The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-23
SHE CHOSE THE GROOM.
An Interesting Romance in an Eng.
lish Village.


NODDED.
'sWhy. old chap, I haven't seen you
since we came down from Oxford l am
glad to run across you again"
Your lerdship is very good"
sob, hang the title! What's the use
of being stiff and stuck up like that?
Why, l believe you were actually going
to cut me just now if l hadn't nearly
ridden you down"
II certainly wasn't going to recognize
you first When a man gets seedy he's
rather sensitive about making advances
to the high and mighty ones of the
land"
You always were proud, stuck-up
sort of a person, old chap, and given to
standing on your blessed dignity, and
/ all that. But / don't think YOU need
| have been that way with ME after we
! had been in the same set at y. b. c..
! don't you know, and all that sort of
thing. By the way, where are you
making for?''
'Wellminster.
'E1ow are you going?"
I'm tramping it, said the other.
drily. Then he broke out, with a little
| anger: You good-na tured old duffer,
can't you see that I'm down on my
luck? Don't my clothes write me dead,
stony, flinty broke? Here, cram your
heels into your cob and ride on, and for
get you've seen me. Good-by and long
may you wave"
His lordship flung the reins on the
cob's neck, and the cob being like his
master lazy and stout, took the hint
that present exertlon was unnecessary,
and walked slowly, very slowly indeed.
Now I'll just thank you. Mister Ire
thewy," said he, ito drop that surly,
YOU be- bowed kind of air and tell me
precisely how the land lies. Hang it
all. man. we're old chums, aren't we?'
II don't see that sordid details can
help either you or me. AS you know, I
had a tidy fortune. and during these in
tervening years I've managed to get
through every sixpence of it. That's
all"
I'm awfully sorry, old chappie."
"Confound you, DON'T
BEG pardon, indeed. Of course it
was beastly cheek for me to pity you.
But was going to say you know, that
as I've got such tremendous big in
come now"
mo; stop, please. m not one of the
borrowing sort. To let you into Sc
cret, I'm coming in for a big pot of
money in two years time, and till then
I must rub along on my own resources"
But why, in the name of wonder,
not realize on your expectations"
Yes. But then l am peculiarly stu
ated Don't laugh! I'm engaged"
Il shouldn't think of laughing over
so serious a matter. May 1 ask the
ladys name?'
Not at present. You see!-er-I
don't do her any particular credit. To
be candid. she, like your noble self, be-
longs to the high and mighty ones"
Really? 1 congratulate you, old
chappie. But still, you must let me
say it's pity"
NO, shan't let you say anything Of
the kind. Look here, you good-natured,
persistent old woman, I'll tell you !
bluntly how it all lies. I've made a
rank fool of myself, and she, the girl,
is fully aware of the same.
''She says she isn't going to marry
me till l can prove III some degree that
won't carry on the same game again
in the future. Says she: Your next
fortune is two years ON ahead. Very
well; if you promise not TO mortgage it
in advance, but struggle through those
two years by earning your own living,
I'll marry you II you fail / won't"
But this is awful" broke in the
other. My dear chap, OF course Id
be only too delighted at having an OPP
portunity to advance.
'Confound You, no! What I want is
a job here in England. Let me once
turn into a hard-hsted British work.
man and my characters saved. The
only devil of ii is I'm so confoundedly
useless at anything except. perhaps.
cracking stones"
Dye think" said his little lord I
ship, beaming a the happy thought, I
You could come TO me as secretary?''
Too thin You haven't got three
letters day to write. No; you're only !
me a sinecure in q polite way"
I'm afraid I've got nothing OF that
kind you'd take. You see, couldn't .
offer You job in the stables-you
wouldn't accept that
Il would # I'd the chance" 7
NO; would you, really. though? Be-
cause Tn wanting new stable help,
and-er-if you-er-that Is TO say, do I
you know q man
Look here, don't let's beat about the
bush Do vou offer me the post OF
stable help?7
Yes
And viii you promise 70 treat me as
neither more nor less than 3 servant?
To forget, IN fact, that we ever net be
FORE
YES said hislordship. lugubricusly.
"Then In Infinitely obliged TO YOU.
: LII ! ii $50 roar Will. Horses are, per
1aDs, the oaiy thing do Snow any
thing about. 80 for 4 compile ~ years
culcSs I'm saelse,l-,yc,sr lorelsilir's h1las-
DE servan; The tramp touched MS
hat brsm-
N4ase % Brownson. ron. lclylship.
pleas,
Tie city u yTcllniEster. being "a
.aed-2l c.sr ;Aat was snail "a ssopu}a-
..3n aul l'91u,5 a ro5Tsf of paying IA
lustr3es. followed the lead 81 many
thar c7tliesira} towns and excelIe4 u
te.as of gossip
Eve.-ecdy Knew sve--:linc aaou.