Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-08-23
HALF A SHEET.
tTinsley's Magazine. |,

| that it is In a great measure que 70 MS owl
abilities and hard work that his presen
position has been 30 quickly won. As re
CARDS appearance, he is tall and fairll
good-looking; that is to say, his profile is
handsome one, hut his full face is spoiled b.
his eyes, which are too small Hi
hair is light and curly. he shaves hi
mustache and only wears pair o
bushy whiskers Not one man in ,
hundred would acknowledge him to be
@jolly-looking fellow" and yet it is facs
that takes with ladies' Ask any Of then
what it is they admire, and hear what they
will say: He has such a glorious profit,
and then his eyes" "Why, his eyes ar,
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 so nice when be screws them up" ana
this is all you will be able to learn. Their
was one young lady who, above all Others
admired him, and who, some three month.
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 Lari
Lane, now Derby Villa, Harrow, whose
pride and pretensions were unbounded. II,
worships1 "Debrett' and the @Peerage,
and his great ambition was to marry Mabe
to title. II can therefore be understood
what a 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 il
was a fat aceompli The @rich, childless
aunt had good deal to do with wringing
/ n s~k., 10.
next to a title he loved money. Thus mat
tiers stood when two days before the April
morning on which we make Percy's acquaint-
ance Mabers aunt had given a dance. Mabel
and her father were TO stay in the house FOR
it and Percy, Of course, received an invita-
tior. 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 a stranger more especially as be
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, whats the meaning OF
this:= he inquired, as he saw the initial G. l.
against four of the best waltzes Il thought
you had promised them TO meg1
$50 had; its all right-dont DO aagry,
I
! We shall have time to talk
well. that will do TO begin with, and
then" hut Mabel was borne away on her
| partners arm before he had time t. 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 lie had not met for some years. He
sat down beside her, and then the thought
hat hx
| her own coin, and he put his name down on
| his cousins card for a good many dances.
When No. o arrived, and he AMI Mabel had
taken their places in the set matters did
not mend much, for, though Matel appeared
naughty, and would not give her much
chance of an explanation.
"You seem to have found very agree
able acquaintance--I should say friend-this
evening, Mabel don't think have seen
him before, have L! All! see he's coming
next to you in this set, so you will be able to
continue your conversation Don't mind m /:
you know We can talk any time"
"Oh. 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,
diiu uiSiSIcu Va VdnSAle WIN "ucu-
ever he asked me. thought you wouldn't
mind. Percy, when You know 1t was papa's
doing, not mine.
-MindI Nota bit Of it Why should II You
of course are at liberty to dance with any
one Just the same as | am"
percy, you are un just and cruel | have
saved all the other waltzes for you
Il am sorry to hear it, for shant be able
-. 4 8
them all to that lady in blue you saw me
dancing with just now"
Mabel only said, ~Vsry 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 this remainder OF the set On its con-
clusion be left Mabel in the conservatory
on the plea of having to look for his next
partner. As he walked away he congratu-
lated himself that he had been as firm as
rock, and had taught Mabel lesson that he
WAS not to be treated in that manner, and
and wishing his 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 was
leaving the room on Lord Ivor's arm with
her father on the other side She gave him
one pleading, loving look just as she was
going through the doorway, which be pre-
tended not to see. He did not stay long
after her departure, aad as he drove home
to the Temple he began to have doubts
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 to
Harrow and make peace with her, but then
the devil within him whispered that it
would lie showing a great want Of frmness
in So doing, and that it was her place, as the
wrongdoer, to plead for forgiveness, and his,
rs the injured party, to grant it And so he
allowed the day to go by, hating himself
and all the world, thoroughly wretchs1 and
i'll at ease. He expected sine 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 beside
his plate but none from Mabel He is in n
fix, and does not know what to do.
Its her place to write, not mine, he tells
himself "and yet I'll be hanged if go
through such another day Us yesterday for
oil the pride in the world; perhaps l was
wrong after all, and it was her fathers do
Ing. Poor little darling, | was wrong, and
its no good saying l wasn't. l behaved like
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 Jove, won't it be grand
making up again, amantium ire arnoris, etc
Those Old Latin dogs knew what spooliny
meant But won't stand any more Of the
old mans humbug, or he'll be making some
real mischief. Ill run home as soon as get
a chance, talk II over with the governor,
and see If We cannot arrange matters so that
l can lie married this 'Long'-Hullo, hops
that's not summons for chambers" "a
there was knock heard at his door. Well,
Rogers, VIVA: is it.- to his clerk who en-
tered.
"A parcel and Q note, sir.
Put the parcel on the table and give me
the note. thank you, that will do
3From Mabel, at last" he exclaimed. cs
he reads the direction in the hand that he
knows so well Il knew she'd write, and it
was just a well diin't go down yesterday.
after all
What's thisr a. ne opened the sheet and
reads S follows:
SIR-After your conduct toward me a.
Mrs.. Lanehsm's dance il is evident have
been mistaken in your affection for me;
your studied rudeness was remarked by
many. and, after what has occurred. il j.
clear that you wish our engagement 10 cease
Indeed, there is no other course left open.
and the bearer of this will deliver a parcel
containing the presents You have given me
at various times. | NAV mention that INV
father quite approves OF the course am
taking. and has seen this letter. OF cour-e,
We shall not expec: 70 see you again at Har-
row. remain yours, etc,
MkREI LINTON