West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-07-16

Upper House and one of the largest
landed proprietOrs in the Mdlands.
tie was frank, open, pnsophisticated
young man somewhat simple minded.
perhaps, but by no means fool. His
return caused rather iutter of ex-
| citcmcnt among aristOcratic mothers
of manageable daughters. for. with
a few almost hopeless exceptions. he
was the most desirable husband of the
season, Their anNieties were. how
wet of short durat on. as. from the
! moment Of his introduction TO her.
! Lord Lexicon appeared to fix his af-
! fcctions upon the beautiful Miss Dull
cinicf, and commenced TO pay her the
most marked and assiduous attentions.
This proceeding was by no means
| approved of by the young lady's enc
mics and rivals. She had many of the
former, unfortunately, and not few
OF the latter, Lord Lexicon received
several friendly warnings regarding
the object of his affections: he was
told that she was hcartlcss. that she
| painted, that her hair was false, that
her gowns were not paid for; i'm fact.
ms love was put TO the scvcreSt tests;
yet such was this young noblcman's
| infatuatlon that he utterly disrCgardcd
the advice that was rendered to him.
and took the earliest opportunity of
asking Hilda Dulcimcr 20 bc his wife.
Mother, | am to be Countess of
Lexicon exclaimed Hilda, few
moments after the momentuus inter
view, with the nearest approach to ex-
citoment and enthusiasm that she had
ever manisfeStcd.
The old lady murmurcd her congrat-
ulations, and wiped away tear with
tremulous hand. IL was evident.
however, that she was preoccupicd and
uneasy, and her daughter said sharply:
What is the matter, mothcr?'
81 have surprise for You, my love
some good news" said her mother
doubtfullv.
What is it?"
Dear Tom has come home"
What my brothcr,'
TO account for the somewhat un-
pleasantly harsh tone i'm which the
young lady uttered this exclamation it
must b. explained that Tom Dulcmer
her younger brother, had shown
distinct symptoms of being ne'er-do-
well. 1t is true that he had done
nothing TO disgrace himself or his
family, for nj seventeen he had been
packed of to the Colonies through the
influence of his sister who foresaw the
Inconvenience of having "A near relative
in England with Master Toms rcck-
less proclvitics She had never
ceased TO congratulate herself upon
the wisdom Of this preCaution.
Good gracious! How exceedingly
inconvcnicnt,' Miss Dulcimer ciacu-
lated, after short pause of dismay.
My dear, I'm sure you ought to be
very pleased, demonstrated her
mother, mildly. The dear boy has
supported himself all these years. and
has grown fine, handsome fellow"
What did he want to come back
for-cspecially just now?" exclaimed
llilda. frowning.
My dear, the poor fellow has been
i'll, and he wished to see his old
mother again, said her mother, be-
ginning to trcmblc After all, why
should he pass his life in eNleo He has
never done any thing wrong"
What good can he do over here.
mothcr?' said Hiidp, severely. You
can not afford to keep him. "
"llc has an appointm mt. my dear
\ very good appointment cried the
mother, eagerly: "a clerk i'm the office
OF some company connected with
Bucnos AyreS, whore he has been. He
is to get ElOo u year and he says that
he can live well upon it,
"A clerk in an Office in the citv!'
exclaimed Hilda. rs her beautiful Iip
curlcd. Mother" she added. sharp-
~, nobody must know this. OF
course, ! must tell Lori Lexicon. but
not gill know him better. Has Tom
been here? Did he send his name
up?'
He has been here" answered her
mother, cowcd by her vchemcncc
He dill not send i'm his name, poor
boy. He said that we were such
dreadful swcll,. and that his coat was
shabby. lie arranged with Won when
he went away, yOu NAV remember. To
call himself Trowcr- maiden
name. That was the name hc gave"
Thank goodness for thau Then
the servants suspect nothing said
Hilda, moro amiably Mother. YOU
must promise never To breathe word
to any one about having a son in En-
gland.
"My dear child"
Mother. you must consider me"
interrupted Hilda If this were
known, Lord L'Ncon's family. and
Others who are jealous of me. might
max. mischief, and ruin every thing.
What is Tom addrc,s?'
Mr. Dulcimcr gave it somewhat un-
Willingly. and half an hour later the
famous beauty, closely vailed. alightcd
IN dmgy back street In the ncighbor-
hood of Marylcbunc. aud made her
way up three pairs of stairs to her
brother aerial retreat Her purpose.
which she had concealed from her
mother. was To- insist upon her brother
Tom returning whence he came. To
effect thi. she relied partly upon her
strong will and the influence She used
10 possess over the lad and rarity upon
bribc OF hundred or even two hun
drcd pounds With her knowledge Of
the pr'iudiccs of the aristOcracy. and
the prccariou, hold she had at present
attained over Lord Lexicon affections.
She did not deem any pocuniary sac
rliice within her power too great for
the advantage Of getting an inconven-
lent brother ont of the way az THE
crisis boz her Iifa
II soon trsuspircd. however. that
Tom DuIcim.r bad developed g viii of
BIS own also. The meeting between
brother and sister can hardly be- de-
-rribcd as cilu-ipclv 1nectionatc The
fact was that the recollection Of bis
abrupt dismissal from England Ou vcry