Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-08-21

people say; no one but a coward would
do it, was the passionate reply; and
then this little tempestuous creature
burst into tears. and buried her head
on Sir Percy's chest and sobbed her
bad temper away. Presently, after
lot of coaxing and other little delicate
attentions best known to lovers, she
held up her head, and said:
'When does he go away?" -
.''Who?' Ees. i
Colonel Villiers."
''By to-night's express" II
"Where does he &c to?'
London"
''What for?''
ooh, how curious woman is! To ar
range about an estate he talks of buy
ing and settling down on it-''
"Percy'-this very quietly-''I am
awfully sorry l said such nasty things
to him, and 1 must apologize, and tell
him what little simpleton am, and
ask him to forgive me-"
Yes, do. that's good little girl
You know, it isn't very refreshing for
Victoria cross man to be told that he
is a coward, is it?"
Then ensued lot of lovers rubbish,
which is neither new nor interesting,
and presently the two strolled back to
the house.
At the dinner, laid early specially
for Colonel Villiers' convenience, little
conversation took place. May gazed
steadfastly at her plate, and looked
heartily ashamed of her unladylike
conduct, whilst Jack Villiers looked
like what Sir Percy afterward CON-
pared to an automatic mummy"
After dinner Villiers had to set off
to catch his train, and Sir Percy was
to drive him to the station. Having
said goodbye to Mrs. Deane and May,
he walked through the hall toward the
door, where Sir Percy was awaiting
him with the impatient horses. Ere
he had reached the door, however,
May, who had followed him, laid her
hand on his sleeve and said, timidly:
Colonel Villiers, l am sincerely
ashamed of my conduct this morning
/ have quick temper, and said things
that really did not mean, and, when
l cooled down, felt more sorry for than
I can express. I hope you will forgive
me- with sob.
my dear Miss CORVALLIS pray do
not concern yourself 1t was nothing,
and was my own fault I may say,
however, that although present dur
ing the whole of your conversation,
heard only the last two sentences.
During the rest I was asleep. Good
bye" in husky tone, and lifting the
hand which she held out to him to his
lips, he turned and strobe out into the
night and in few minutes was of.
On the way to the station Sir Percy
poured his troubles into Villiers' ear
how he and May would be married
and make, for ought l know, the hap
piest pair between here and the moon,
but that owing to the entangled state
| OF his affairs, he could not possibly
drag her down into comparative pow
| erty. Little did he know how he hurt
the feelings of the man who sat at his
side.
At last the station was reached; up
came the train; hearty hand-shake,
a few words of good-fellowship, and
| away Jack Villiers sped to London.
| Some weeks passed on, and one
morning Sir Percy Lendorn was aston
ished to receive letter from a firm OF
eminent solicitors informing him that
some individual had made over to him,
Internationally, the sum of esq, 1000.
with this simple restriction, he must
give his word of honor not to make
any attempt to discover the donor.
This, of course, the Baronet accept
ed It meant May and happiness to
him, and he fervently bless ed his good
friend, whoever he might be.
Not long after arrangements were
made for the union of two persons in
Gods holy bonds of matrimony. You
may guess whom.
Jack Villiers was. of course. to be
! best man; but about week before the
important ceremony was to take place
he wrote saying he could not be pres.
ent, as he was ordered back to Bur.
NAH Immediately; but would slip down
On the following day just to say good.
bye"
Next day, as arranged, Villiers came
and stayed only few hours, having to
return by the night mail. Before leav-
ing, he congratulated May, expressed
the usual wishes of much happiness.
and at the same time begged a flower
from her as a slight remembrance of
some very pleasant weeks at Marine
Hail. Then he was gone, and neither
Sir Percy nor his lady-love ever saw
the face of Jack Villiers again"
Two years passed, and one day Sir
Percy, who was now one of the hap
piest of the happy few, was going
through his daily papers when he sud
denly calculated.
'.Dear boy; poor, poor fellow! List
en-, MaJ!' -
i" On the 10th ult, in a skirmish