Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-30
AN AMERICAN HEIRESS.

Lady Francis Trimson was charming. She
was also clever. wonderfully well preserved,
had natural complexion. 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 moderately well
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 free
dom.
at is so nice to marry an old man; you are q
widow quite young, you Know she murmured
to her dear friend Clare Melton.
II suppose it is. dear sighed Clare, whose
husband was young scamp.
Few OF us are perfectly content with our lot,
and Lady Francis had a grievance that marred
sadly her happy butterfly existence. Do what
she could, her son Jack would not marry
"Dear Jack Is so poor and SO extravaganza.
wonder what will be his end?" she sighed
He will marry rich girl, of course said
at is his duty to do so, as tell him: but he
only laughs at me- sighed Lady Francis.
Where is he now?
shooting Indians or buffalos or some other
wild animals in America
Nv hen do YOU expect him back?'
81 am sure don't KNOWN month or two,
perhaps
Jack Trimson had been out west, hunting
buffaloes, shooting prairie chickens, racing
Mexican mustangs and playing poker with
the miners. He had a pleasant time of it, for
sorry to have to return so soon to England
But life in America is expensive, and Jack,
who had extrayagant tastes and knack of
months the sum he calculated would have
lasted him four, and be was i'm the middle of the
ohe o I P" sr r an hat b ep s
Indians and buffaloes. The passengers on
board were chiefly Americans who were going
to Europe ON pleasure trip. There We're one
or two pretty girls among them, and Jack who
was dangerous laGy's man, commenced q hot
filtration with one of them before he was two
days at sea.
pair OF soft brown eyes that al ways did great
did not open upon Jack. The Brown party snfy
consisted of three for besides Katie c. Brown,
there was Mary L. Brown a fine, honest Ameri-
can girl, with no preteuSe to beauty. but with
q 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 speculation. He
invested in "a part of silver mine in Nevada,
which l., turned out gigantic success, ~, and
of dollars.
Jack Trimson was pretty deep in the intrica-
cies of a hard Irritation with Katie c. Brown
before he heard who Samuel was. 1t was his
friend, General g. Jones, who enlightened
him.
Il guess, stranger, that girl has got heap"
he said.
"A heap of what?'' asked Jack, carelessly.
"A heap of dollars. Il calculate Samuel w.
Brown is worth a million of your money. l al
ways heard he had only two children-daugh-
tiers, Spose that brown-eyed friend of yours
vii have her half million of pounds?''
Jack TrimsOn was astonished.
by jove! if my mother heard of this fortune
she would go mad he calculated to himself.
Fancy hall million of money! Ye gods! what
fun should have spending it.
The Brown party landed at Queenstown an d
went on TO Killarney, while Jack came over to
London HOY tod
that the Browns would write to tell him OF their
arrival in London, and Jack had promised to
snow tneln the sights ana make Things gener-
Lady Trimson was delighted to have her dear
hengh and w so 'oo she
ANY girl would fall in love with him. my
dear, she said complacently to her bosom
He can be very nice when he likes" muir
INJURED Clare.
Jack, who wanted money badly. was very
her his experiences of American girls and Lady
Francis was deeply interested in everything re-
1ating to her sex.
They are really pretty, and not at all bad
sighed.
81 know such nice American girl who will be
in London next week.
.W hat is she like, dear?'
''She Is pretty enOugh-gOod eyes good fQure
good carriage, good feet: clever. a DANGEROUS
firt; and she viii have halfa mil lion of money
springing to her feet. Intensely excited "Haif
million of money! Oh Jack, what are you
about?
Why. what is the matter, mother? You are
quite excited
'Oh, dear, Jack, do be sensible" said his
mother, caressingly. You know you are very
poor, and you always In difficulties It
cannot go on. GU 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 he is not a bad sort of a fellow
''Of course / must call on them. When do
they come Over?'
In few days, believe I said you would
look them up, and think you will like Katie;
And you, Jack. have you any chance, do you
interruptinS, Chance, indeed. Why 1 have
to keep the girls away from me at the point of
Now, Jack, dear, do be serious. I am so in
terested in all this. Are you sure about the
IL believe il is all right,
And, dear. would You really marry her?''
III IL II a case OF coming ii crOpper or mar
rying her, shall select the latter' said Jack
Lady Francis was in u hutter of excitement
during the ensuing week. Fancy dear! a nice
girl with $500 OO,' she remarked to Clare Mel
ton.
American girls are quite the rage now: the
men are wild after them" said Glare.
Lady Francis face assumed a serious express
sion
we must take care that dear Jack has
plenty of opportunities 1t will be Shocking
II all the linen run after her. she answered
gravely.
The best thing you can do is to give out that
Jack Is engaged said Clare.
You can do that ior me, dear
'Of course, but you will have TO entertain and
make much OF them-Americans are mad after
society and our set
1T will be very expensive but I suppose
mere Is nothing else to be DONE" sighed Lady
Francis.
The Browns arrived in London and put ND at
the Lan.ham Hotel. Lady Francis called on
them Immediately after their arrival. She was
delighted with Kate. and told her friend Clare
that with the exception of the American ac-
cent, 'she was just good style as any one
else They are SO quaint and original, nv
dear. Fancy, they call their father Uncle
SAM
They will soon settle down to our wavs
Look at Lady Wilton-who would imagine that
She was Americana said Glare, sooth-
ingly.
That's true, dear. I assure you Katie will
create quite sensation. She is really very
pretty and graceful, and full OF viyacityh
III she be So nice. Jack will have to be care
iui, ana you had better not introduce her TO any
one until 1t is arranged
so told him, dear; but he won't listen to
me- lie says we must give dinner to them
next thursday, get all our set to call, and give
ball next week.
seriously.
Perhaps not, dear; but what can do? Jack
=, 80 ops and positively believe he is seri-
Lady Francis had half a dozen Of her rela-
tves to meet the Browns The dinner was of
course. perfection, and the guests well chosen
Two lords and duke, with their respect
I've I'VE, "isesLand, as there no young
self Samuel w. Brown did not anpear a
biz abashed in the presence of the Old No