, 1890-04-18

had suggested the idca-and they had a fort,
night in the Solent Then they set of to
Homburg. Sir Henry Bagshot, released from
his parliamentary duties, accompanied them.
And then Sir Englefield Green, who had
been at Cowes, arrived at Homburg, and a
day later The visitors list included the name
Of the Marquis of Hammersmith.
alt is something for Sir Engleield to come,
my dear, ~ said Lady Bagshot to her friend,
ito miss the grouse, you know; he has one Of
the best moors in Scotland"
Two days after his arrival Sir Engledeld
called and asked to sse Mis- Short, Their in
terview lasted some time, and as soon as 1t
was over the baronet returned to his hotel
and told his man to pack his portmanueau,
That evening he left Homburg with the de
sign Of getting to his Scotch moor as soon as
possible.
Evangeline said nothing to Lady Bagshot
about the interview, but that lady drew her
conclusions.
''She hns refused him, ~ she said to husband.
81 never thought she would, after seeing his
place in Sussex
Perhaps she prefers the marquis" sug-
gested Sir Henry.
at is the Hammersmith diamonds said
his wife. American girls are crazy about
diamonds"
Perhaps the marquis won't come forward,
after all " said the barouet, doubtfully.
But Lady Bagshot was certain he would.
She was right, though Lord Hammcrsmith
was not 50 precipitate as his rival had been,
END, in consequence, more than a fortnight
elapsed before he found it necessary 20 try IA
change Of air.
Lady Bagshpt was quite bewildered when
she learned that Evangeline had rejected the
marquis. She didn't express her disapproval to
the Young Indy. but rushed of to her husband
to arqunint him with her disappointment.
Il thought it was rs good as settled, - she
said; she seemed to like him 50 much. What
can she meant There was n duke who Can
she be thinking OF the duke, the only mar.
ringeHble dukef'
Sir Henry Bagshot laid down the paper he
was reading and looked at his wife.
'Hnvo you seen The Timesf' be said Then
he pointed to n column, and Lady Bagsnot,
reading, saw the connection Of ideas. Agreat
cyclone had swept over some Of the western
states OF America, causing immense damage;
lives had been lost; property To the amount
OF millions Of dollars had been destroyed.
Gettysburgville had been almost completely
destroyed, the inhabitants escaping only with
their lives. Thousands had been reduced
from o~pulenco to absolute want.
THAT may be a very serious piece Of news
for our young %friend,n said Sir Henry
gravcly.
Her money comes chiefly from real es-
tato,' said Lady Bagshot; she told me 80
once. Real estate means houses. doesn't i'll
And il Gcttysburgyille is all blown down,
she may nave lost everything"
THAT Is hardly probable, said Sir Henry,
''but sho must have lost a good deal, l should
think. And then, with her expensive habits.
and you know how she's been taken up. . >
a dethroned heiress'-
ooh, / wonder" sighed her ladyship, 'ff
We could c%ontrive to get the marquis back.
He never reads the papers, or anything else,
mud no mayn't have heard OF it.n
"Hou must break the news to her. said the
bnronct, inwurdly glad that the disagreeable
task couldn't be assigned to him. Lady Bag
shot read the column through half "A dozen
times in the vain attempt to extract some
spark Of comfort, or at least Of hope, from it.
Then, the paper still in her hnnd, she went to
the room where Evgngeline was writing.
This is u dreadful piece Of news, my dear, "
she said, but don't be frightened. Things
may not be so bad rs they look. These news.
paper correspondents eNaggcrate drcadfully. y
Miss Short read the telegram, and looked
grave.
what a dreadful calamity" She said.
And Washington street, where we stayed,
quite destroyed. II was really a fine street,
too
Lady Bagshot saw that the personal aspect
OF the calamity had not dawned on the mex
perienced young girl
"Will you lose much}' She said.
AT said Evangoliue. ooh, no; mamma an,
Aun Lydia arc at Newport
81 meant ia property-your real estate.n
The young lady sprang up and rushed I
the window. Whom Sue turned round ngni
her face wa scarlet.
Lady Bugshot, " she said, Il have n cor
fcssion TO make. have been deceiving you
| don't belong to Gcttysburgville; | was oul
there nbuut n month, l haven't any propcrt
there"
Then You are not rich, It's everybody SUP
p0s'sF z said Lady Bngshut.
Excuse me- said- the young lady with n
almost imperceprible shade Of hauteur in he
tone. 81 do not know what people hive been
good enough 10 suppose about my circum
stances. ! am not responsible FOR their sup
Positions. But ! imagine ! may call mysel.
rich, for ! have got things as | wanted them
and have never spent more than "a small par
Of my income.
Indy Bugsbut looked IA little rrussured.
GLOW then have YOU been dccciving me
my drglrE' she asked.
EvHnEolinc smiled IL little, and looked con,
FUSED. Il am not an American" she sud
"'NA . ''' N'A 'h'hN voc
Not mn American! ~ gasped tho elder lady.
Surprise almost overcamo her.
NO" was the reply. II have been il
America, that is all, | am really a cockney
born within the sound Of Bow Bells, and III,
money | have was made in London.n
"You aaid something about oil, So remarked
her ladyship, still bcwildercd
II was right, ~ said the young Indy, calmly.
Not oil wells, however, but oil shops. Their,
prc l don't know how many Of them, from
Hornscy to Peckham, and from Poplar tC
Shepherds Bush
Il don't know where those piaccs arern in
tcrruptcl Lady BagShot, fcebly.
"Wcll, You know Kensington; there's one
thcre-Hiltou, Bassot q Short; you may SCI
the name over tho Window. My poor papa
vas the Short. lie was the Basset and the
Hilton, too, for that matter. 1t is IA limited
liability company now, and | hold nearly
half the shares. Then papa built a lot OF
houses between Bow and Stratford. You
won't know where those places are, but the
Ieutal OF those houses comes to something
Considerable
But why did you pretend to he an Ameri
canf' inquired Lady Bagshot, duly impresset
by ErunEcline's last words.
The young lady was silent for u little while
at was an idea that clmo to me" She said
She was again silent, her cheeks coloring
Then Sine went on:
Listen, Lady BuEshot. You have beer
very kind to me, and l will tell you all about
it. After papa died, mamma and | lived il
our now house at L~eytoustone. You must
come and sec 1t some day. We didn't Sc.
many people, and | used TO read a lot OF
novels-society novels, you know. And
used 70 think how nice it must be to be in so,
cioty, and to meet such nice men, so hnnd
sGme and refined and interesting. But
Didn't see how to manage it, aid mamma
didn't know anything about it either Their
W. Nnnl 70 A mnrlcn To 500 n mnrlnd .istnr nI