Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-06-20
lhoro is nothing oiso to be done, sighed La


was delighted with Katie, and told her friend
Claro that, with the exception Of the Ameri
can accent, ''she was just as good style a.
any one else" "They are so quaint and
and original, my dear. Fancy, they call theii
father Uncle Sam"
"They will soon settle down to our ways
Look at Lady Wilton-who would imagine
that she was an American p said Glare,
soothingly.
"Thars true, dear. assure you Katie will
create quite a sensation. She is really very
pretty and graceful, and full Of vivaoity."
''If she be 30 nice, Jack will have to be
careful, and you had better not introduce hei
to any one until il ia all arranged"
80 told him, but he won't listen to me.
be says he must give dinner TO them next
Thursday, get all our set TO call, and give 9
ball next week"
II don't think 1t wise" said Glare Melton,
seriously.
perhaps not, dear-but what can do
Jack is so obstinate, and positively believe
he is serious at last.
Lady Francis had half dozen OF her rea.
tives to meet the Browns. The dinner was,
Of course, perfection, and the guests well
chosen--two lords and q duke, with their re-
spective wives-and as there we're no young
men Jack had Katie all TO himself. Samuel
W. Brown did not appear ct all abashed in
the presence Of the old nobility. He was Q
shrewd man, who had studied human nature,
and had seen many phases Of life, and his an
ecdotes of America were most interesting.
He described graphically his experiences OF
California life in the old days Of gold mining
and wild speculation, and his noble listeners,
who had never before met character like
Samuel, were deeply interested In his nara.
tives.
Next day, when Lady Francis was talking
over the dinner with her old friend, she said
"Oh, am 80 nervous and excited about il
all. Fancy the Duchess praised her most
warmly"
Her position then will be assured, added
Glare, decisively.
And Lord 0ldin wants to get the elder
sister for his son." continued Lady Francis,
1T will be such a nice connection"
''But when is Jack going to propose ?"
81 am sure don't know. Perhaps at the
dance. wish, dear, it was all arranged, for
it will be most expensive for me II it lasts
long, and really cannot afford it."
1t was most expensive, for Jack got bis
mother to pay for everything, and he and
Henry Smily, Lord Oldin's second son, had a
pleasant time Of it running the heiresses, -
as Jack expressed II, at her expense.
The ball was q great success, and Katie o.
Brown created quite a sensation. Jack was
most attentive TO her, and she actually danced
six times with him. He allowed, however,
the opportunity to pass without proposing TO
her, much to Lady Francis's indignation.
Jack and the Browns once again relapsed
into the same pleasant Bohemian life. One
day they went to Windsor, the next 10 Hamp-
ton Court or Sandown Races, and 80 on La
dy Francis was nervous and shocked, for
Samuel Washington Brown allowed the girls
to do exactly as they liked, and seldom ac-
companied them.
IL calculate young people like being left to
themselves. You and did long ago, Lady
Francis" he used TO say.
''Yes, but it is not our custom" she pro
tested.
81 don't believe English girls are half as
wicked as you think. Why don't you trust
them a little more 2" he asked.
She did not exactly know what answer TO
make so muttered something incoherently
about society.
IAN artificial, Lady Francis all humbug.
1t is great pity it is so. Society spoils you
all, Do you know that Duke OF yours would
make good fellow if he we're not Duke,
and Lord Oldin has his head as well screwed
on as any man in the states. You, too, are q
clever woman yourself, Lady Francis" he
your nobility too--when they thRw."
Lady Francis could not altogether under
stand or appreciate Samuel W. Brown. In
deed, she was growing quite concerned
about him. He had q 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.
~ really believe" said Lady Francis, with
a shudder, TO her friend, Clare-'I really be-
lieve that wretched man is making love to
me-"
GOOD gracious, my dear, how terrible 1t
will spoil it all, if you have to repulse him, I"
exclaimed Clare Melton.
By this time Samuel Washington Brown
and the Miss Browns were celebrities. Every
one knew or had heard of the great Ameri-
can heiresses, but Jack Trimston did not
seem bit nearer to marriage. Lady Fran
els was in despair. "They will ruin me be-
tween them" she moaned "Why, have
actually overdrawn my account at the bank 4"
ut will be all right, mother, when marry
Katie. Old Sam will stump up the dollars,
as he expresses it, " laughed Jack.
II wish you would propose at once. We
really cannot go on living in this extravagant
manner. am positively ruined !" moaned
Lady Francis.
Fancy half million of money, mother !!
Why, you can have as much as you like when
it's mine"
Matters, however, gradually. became des-
perate. Everyone was talking of Jack and
the heiress, and was wondering why the en-
gagoment 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
Francis.
Fancy the old tAbby going in for that
rich savage" said her dear friend, Lady Old
in, to her husband.
''He is worth million of money" said his
lordship, dryly, land Lady Francis is not
rich"
At last the crisis came. Lady Francis re-
ceived an intimation from her banker that he
could not cash any more of her checks
Nothing could save her, therefore, but Jacks
immediate engagement
On his arrival home her ladyship explained
this startling news to him.
II will propose tomorrow" he remarked !;
"but perhaps 1 had better write and get an
appointment first with the old gentleman,
and sound him."
He accordingly despatched the following
epistle:
MY DEAR sIR-Can you give me an interview to-
to speak to you on delicate subject and hope to see
you alone
Pray remember me very kindly to your daughters,
and believe me, yours very truly j. TRfMsToN.
w. Brown, ESQ.
There, mother !" he remarked. THE die
is cast. Tomorrow will decide my fate"
The next morning whilst he was seated at
breakfast with Lady Francis letter was
handed him by the servant. He read it qui-
city, and then, after little hesitation, passed
it on to his mother. 1t ran
NY DEAR SR-I shall be most happy 10 see you, as
suggested at IL. II, however, the delicate subj ject
you refer to has reference to the absurd
Meeting my name with that OF your mOther's hard
ly think you need trouble to call as 1 am happy 10
say that my wife is still alive. Yours is indeed =
strange country. just because your good mother
took kindly interest In me, her friends immediate
ly putit down that she was about to become Mrs.
Brown. am sure there has never been anything In
her conduct to justify such an assumption, and
venture to offer her through you, my most sincere
sympathy that her consderate attention to me should
have been misunderstood. Believe me, very truly
yours, SAMUEL W. Brown.
2. s.-I see by your note that you send kind re-
membranes to my daughters. They are at school in
Boston, You mean, presume, my nieces Mary and
Katie Poor girls they will, fear, mud 1t difcult
to settle down goyernesses after all the gaety you
have so kindly shown them.
London Truth.
Name He Ought to Nave Heard.