The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-26

W pass tudI, IN the innocence OF MS nedrt,
he was guilty of grave indiscretion.
Two general rules may safely be laid
down for the guidance of such young
couples as are not openly and formally en-
gagged to be married. First, they should
not kiss one another; second, if they will
kiss one another, and there is reason to
fear that they sometimes do-they should
rounded by turf. upon which the sound of
approaching footsteps is apt to be inau-
dibie. Through neglect of this latter pre-
caution Mr.. Luscombe and Miss Strettell
were surprised by the unsuspecting Mr..
Best in an attitude which really did not
admit of being explained away, and per-
haps Miss Strettell adopted the only
course open to her by utterlng short
scream and taking to her heels.
OF the two men who were left face to
face, the elder was by far the more red and
embarrassed. He stammered out heart
feit apology, but fastened to add that he
had not been in the least astonished by
were the first evening came here" said
he, land was meaning to speak to Lady
Strettell about it this very afternoon.
Lack of money of course, is the obstacle,
and l think, if you will allow me. can re-
move that. You can ride, suppose?"
"RideP' answered the young man, with
open eyes and mouth. ooh, yes; l can
ride"
81 mean that it Is rather necessary that
anyone who is to look after my Australian
estates should be able to ride, and what I
wish to propose to you is that you should
undertake that task on my behalf |
think OF settling in England myself, and
your services, assure you, would be well
worth FL 800 year to me- l fancy that
you would rather like the life, but even if
you didn't, and if you were to come home
after year or two l should take care that
Mlliy didn't starve. | must tell you that
l regard her very much as daughter of
mine.'
This concluding statement amazed
young Luscombe so much that he quite
forgot to make any acknowledgment of
the generous offer which had preceded it,
Your daughter!" he exclaimed Good
gracious! l had no idea that you re-
garded her in that light-nor had She
nor, you may be sure, had Lady Strettell."
1t took no little time to convince Rich
ard Best that Helen had actually imagined
and wished him to be a sutton for her
daughters hand but his informant was so
confident as TO the fact and had so MANY
proofs TO adduce in support of it that his
incredulity was at length overcome. He
learned with sincere regret that Milly had
been too much afraid of him to feel any
personal affection for one whom she might
otherwise have liked well enough; he also
learned that II was very doubtful whether
Lady Strettell would consent to assign
her stepdaughter to Mr.. Luscombe, even
though the latter should be granted so
handsome salary as Ell 500 year. Fin
ally he received a provisional acceptance
of his offer, together with the warm thanks
which were his due. although Mr.. Lus-
combe candidly confessed that for choice
he would little bit rather not end his
days at the antipodes.
sits awfully good of you," the young
r,l1 laIA Nh at,rb.
''only I'm afraid it won't come off, I'm
afraid there'il be no end of row when
you tell the old-when you tell Lady
Strettell. | shall never marry anybody
but Mily, but l can't believe, somehow,
that shall ever be allowed to marry her."
''Then why did you kiss her ?" asked his
senior a tritie sterDly.
"For the same reason that you caught
me at it, replied Mr.. Luscombe. who, it
must be owned was not very bashful
person-"because | couldn't help myself"
Him y said Richard Best, shaking his
head. That's not much of an excuse,
though dare say it's true. Well, if you
can't help yourself, l suppose you must
be helped, that's all.
He entertained little doubt as TO his
ability TO help the helpless IN this in
stance; he did not in the least understand
the significance of Luscombe's half sheep
ish, half compassionate look when he de-
clared his intention OF seeking out Lady
Strettell forthwith and making it all
right" with her. Notwithstanding the
shock which ii had given him to hear that
Helen had supposed him capable of max
ing love to her daughter, he was thou
sand miles from anticipating the revela-
ton which was in store for him beneath
the japanese umbrella. where her lady
ship was now placidly awaiting his return.
Her placidity was not much disturbed
by his nrst avowal Perhaps she found it
tiattering, although il entailed vexatious
interference with her schemes. and al
though she fastened TO assure him (as she
had done on similar occasion many years
before) that what he asked for was quite
impossible" But her self-control COM
pletely forsook her when she was informed
of the attachment which existed between
Miily and young Luscombe, and OF the
plan which had been devised for their
beneht by her rejected lover.
The wretch " she exclaimed before she
could stop herself. He has deliberately
deceived me, them 1t wasn't for me- but
for that horrid. sly girl that he came here
every day Well he will ind that he is
not quite so clever as ne thinks himself |
am her guardian and most certainly will
not allow her to marry him."
Can you prevent their marriage ?"
asked Richard Best gravely IL am not
sure whether you have legal right of
veto: but am sure that You couldn't in
slst upon II without terrible sacrifice of
personal dignity. | see now what | sup
pose should have seen all along il I