Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-09
now audible from below. the drawing-room win

uoWs oeiuR open ana the voice oeing LOUD.
ut Is Mr.. Murley," said Lydia. expect that
he only wants me to give some message for him
to my father. He win not detain me- But if I
let you stay, You must not talk any more "a you
have been talking, Mr. Freake."
AT TINS moment there were footsteps on the
staircase, ana Horace, without another word
fed fncontinently into the back drawing-room
ana rapidly drew the curtains behind him so as
10 conceal himself from the newcomer, who
Immediately afterward was announced.
MI Murley was not 30 nervous as Mr. Freake
mad been upon his first appearance. He shook
hands with Lydia In an easy and ught-hearteo
manner, paid her an airy compliment, seated
himself comfortably opposite her, and, without
any preilminaries, revealed the object Of his
visit. 81 know your father Is out Miss Lrri.
pip. he said, "and l may as well confess at
once that have deliberately taken advantage
OF his absence to come to see yon upon SUBJ
Ject which nearly concerns my happiness I
should hare spoken about 1t last night but that
could H. command your atte nticn 81 re for q
few minutes at a time. n " 'owever, we are
safe from Interruption"
But, Mr. Murley," said l., t would be
much better if you would call wuen my father
''Oh, that is not important, nv dear Miss
Lirrlpip. 1t is subject that may be settled by
please, Mr.. Murley, 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.
tily: ''''' ''''
Eyes. no! no." returned Miss Lirripip.
thankful OF any opportunity of getting rid of
hlm "Good-bye. Mr.. Murley, good-bye.' And
the same servant who showed up Sir Pertinax
Popinlay showed down Mr.. Merton Murley, who
giared at the baronet with look which spoke
volumes.
''My dear Lydia" said Sir Pertinax as he offered
both his hands to Miss L!rripip; ''you were
really charming last night. never saw such a
perfect sylpt in my life, and many people agreed
with me- You were the belle Of the room. There
Is no uoubt about it,"
I'm sure it is very good of you, Sir Pertinax,
to say So" returned Lydia. "But thought
that the countess herself"
''Oh. the countess! She and you cannot be
mentioned together, my dear. Every one said
you are still-my Gear Miss Lydia NAV be
TOOL; but, upon my honor. l have come here this
evening with the determined intention of asking
you whether you viii have me. You know I
worship the very ground you walk on" And,
TO Lyola great CONSERVATION, the old gentle
man, ere she could prevent him. CALAMITY kelt
at her feet, and took her hand, with the evident
intention OF pressing 1t to his lips.
DO get up, please, Sir -Pertinax," said Miss
Lirripip, forgetting for q moment that Horace
Freake was within hearing. but anxious that the
Daronet should not make himself unnecessarily
well if you sit down; but really you mustn't talk
IN that way: don't want to be married; in
deed. l don't. You know like you very much.
but could not possibly marry YOU"
or Pertlnax rose with dignity and looked
rather disappointed. IL had hoped, lydia, that
you liked me we'll enough even for a husband.
Wbat you say, however, may not be final, be-
cause nothing can alter my regard for YOU. and
me-" -
81 could not think better of YOU than do"
returned Miss Lirripp feengly, land YOU do
not know how sorryI am that this has happened.
we can never again be the same 10 each other
am 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 conversation into another channel.
But ne could not for long carry it on. and In
less than quarter Of an hour he said goodbye.
llhe senslDle man that 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 all that he had overheard
put he did not allude to it. Lydia, he con-
s ail. almost as If nothing had happened to
disturb him. II love you truly with all NV 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 tnlnk how happy you can make me,
Lydia You would be everything to me. az in,
deed you are already, and would spend all nv
days In making you happy"
1t Is unnecessary to chronicle the whole of the
iurther conversation that took place. Suffice it
to say that at 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 for the first time, and
was was enjoying one OF the happiest moments of
MS LIE, when another Of those furious ratattatats
shook the house.
Another" said Mr.. Freake. with smile, 81
shail go back to my retreat until we know who
mas arrived. for now l must be on the SPOT to
look after you" And In spite of Lydia's nro-
testations he once more retired to the hack
drawing-room.
Two minutes afterward, the general very hot
and very angry, stamped up stairs and burst
INTO into 1he presence Of his daughter. every
tn,ng mas gone wrong" he exclaimed. "They
voted me out OF the chair; they flew in nv face:
they decided that the wretched foreigners don't
want cold baths" And he pounded with his
stick. which he had brought up with him. and
looked at Lydia. as though she was the cause
OF his discontinue
sol. I tsn papa. said Miss Lirrpip, soothingly,
any more of their horrid meetings"
at this juncture Horace, who was troubled
with aslight cold, gave forth stified and Inf]n-
itesimally small sneeze.
Lydia, said the general, as he threw him.
self YEARLY into an arm chair, I'm sure there's
a cat IN the back drawing-rOOm Go and tnrn
IL out" And Miss Lirripip, having no alterna-
tlve went cautiously behind the heavy chr.
talns, and was there received In her lovers
arms. " A'A 'o'0i
You cannot speak to him tonight. sbe
whispered. He would not listen to YOU Yon
see how cross he Is. Come again to- morrow.
Horace, therefore. took another kiss. and
LYDIA, having unlocked the little-used door of
the back room, chased him, with MANY exnres-
sions OF animosity, down the softly-carneted
staircase, and with a cry Of "Shoo. cat" finally
let him out Of the front door.
when she returned to the drawinp-room Cen.
ecal Lirripip gave vent to some angry exnres-
slons OF hostility toward the whole feline tribe
anu wnen ne had thus delivered himself went
off to bed. "~A'
~, How the story ended may easily be guessed
When Lydia's father was in a cooler mood Hor.
ace found no difficulty In obtaining hIs consent
to the marriage, which took place three months
afterwards; and to the end of their DAYS neither
Sir Pertinax Popinjay nor Mr.. Merton MnrIev
nad any idea that third person was nresent
when they proposed to Miss Lirripip In Brnton
street, GrosvenOr Chambers Journal
1t Overcame Him.
From the San Francisco Chronicle
Before the Hale and NOrcross fight came On
this Is tradition, almost-there arrived in town
inotvH tod mi,