The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-01-10

frightened Whisper, II We asked ner
to marry me, and-she's hesitating
because I've nothing to settle, and
mines only a courtesy title"
Then for q full half-hour did Lord
Fanfare alternately entreat, bully and
argue
But George Blowhard, commonly
called Lord Tootle, stood to his guns
Then his father lost his temper.
''Out OF my presence, sirT' he cried
''rll lock you up, TIL apply for a
lunacy commission Hang me, sirr'
added the old man, theatrically, "Tn
cave you in spite of yourself, or-or
I'll perish in the attemptr'
Next afternoon Lord Fanfare called
upon Miss Laura Flarer at her biiou
residence In Fulham-
The lady received him very
graciously. Charmed to know you."
she said. charmed to know you
take cheer
And then Lord Fanfare took a
cheer" and carefully studied Miss
Flarer through his eye-glass
VIII you have a ''h -and-s ?" said
the lady, who was Hospitality in
clined-
But Lord Fanfare declined refresh
ments.
''Tootle tells me, madame" said his
Lordship, coming to the point at once,
'.that he has offered to marry you"
George is q dear boy" said the
lady. Il think We shall be very
happy" she added, with a sigh
DO you2r said his lordship. dryly.
''Let me tell you, madam, that my
son Tootle Is a weak-minded pauperi"
'Tu find the brains and the
beauty" said the lady. airily.
Brains and beauty amt much to
keep house on" remarked his Lord
ship, oracularly-
But your Lordship can't go on liv-
ing for ever" said the lady. with one
OF her sweetest professional smiles.
You're sixty-fve, you know, though
you have the complexion OF q boy OF
seventeen" she added, tartly.
There's nothing Ike plain speak
ing," said Lord Fanfare. Il like you
4 for it" he said. Now, what on
! earth do you want 10 marry my son
! forP''
II want to be Lady Fanfare" said
/ Laura FIarer, simply, and she gave
| her lips a professional bite that made
! them look ruddier than the cherry
And If you married my son, young
lady," said his Lordship. you would.
| suppose-er-quit the scenes of your
! early triumphs?"
"Wen, l couldn't go on doing
turns as Lady Tootle." replied Miss
Flarer. with a toss Of the head
And have you saved much money
! out of your professional earnings,
Miss Flarer, may ask? enough TO en-
able you to maintain my son In the
position to which he has been ac.
eustomed?"
And then the lady laughed. dear,
delightful, silvery, unartifcial, musi-
cal music hall sort of little laugh.
There's a bill of sale on the furni-
ture," she said, ''and 1 owe Psalm
anezar five hundred; but TOotle's a
Lord, you know" added Miss Flarer.
with q smile
mo. he ain L replied his Lordshipi
"he's only a courtesy Lord; he's just
electroplate, my dear young lady,
that's all"
"rH marry him all the same" said
the lady.
There's no other way out of it, -
thought Lord Fanfare ''Tootle's 6
| pig-headed fellow, and she will marry
him, and then the fat Il be in the fire.
Madam" said the old nobleman, 81
have other views for my son George.
Would you mind naming a fgure?"
I L.. 4 IL - =
Miss Flarer. Il mean TO be Lady
Fanfare some day or other, and Il
won't do. II you was to paper this
room with bank notes. my Lord. it 'ud
be no manner OF use"
And that's your last word
madam" asked his LOrdship
That's my last word" replied the
eldest and the pIumpest of the three
plump Miss Flarers.
Then here goes" said his LordshiI
10 himself as he pulled up his shir'
collar. and then, TO the Iady's intenst
astonishment he suddenly dropped
upon his knees, he placed his hand
upon his heart, and, modelling himself
upon the lover of the melodramas. h,
began as follows, in an Impassionet
tone:
Miss F1arer, you see a. your fee
the chief of his house, the fourteenth
Lord Fanfare, who begs to place a
your disposition his hand, his title anC
his heart Do-not-er-blight my
young life by a hasty refusal. Yop
want to be Lady Fanfare Be Lady
Eanfare-be Lady Fanfare immediate
ly. Here is a special license" " he said
and he drew large envelope from hi
pocket There is a Clergyman in M
cab at the door; our nuptials can tax,
place at once l am, as you are aware
a wealthy man. Need say more?"
At first Miss Flarer was taken abscI
too much astonished anu G,-----
aback TO answer.
You will have your joke. > she said
Il assure you I'm perfectly seri
ous," said Lord Fanfare. rising to hi
feet Pray do not keep me longer IL
suspense, my dear young lady"
30, Lord Fanfare" cried Mis-
Flarer, Il feel as if l was going I
faint You amt laughing at meP"
Madam" replied Lord Fanfare
with a shudder, Its no Laughing
matter, can assure you"
Then If you really do mean it
though it is so very sudden" said tn
lady, 81 think we'd better have hir
UP. But there'u have to be wit
nesses, you know. my lord, and it
have to be put in the papers. yo
know; and I hope the license is al
right, for Laura Flarer is only N
professional name, you know"
- d l.. ~
license" said his Lordship, simply.