The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-03-03
come down and meet mo, which was
highly liattcrlnp.

highly fiattcrng.
'T've got the dog cart herc,n he added,
$50 that can drop you ut the house If
you like; but don't you think o walk
would do you good, after being shut up in
that stufTy railway carriage9 The cart
can take youF traps on for You"
1t was not exactly pleasant weather for
walking, the roads and lanes being deep
in mud, and gusty wind having been
blowing all day from the northwest, with
occasional showers Of cold rain, which
seemed likely to be succeeded by snow;
hut us ii was evident that Jim had o great
deal to say to me, would not balk him
of his purpose.
The upshot Of what he had to say was
that he had been unable to refrain from
avowing his love to Lady Mildred, and
that, to his unutterable joy, he had dis
covered that his love was returned. She
had, however, declared most positively
that she considered herself bound in honor
to carry out her fathers wishes, should it
be in her power to do so, and | gathered
that the only thing which had hitherto
kept this luckless pair from breaking
their hearts was a comfortable conviction
that, after all, this would not be in her
power Even Lord Staines-who, in ac-
cordance with the intention that he had
expressed TO me, had demonstrated firmly
but kindly with his daughter-had ac-
knowledged that there Is no known
method Of marrying q man who won't ask
you to marry him, "And / really be-
lieve," added Jim, "that il Beauchamp
had distinctly refused to come forward,
he wouldn't have had any serious objec-
ton to me. "
Sin other words, if he can't get SAC, 900
year, he will be graciously pleased to
put up with sixth Of that sum-" | OBJ
served.
"Well, 1t isn't only question of in
come; there's the debt that have told
you about However, Beauchamp has
come forward at last, and | confess to
you frankly, Harry, that I'm at my wits
end. don't see my way at all. !"
"Has Beauchamp proposedP inquired.
"Not yet; but he may do 1t any day. In
fact, it is quite certain that he has come
here In order to do it, He wrote to Lady
Mildred, offering himself for week.
which he would hardly have done unless
he had meant business. From what he
has let fall, suspect he has had quarrel
with Lady Bracknell, and has decided to
cut himself Off from her. Old Staines is
as pleased us Punch; he looks upon the
thing as settled. Harry, what the deuce
am ! to doY'
Don't you think, suggested "that,
under all circumstances, Lady Mildred
might be your best adviser"
But he shook his head despondently.
''She has made up her mind, " he answered;
'she has no doubt at all US to what her
duty is; she is ready to sacrifice herself
for the sake Of her family But am to
stand quietly looking on while this sacri-
flee is carried out? That's the question. :"
obviously" | said at length, ''either
the family or Lady Mildred must be sacri-
feed, and, all things considered, think
the family ought to 20 the wall "
''But she won't consent to that" an
swered Jim ruefully.
Exactly so; and therefore ! don't see
what course is open to you, except to
stand and look on. Have yea.shought of
any alternative planY' 80
.'None, y he replied disconsolately. 81
was in hopes that you, who are so much
sharper than lam, might be able to sug-
gest something"
was gratitied by the compliment, but
conscious Of my inability TO show myself
worthy of It. Certainly could have de-
vised several excellent schemes, but in
order TO work them it would have been
essential 10 obtain Lady Mildred's aequi-
escence. What was to be done, so long as
the victim obstinately refused to raise her
head from the blockf However, not to
discourage my unfortunate friend more
than was necessary, / promised him
would think the dilemma over very care
fully; and, either because drowning men
will clutch at straws or because he had
really misplaced confidence in my abilities,
this assurance seemed to comfci+ him o
great deal. ~
At my own gate, where he found his
dog cart waiting, he babe me good by.
81 shall look you up tomorrow afternoon,
old chap said he "By that time, I'll
be bound to say, you'll have hit upon
some idea.h In which oversanguine an
ticipation he drove away.
And now it was that my dear mother
showed the spirited stuff of which she is
made. Not a word would she listen to Of
my sober representations as to the danger
of intermeddling with our neighbors' af-
fairs, and when was shabby enough to
quote her against herself, reminding her
that these things were ordered for US and