Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-10-18

lude to it. OF course, III ne nad not
been Lord Alphington's grandson. his
proposal to marry Lena would have
been out of the question; but Mr.. st.
Lawrence has no established position
it is quite another thing. One would
really think at times, Bertha, that you
hadn't common sense. You must see,
at any rate, that we cannot have any
one visiting here whom Mr.. Fancourt
would not like to meet"
Il don't think Mr.. st. Lawrence is
very likely to trouble you much, MAN.
ma Bertha returned. a little bitterly.
''He has not been here for the last three
weeks"
Most likely then, as he must know
that Mr.. Fancourt is often here, he is
afraid of meeting him-afraid of some
exposure. Don't you see, Bertha, it's
quite plain it must be so? If you should
happen to meet him. | must insist upon
your being very cool in your manner to
him: for my part. | shall certainly give
him TO understand that we do not de-
sire any further acquaintance with
him"
Mamma, | cannot promise" said
Bertha, flushing painfully. Il do not
believe anything against him. MIR.
Douglas knows"
"Well, my dear, you are quite right
to consider Mr.. Douglas" allowed the
prudent mother; and when you are in
a house of your own you can invite
whom you please. By-the-bge, my love,
don't YOU think it would be a very nice
plan if Mr.. Douglas were to take this
house off my hands when Lena mar
ries?" she continued more cheerfully,
laying down her fan. Il am thinking
OF going into apartments at the West
End, where | shall be nearer Magnus
Square. Mr.. Douglass income is not
very large. He probably won't want to
launch out at first. | should think such
a house as this might just suit him"
81 don't think Mr.. Douglas has any
idea of taking a house at all, mamma"
Bertha stammered. in some confusion.
Mr.. Douglas is going away"
Going away" exclaimed Mrs. Dali
ton, growing very red in the face again.
'Going away without proposing? L
have never heard of anything so dis
honorable, after all the attention he
has paid you. ] am afraid it is your
own fault, Bertha; you have played
your cards badly"
have played no cards at all, man.
n said Bertha, greatly veXed. She
had no intention Of revealing what had
taken place that afternoon - neither
Douglass declaration to herself nor his
warning against FancOurt. That she
was well aware would be utterly useless
until there was some basis to 90 upon.
"IIe can't 90 away So" decided Mrs.
Dalton, after few minutes thought.
ITS ridiculous. | shall write and ask
him to dinner"
Pray do not. mamma" Bertha en-
treated. MIR. Douglas and | perfectly
do a L m 81 nf IL fhat what
you are thinking of. We shall never
be more to each other than good
friends
"Wel, | must say there never was
mother treated as | am" Mrs. Dalton
lamented. drawing out her cambria
handkerchief. Here have [ been plan
ming night and day for your cOmfOrta-
BILE settlement in life. and now you talk
about being nothing but friends! It's
really enough to drive one wild! | am
quite sure that with a little encourage
ment Mr.. Douglas would have spoken;
and what better can you look for? 1t
isn't likely you can make a great match
like your sister. 1t won't do now, with
our new connections, for you to be a
teacher. What is to become of you |
don't know; and all might have been
settled so happily"
Mrs Dalton melted into tears as she
contemplated the failure of part of her
scheme. Bertha stood pale and silent,
feeling rather guilty; but she had no
thought of giving way.
Don't be anxious about my future,
mamma she said at last. 81 am sorry
! cannot act as you wish, but | need
not be burden upon you. Sir Stephen
and Lady Langley, when we were at
their house in the spring, asked me to
go and live with them as their daugh-
ter. | declined then, because [ thought
you could not spare me; but [ am sure
they want me to 90. Sir Stephen said
he should speak to you about it this
autumn
Mrs. Dalton wiped her eyes-her brow
cleared.
Il would much rather have seen you
in house of your own at once" she
said, with 4 sigh; 'but Sir Stephen and
Lady Langley move in the best society,
and you may have chance with them,
! perhaps, if you only put away your
silly, romantic notions"
too glad to let the subject drop. In or
der to avoid any fresh discussion of
such topics, she invited her mothers
attention To what she had been doing
for Lena that afternoon. and Mrs Dial
ton, once more absorbed i'll the all-im-
pOrtant subject of the tJOte&cdu, forgot
for the time being her disappointment
in Douglas and her adverse intentions
toward ST. Lawrence.