Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-01-31


Belle, at all events. Heigh ho!-didn't
write you all about the troubles I've been
having with Blanche and her lovers since
you've been gomez"
Very little about it all. You would
sometimes mention the names Of Captain
COurtenay and Robert BarnWeu; but you
gave me little information, and you wrote
IN such way that I saw you were out of
patience about the matter"
So was, dreadfully provoked! How
could help it?"
Yet you have consented to her mar
riage?"
Il have, replied Sir Roger, with
clOuded brow. Il have reluctantly con-
sented, to save a disgrace which I could
not bear to think Of. When I became
satisfied that, with or without my con-
sent, Blanche would mary Captain
COuFtenay; when learned that his regi-
ment is to sail next month on foreign
service, and when understood that the
effect Of my continued refusal would be
to make Blanche elope with him-then,
ana not till then, 1 consented.
ElOpe with him, indeed" repeated
Isabel, elevating her black eyebrows
I'd have shut her up in her room on
bread and water, and ordered Dixon to set
the dogs on this presumptuous Captain if
he dared to show himself here.
The baEOnet smiled grimIy.
y
you say, Belle. Your ideas are right;
the daughters of Sir Roger Pembroke,
barOnet, are entitled to look high for
then nus bands. Perhaps am to blame:
perhaps L ought to have treated her with
severity, and broken up the match at all
hazards; but, Belief couldn't. I'm
getting old and weak, maybe; I wasn't
able to stand out against that girl. She
was so quiet about 1t, yet so determined;
she was so deferential and respectful to
me, yet so fixed in her mind-that she
carried the day. I scolded, argued, and
entreated; all of no use. I'll obey you
IN anything, IN everything, dear father,
she said; but the man that I'm to 90
hand in hand with through life I must
choose for myself. The one have chosen
IS worthy of me in every way, and I do
not care to look any higher. want you to
consent. Old fool that 1 am, I consent
ed. The fact is, she's got her poor moth
ers ways, as we'll as her face. That's
how it was"
Miss IsabePs classic upper lip curled
with a fine disdain.
"A page out of a stOry-book!" she
sneered. And who is Captain COurte-
nay pray?"
d will do justice to the young man,
Belle-though he is not at all the hus-
band should have chosen for one of my
daughters. He is an orphan, of respecta-
bic descent, and has risen rapidly in his
chosen profession by his own merits.
He Is educated, bright, and very intelIi-
GENT"
And poor, interrupted Isabel.
Yes, that is true. He has his monthly
pay, and about two thousand pounds in
the funds. I inquired at the War Office
for his standing and record, and found
both good. I rather think, Belle, that it
is the fact of his being a soldier that
recOnciles me to what would otherwise be
a bitter humiliation. This is a Warlilze
age. Britain is really ruled by the mar
tial spirit The profession of arms opens
an almost boundless field to young men
of energy and ability. Therefore, [ have
consented to this marriage, and that
Blanche should 60 to a foreign station
the wife of a Captain-trusting that she
may return In ten years her husband a
Major General"
Isabel tossed her head again, and had a
very spiteful remark on her tongue, but
managed to suppress it.
What is it about Robert BarnwelI, "
she asked, whose name sometimes ap-
peared in your letters?"
The barOnet frOwned.
THAT was a most unfortunate incl
dent" he said, though I believe that
Blanche is not to be blamed for it. About
the time Captain COurtenay began to be
serious IN his attentions, BarnWeu also
frequently called upon her. He was a
brilliant and rising young advocate, and
had some money left him by a deceased
relative. He fell into bad ways, became
dissipated, gambled away everything,
and was finally disbarred. The time came
when peremptOrily forbade him to enter
the house. L don't know what has become
Of him and do not care. He is a wretched
Outcast, wherever he is.
Did Blanche care for him?"
@I believe not in the least. The fellow
IaT IN
about the time that he was fast going
down hill; but I should really judge,
from all have seen and heard, that Cap
tain Courtenay is the only man that
Blanche has ever cared for.
By this conversation, and much more
of the same kind, was the proud Isabel
informed of what had transpired at the
villa during her absence. 1t would have
been the way of most sisters to learn all
this from the person most interested, but
this was not Isabel's way. Arriving at
the villa the previous evening, she had
greeted her sister in her stately way, Civ
ING her merely few cold words and a
slight clasp of the hand. Immediately
upon seeing her father she had retired to
her room, and, having her meals served
there, this was her first appearance below
stairs
The morning wore away; the afternoon
was half-spent, and still the barOnet and
his eldest daughter sat on the piazza,
conversing together and watching the
sails and barges on the river. At the an
nouncement of lunch they went in to-
gether. As they were seated, Blanche
came down stairs and joined them.
She was a glorious creature, blonde in
hair and complexion, blue of eyes, with
all the innocent frankness of a child and
all the grace Of a woman. She came
behind her fathers chair and kissed him;
she hesitated as she looked toward her
sister, but the frigid aspect of the latter
repelled her
There was an awkward pause as she
took her seat and the servants began to
wait on them. The baronet was uneasy,
and, looking with a kind Of tender inter
est at his younger daughter, cast about
for something to say.
Il believe everything has been done
that you wished, Blanche, he said.
Have you thought Of anything else?"
NO. papa. You have been very kind