Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-12-25


tbe girl whom | wish to make my Wire
as well as do. With Lady Belvoir we
are all pretty well acquainted, and De-
sides, she may almost be called puohc
character. At all events her sayings
and doings are chronicled and freely
commented upon in newspapers which
everybody reads. But Miss Leslie, am
thankful to say, is quite unknown to the
general public, and trust that she may
long remain so. If anybody here can
find word to say against her, ne must
be tolerably bold, or he must have sources
of information which are not open to
me, As a matter of fact you have all
three met her, and I don't see how you
can very well have helped thinking her
charming. Did you say anything More
"rll say it again presently" answered
Moreton, with short laugh. "do on"
~ don't know that / have anything
more to add" resumed Percy, little
disconnected by this menace of incipient
hostility. II can't think that anything
can be urged against Miss Leslie person
ally, and it is difficult to imagine what
can be urged against my proposing to
her-except, indeed, that I am not good
enough for her. That fully admit; only
perhaps the option of replying to such
question might be granted to her"
"Oh. I've no doubt you're good enough
for her" said Moreton; 'but whether she
is good enough for you or for any man
who wants to lead a peaceable life is
another matter. What do you think,
Schneider"
Now, Mr.. Schneider had t>sa lot a
little incensed by Thorold's u ven vote,
which had appeared to him ill natured
and uncalled for; in addition to which
he had just as good reasons as Moreton
had for disliking Dorothy. These he
| might have been magnanimous enough
| to overlook if the way in which he had
been treated by the meeting had been
such as to entitle any member Of 1t to
consideration at his hands, but under all
| the circumstances he felt himself quite
free to say:
well, since am asked, and since
| believe 1 am expected to be candid, ]
| must own that should be sorry to see a
friend of mine married to Miss Leslie.
In my humble opinion she has a nasty,
sarcastic sort of disposition, and doubt
| whether she would make her husbands
house pleasant one to dine at"
| I'm quite with you there" observed
Moreton, with malicious complacency.
mot to mince matters, think she is a
perfectly horrid girl
It has already been mentioned that
Percy Thorold knew how to keep his
temper under provocation. He said
| without any outward manifestation OF
the wrath that he felt:
| 'Of course l am very sorry that yor
should both have formed so mistaken al
opinion of Miss Leslie. but may venture
to hope that time will modify it. AS
su1ning, however, for the sake of argu
ment, that, if she accepted me, you would
not accept a subsequent invitation to
dinner from her, is that sufficient rea
son for refusing me permission to consult
my own tastes?'
"NIy good SIR" answered Moreton
who had no idea Of granting to Others
what had been denied to himself, 'i
isn't of the slightest use to reason with
us. We don't like Miss Leslie, we don't
approve of her, and we should never
forgive ourselves if we were to let yor
marry her without taking another siI
months for reflection. have no doub
that / am expressing Schneider's senti
ments as well as my own"
Mr.. Schneider signifed by grave
bow that such was the case.
"Then," said Lord Guise, II am afrait
there is nothing for it but to pass the
usual sentence upon you, Thorold. Th'
opinion of the majority is clearly agains
you, and the minority, if there is one
had better hold its peace. Now we hav'
disposed of our business quite as har
moniously and expeditiously as coult
have been desired, and I trust we are al
satisfied"
''Satisfed!' growled Moreton; "well-
hardly. can answer for one of US bein,
thoroughly dissatisfied. What the deuc
am to do, ] should like to know? It
all very well to tell me in an ofhant
way that / mustn't speak to Lady Bel
voir for another six months, but it s.
, happens that have made an appoint
ment with her, and I believe she under
|
| nice sort of fellow she'll think me if
don't turn up and never send her wor,
Of explanation"
"That is precisely my own predica
3 ment," said Schneider dolorously. Il
3 too, have made an appointment witt
| Lady Belvoir, and cannot help thinking
that am more to be pitied than More
ton, because I have reasons which he ca
: scarcely have for hoping-however,
, won't insist upon that. But do thin,
/ that some opportunity should be give
I us of offering excuses. 1t is bad enoug
| that we should be forced to excuse oul
/ selves at all; surely there is no occasio
to make US behave like absolute cads int
4 the bargaine'
8 "Really, Guise,' said Thorold, "yo
Y must admit that that is reasonable de
a mand. What possible excuses we sha
e be able to make don't know; but W
, must be allowed to say something. W
? can't simply absent ourselves without
: word or sign
: "Why not:' inquired Lord Guis
+ blandly.
t Because, my dear fellow-speakin
b for myself, and I dare say may spea
for my partners in misfortune-we ar
more or less committed. I suppose
" isn't very usual for any man to propos
= to any woman without some preliminar
u sort of courtship, and for my own part
u certainly shouldn't do such thing unles
f had a fair hope of being accepted. Yo
v see what mess one gets into when on
t attempts to put these nonsensical theorie
O Of yours into practice.
r 81 see" answered Lord Guise, ''tha
!. you have got yourselves into a mes!
II but whose fault is that? You have al
d I am sorry to find, broken the spirit {
O our agreement. You had no business
t commit yourselves. Now, don't kno'
e much about Miss Leslie; but what
Il know is all in her favor, so that shall /
I sincerely sorry if she is distressed b
l. Thorold's apparent faithlessness. A
J. the same time it must be remembers
that in six months from now he will l
d at liberty to. explain matters fully
= her, and if she has any real affection fl
J. him it ought to survive separation
l. six months.
Is "As regards Lady Belvoir, am ;
,e certain as am of my own existence tn;
= she cares neither for Schneider nor f,