The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-17
HALF A SHEET.
[Tinsley's Nlagazine.l

learned brethren call MN an internally
lucky fellow" because, unlike so many Of
them, he is not briefless. But they forget
that it is in great measure due to his own
abilities and hard work that his present
position has been 50 quickly won. AS re-
CARDS appearance, he is tall and fairly
good-looking; that is to say, his profile is
handsome one, but his full face is spoiled by
his eyes, which are too small his
hair is light and curly, he shaVes ms
mustache and only wears a paif OIL
bushy whiskers. Not one man IN
hundred would acknowledge him to be a
"jolly-looking fellow" and yet it is a face
that takes with ladies' Ask any OF them
what it is they admire and hear what they
will saw: ale has such glorious profile,
and then his eyes" "Why, his eyes are
the very worst part about him" well,
perhaps they are not what you call good,
but there is something-I don't know exactly
what-about them that l like, and then they
look 80 nice when he screws them up, and
this is all you will be able to learn. There
was one young lady who, above all others,
admired him, and who some three months
before the time we make his acquaintance,
had given her promise to be the future Mrs.
Fletcher. Her name was Mabel Linton,
only child of old Linton, late of Lark
Lane, now Derby Villa, Harrow, whose
pride and pretensions were unbounded. He
worshiped "Debrett" and the "Peerage,"
and his great ambition was to marry Mabel
to a title. 1t can therefore be understood
what blow her engagement to Percy was.
The intimacy, courtship and proposal had
all taken place while Mabel was on visit
to her rich, childleSs aunt in Bayswater, and
old Linton knew nothing about it until it
was fait accompli The erich, childless
aunt" had a good deal to do with wringing
a reluctant consent from Linton pere, for
next to title he loved money. Thus mat
ters stood when two days before the April
morning on which we make Percy'S acquaint-
ance Mabel's aunt had given dance. Mabel
and her father were to stay in the house for
1t, and Percy, of course, received an invita-
ton. In due course he appeared in the ball
room, and was somewhat aStoniShed to find
his young lady whirling round the room in
the arms of stranger, more especially as he
had told her he would come early, and asked
her to keep the waltzes for him As soon as
the dance was over he went up to her and
asked to look at her card
why, Mabel, what's the meaning of
thisi" he inquired, as he saw the initial G.. L.
against four of the best waltzes Il thought
you had promised them to me.'
$50 had; it's all right-don't be angry,
dear-take No. 8; it's only the lancers, but
we shall have time to talk"
"Well, that will do to begin with and
then" but Mabel was borne away on her
partners arm before he had time to finish.
Percy's pride was hurt, and, in no very
amiable frame Of mind, he walked round
the room until he discovered a cousin of his
whom he had not met for some years. He
sat down beside her, and then the thought
struck him that he could pay Mabel out in
her own coin, and he put his naene down on
his cousins card for good many dances.
When No arrived, and he and Mabel had
taken their places in tho set, matters did
not mend much, for, though Mabel appeared
repentant and sorry, Percy was cold and
naughty, and would not give her much
chance Of an explanation
"You seem to have found very agree
able acquaintance should say friend-thii
evening, Mabel don't think l have seen
him before, have II Ali see he's coming
next to you in this set, so you will be able to
continue your conversation. Don't mind me /;
you know we can talk any time"
"Ohl Percy, please don't say that; it isn't
like you. Something has vexed you, know
it is only friend of papa's, Lord Gerland
Ivor. He brought him with us this evening,
and insisted on my dancing with him when
ever he asked me. / thought you wouldn't
mind, Percy, when you know it was papa
doing, not mine"
"Mindl Not bit of it. Why should Il You
Of course are at liberty to dance with any
one Just the same as ann
"Percy, you are unjust and cruel l have
saved all the other waltzes for you"
Il am sorry to hear it, for l shan't be able
TO have them with you, as l am engaged fol
them all to that lady in blue you saw me
dancing with just now"
Mabel only said, "Very well, dear, as you
like but / am so sorry"
Percy pretended not to hear, and directed
his conversation to the lady on his left dur.
ing the remainder of the set On its con.
clusion he left Mabel in the conservatory
on the plea of having to look for his mex
partner. As he walked away he congratu
lated himself that he had been as firm as 4
rock, and had taught Mabel lesson that HI
was not to be treated in that manner, nnc
yet all the time feeling very uncomfortable
and wishing he had made it up with her
For the remainder of the evening he danced
with his cousin, until people began to notice
the fact.
He did not see Mabel again till she wa.
leaving the room on Lord Ivor's arm will
her father on the other side. She gave hin
one pleading, loving look just as she wa.
going through the doorway, which he pre-
tended not to see. He did not stay long
after her departure, aad as he drove hom.
to the Temple he began to have doubt.
whether he hadn't made great fool of him
self and whether he hadn't behaved badly
toward her after all The following morn
ing he half made up his mind to run down tc
Harrow and make peace with her, but ther
the devil within him whispered that +
would be showing a great want of firmnes
In SO doing, and that it was her place. as the
wrongdoer, to plead for forgiveness, and his
as the injured party, to grant it. And so h,
allowed the day to go by, hating hinsel
and all the world, thoroughly wretched anC
III at ease. He expected she would write
admitting her fault But no letter came
And now, when we see him the second morn
ing after the dance, he has been again dis
appointed. When he came from his bed
room he found three or four letters besid,
his plate, but none from Mabel. He is in
fix, and does not know what to do.
ats her place to write, not mine," he tell
himself, "and yet I'll be hanged if G.
through such another day as'yesterday TO
all the pride in the world; perhaps l wa
wrong after all, and it was her fathers dc
ing. Poor little darling, was wrong, anC
it's no good saying wasn't / behaved lik
brute; she didn't care for that fellow
I'll bet my life on it. I'll go down to Har
row to-day. By Jovel won't it be gram
making up again, amantium ire amoris, etc
Those old Latin dogs knew what spoonin,
meant But won't stand any more of tn
old mans humbug, or he'll be making som
real mischief I'll run home as soon as / &c
a chance, talk it over with the governor
and see if we cannot arrange matters so tina
/ can be married this Long'-Hufio, hop
that's not summons for chambers" a
there was knock heard at his door. swell
Rogers, what is itp to his clerk, who en-
tered
"A parcel and note, sir"
"Put the parcel on the table and give m
the note; thank you, that will do"