago, Lady Francis" he used to say.
''Yes, but it is not our CUSTOM" she
protested.
81 don't believe English girls are
half as wicked as you think. Why
don't you trust them little more P"
he asked.
She did not exactly know what ans
wer to make, so muttered something
incoherently about society.
"All artificial, Lady Frances, al
humbug. 1t is great pity it is 50.
Society spoiIs you all. Do you know
that Duke of yours would make a good
fellow if he were not Duke, and Lord
Oldin has his head as well screwed on
as any man in the States ? You, too,
are a clever woman yourself, Lady
Frances" he continued. "I like you
and 1 guess like your nobility, TOO
when they thaw."
Lady Frances could not altogether
understand or appreciate Samuel W.
Brown. Indeed, she was growing quite
concerned about him. He had a habit
of calling on her at all sorts of strange
hours, and giving as an excuse that the
girls were "away with the boys" and
he was lonely.
81 really believe" said Lady Fran
ces, with shudder, to her friend Clare
81 really believe that wretched man
is making love to me-"
"Good gracious, my dear, how ter
ribIe 1t will spoil it all, if you have
to 1epulse him." exclaimed Glare Mel
ton.
By this time Samuel Washington
Brown and the Miss Browns were cele-
brities. Every one knew or had heard
of the great American heiresses, but
Jack Trimston did not seem bit nearer
marriage. Lady Francis was in des-
kGTNharr mill I1o@,
them," she moaned. ''Why, 1 have
actually overdrawn my account at the
bank.n
SIT will be all right, mother, when 1
marry Katie. Old Sam will stump up
the dollars as he expresses it." laugh
ed Jack.
81 wish you would propose at once.
We really cannot go on living in this
extravagant manner. 1 am positively
ruined l'' moaned Lady Francis.
"Fancy half a million of money,
mother | Why, you can have as much
as you like when its mine.n
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 also began to associate
Samuel W. Browns name with that of
Lady Frances.
"Fancy the old tabby going in for
that rich sayagel" said her dear friend,
Lady Oldin, to her husband.
she Is worth million of money!
said his lordship, drily, sand Lady
Frances is not rich."
At last the crisis came, Lady Frances
received an intimation from her banker
that he could not cash any more of hel
checks. Nothing could save her, there
fore, but Jacks immediate engagement
On his arrival home her ladyship ex'
planned the startling news to him.
81 will propose tomorrow" he re
marked, "bnt perhaps l had better
write and get an appointment first with
the old gentleman and sound him."
He accordingly dispatched the fol-
lowing epistIe:
"MY DEAR SIR Can you give me
an interview tomorrow morning at II
A. NJ, at the Langhame 1 wish to
speak to you on a delicate subject and
hope to see you alone,
"Pray remember me very kindly to
your daughters, and believe me, yours,
very truly. 81. TRIMsToN.
"S. w Bro1On, Esq"
"There, motheri' he remarked. "The
die is cast. Tomorrow will decide my
fate."
The next morning, whilst he was
seated at breakfast with Lady Frances,
letter was handed him by the servant.
He read it quietly, and then, after a
little hesitation, passed it on to his
mother. 1t ran:
'MY DEAR SIR II shall be most
happy to see you. as suggested, at IL.
If. however, the delicate subject you
refer to has reference to the absurd
rumors connecting my name with that
of your mothers, hardly think you
need trouble to call, as am happy to
say that my wife is still alive. Yours
IS indeed strange country. Just be-
cause your good mother took kindly
interest in me, her friends Immediately
put it down that she was about to be-
come Mrs. Brown. 1 am sure there
has never been anything in her conduct
to justify such an assumption, and l
venture to offer her, through you, my
most sincere sympathy that her consid-
crate attention to me should have been
so misunderstood. Believe me, very
truly yours, SAMUEL W. BROWN.
"P. ST. see by your note that you
send kind remembrances to my daught-
ers. They are at school in Boston.
You mean, l presume, my nieces Mary
~ I