Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-07-24
AN AMERICAN HEIREss.

Lady Francis Trimston was charm
ing. She was also clever, wonderfully
we'll preserved, had a natural eom-
plexion, a moderate jointure, a good
milliner, was a widow, and had only
one child-a son.
She had experienced little care or
sorrow, for her husband was an old
man when she married him. and he
was gathered to his fathers before he
became very disagreeable. He was
the Younger son of a. duke, and moder-
ately we'll off.
Lady Francis life-or, at least her
widowed life-had been strewn with
roses; and, although she could have
settled down comfortably again, she
preferred to retain, as she said, her
freedom.
1T is so nice to marry an old man;
you are a widow quite young, you
know" she murmured to her dear
friend Clare Melton,
81 suppose it is, dear" sighed Clare,
whose husband was young scamp.
Few of us are perfectly content with
our lot, and Lady Francis had griev-
ance that marred sadly her happy,
butterfly existence. Do what she could,
her son Jack would not marry.
Dear Jack is so poor and so ex-
trayagant, l wonder what will be his
endP" she sighed.
..He will marry rich girl, of course, "
said Clare.
at is his duty to do so, as tell him;
but he only laughs at me, " sighed Lady
Francis.
ssWhere is he now?
Shooting Indians or buffaloes, or
some other wild animals, in America"
.'When do you expect MIN back?"
IL am sure don't KNOWN a month
or two perhaps"
Jack Trimston had been out west,
hunting buffaloes, shooting prairie
chickens, racing Mexican mustangs,
and playing poker" with the miners.
He had pleasant time of it, for he
liked America and the Americans, and
he was sorry to have to return SO soon
to England.
But life in America is expensive, and
Jack, who had extravagant tastes and
knack of getting through money, had
spent in two months the sum he calcu-
lated would have lasted him for four,
and he was in the middle of the At
lantic, on board an Inman liner, when
his mother told her friend that he was
shooting Indians and butfaloes. The
passengers on board were chiefly
Americans who were going TO Europe
on pleasure-trip. There were one or
two pretty girls amongst them, and
Jack, who was a dangerous lady's-
man, commenced a hot Irritation with
one of them before he was two days at
sea.
Katie G. Brown was a nice gir1, and
had q pair of soft, brown eyes, that
always did great execution-when they
opened fire, and they did now upon
Jack. The Brown party consisted of
three, Tor. besides Katie G. Brown,
there was Mary L. Brown-a fine. hon.
est American girl. with no pretense to
beauty. but with look of strength and
character about her homely face-and
Samuel Washington Brown, who had
made money in Frisco in the good old
days of gold-mining and wild specula-
tion. He invested a part of it in a
silver mine in Nevada, which turned
out gigantic success, and Samuel was
worth his good SO, 5,000, O0O.
Jack Trimston was pretty deep in
the intricacies of hard Irritation with
Katie c. Brown before he heard who
Samuel was. It was his friend Gen.
G. Jones who enlightened him.
81 guess, stranger that girl has got
heap" he said.
IA heap of whatP" asked Jack, care
lessly.
"a heap of dollars. Icalculate Sam
uel W. Brown is worth a million of
your money. | always heard he had
only two children-daughters. 'Spose
that brown-eyed friend of yours will
have her half-million of pounds"
Jack Trimston was astonished.
by Jove! if my mother heard of this
fortune she would 90 mad" he ejacu-
lated to himself. Fancy, half million
of money! Ye gods! what fun should
have spending itl''
The Brown party landed at Queens
town, and went on to Killarney, while
Jack came over to London. 1t was
arranged when they parted that the
Browns would write to tell him of their
arrival in London, and Jack had
promised to show them the sights and
make things generally pleasant
Lady Trimston was delighted to
have her dear Jack back again. He
was looking, too, she thought, so hand
some and so bronzed.
''Any girl would fall in love with
him, my dear" she said, complacently,
to her bosom friend, Clare Melton.
He can be very nice when he likes"
murmured Clare.
Jack, who wanted money badly, was
very nice just now to his mother. He
described to her his experiences of
American girls. and Lady Francis was
deeply interested in every thing relating
to her sex.
..'They are really pretty, and not at
all bad style, but their accent is abom-
Unable" she sighed.
.'You get used to it after time"
said Jack. 81 know such nice Ameri-
can girl, who will be in London next
week"
What is she like, dear?"
''She is pretty enough-good eyes,
good figure, good carriage, good feet;
clever, dangerous firt, and she will
have half million of money"
Good heavens" exclaimed Lady
Francis. springing to her feet, intensely
excited. Half a million of money!
o Jack, what are you aboutP"
.'Why what is the matter? You are
quite excited"
20 dear, Jack, do be sensible" said
his mother, caressingly. You know
you are very poor, and are always in
difficulties. 1t can not 60 on. You
must feel this yourself. Now tell me
all about the American girl and her
family"
There are two sisters-Katie and
MARY; no mother. The father is worth
at least million. and is not bad sort
of fellow"
''Of course l must call on them.
When do they come over?"
''In few days, l believe. said you
would look them up. and | think you
will like Katie; she is great fun"
"And you. Jack. have you any
chance, do you think-I mean"
''Chance? rather think l have"
said Jack, interrupting. ''Chance, in-