Evening journal., 1889-11-19

whisper 1--WE asked her to marry me, aud |
she's uesitacng because I've nothing 70 settle,
aud mines only a courtesy title.n
Then for o full half hour did Lord Fanfare
alternately retreat. bully and argue.
Bnt George Blowhard. commonly callec
Lord Tootle, stood 20 his guns.
Then his father lost his temper. "Out Oh
my presence, sirin he cried "pll lock you
up. III apply for a lunacy commission. Dam
me, sirn added the old man theatrically.
"rn save you in spite Of yourself. or-or rll
perish in the attemptin
Next afternoon Lord Fanfare called upon
Miss Laura Flarer at her biiou residence in
Fulnam.
The lady received Rim very graciously
'Charmed to know yoi." she said. "charmed
10 know you-take cheer"
And then Lord Fanfare took a "cheern and
carefully studied Miss Flarer through his
eyeglass.
"Will you have a b. and 5. p said the lady.
who was hospitality inclined.
But Lord Fanfare declined refreshments
"rootle tells me, madame.n said his lord
ship, coming to the point at once, that he
has offered TO marry you.n
George is dear boy, said the lady. 81
think we shall be very happy,n she added,
with a sigh.
"Do your said his lordship, dryly. sTet
me tell you, madame, that my son Tootle is a
weak minded pauperT
"Tll find the brains and the beauty" said
the lady airily
"Brains and beauty amt much to keep
house on,n remarked his lordship oracularly
But your lordship can't go on living for
ever.n said the lady, with one Of her sweetest
/ professional smiles. "Youre 65, you know
| III she added tartly.
There's nothing like plain speaking, said
Lord Fanfare 81 like you for it, be said.
Nov, what on earth do you want to marry
my son fore
81 want to be Lady Fanfare said Laura
Flarer simply, and she gave her lips profess
| sional bite that made them look ruddier than
the cherry.
"And if you married my son, young lady,
said his lordship, you would, suppose--er
quit the scenes Of your early triunphsS"
"Well, couldn't GO on doing turns as
Lady Tootle,n replied Miss Flarer with toss
Of the head.
"And have you saved much money out Of
your professional earnings, Miss Flarer, may
aska-enough to enable you to maintain my
son in the position to which he has been ac
customedT'
And then the lady laughed, dear, delight
full, silvory, martifcial, musical, music hal
sort OF little laugh. There's bill Of sale on
tho furniture" she said, ''and owe Psal
manezar five hundred; but Tootle's lord
you know,n added Miss Flarer, with a smile
mo, he ain't," replied his lordship; shes
only courtesy lord; he's just electroplate
my dear young lady, that's all"
''pn marry him all the same,n said tn,
lady
There's no other way out Of it,n though
Lord Fanfare. "Tootles a big headed fel
low, and she win marry him, and then th
! fatll be in the fire. Madam said the oil
nobleman, 81 have other views for my sol
George. Would you mind naming iguref
81 won't do it, old gentleman" said Mis-
Flarer. II mean to be Lady Fanfare som
day or other, and it won't do. If you was t
paper this room with bank notes, my lord,
ud be no manner of use."
"And that's your last word, MADAME
! asked his lordship
"That's my last wordn replied the eldes
and the plumpest of the three plump Mis-
Flarers.
s "Then here goes" said his lordship to hin
= self, as he pulled up his shirt collar, and ther
2 TO the lady's intense astonishment he sudder
q ~ dropped upon his knees; he placed b
hand upon his heart and, modelling himse
d upon the lover of the melodramas, he bega
ie as follows, in an impassioned tone;
miss Flarer, you see at your feet the chit
q Of his house, the fourteenth Lord Fanfar
d who begs To place at your disposal bis ham
his title and his heart Do hot-er-bligl
p my young life by hasty refusal You wal
J 10 be Lady Fanfare Be Lady Fanfare
q Lady Fanfare Immediately Here is specil
g license be said, and he drew large enve
e. ope from his pocket "There is a clergyma
y IN my cab at the door; our nuptials can tai
as place at once. | am, as you are aware,
wealthy man. Need / say morep
Q At first Miss Flarer was taken aback-tS
y much astonished and taken aback to answe
"You viii have your joke" she said.
be 81 assure you Pm perfectly serious" sa
. Lord Fanfare, rising to his feet pray
not keep me longer in suspense, my de
IN young lady"
b. "Oh, Lord Fanfareln cried Miss Flarer,
be feel as if was going 70 faint You all
70 laughing at msr
be Madam replied Lord Fanfare with
e shudder, 'its no laughing matter, l c
Use assure your
% i'Then if You really do mean it, though
~ is 50 very sudden said the lady, Il thi
we'd better have him up. But theren ha
Gu TO be witnesses, you know, my lord, ana Il
in have to be put in the papers, you know; a
al. | hope the license is all right for Lau
an Flarer is only my professional name, J
ar know"
lhe "It's Mary Jane Briggs in the license, S
IRA his lordship simply.
wn That's as right as ninepence," said y
Flarer 20 you dear, thoughtful old gent
X mani" and then she rang the bell Mar
hy, she said, as her smart parlor maid ente
md the room, task the reverend gentleman
to the cab to step up, and call Parker,
our maids
Ugh Within half an hour Mary Jane Briggs
2 came Ledy Fanfare.
gar II with your ladyship a very good mo
srs, lng,n said Lord Fanfare "Il pay of
'ee bin Of sale, and III pay Psalmanezar, and
IS q allow your ladyship pound week, and
an very much obleeged to your ladyship.n
And that's how Lord Fanfare got marrt
re" and the why and the wherefore Of it;
who shall say that his lordship was nI
re- herol-London World
~ Cure for Grief.
~ Not many years ago a gentleman had "a