The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-06-14
THAT FRIEND Of SYL Was
Written for This Paper. BY Grant
Allen.

tinct. recognized 1T Crce as that fell
low Hampton's. Against M " IL. some
how, | caught what the MAJ was say
ing:
you know, and after that at Christ
church.
The fellows impertineace \ born
adventurer. no doubt. Trying to palm
himself Off upon the world Is y man Of
education and means and position.
l began to shave. A minute or two
later caught the voice agail.
oh. yes, it said softly, " tn a rather
| aristOcratic drawl, hes city man. of
cour.e e. and not very brilliant ami he's
q peppery old fellow. too, VIII W. MT
listen to reason. But still like him.
y harbitrary Geht, of course, but we l.
| meaning enough i'll hi, way for all
| that. How he fared at ME like
Bengal-light at dinner last evening.
I'm really afraid he made poor Miss
Wo. t:sist IN feel most awkward and
uncomfortab.e"
My blood ran cod. He wa> talking
of me- And what was more. tho gh
he called me "harbit 'a-y with an ul-
necessary h. he had positively the
audacity for all that to paircnize me.
| breakfasted alone. Maria and
Sylvia sent down word by the maid
that they Were tired that morn ny.
The coffee W: capital. Alter break
fast | strolled into the ground by nv
self-mO charming grounds. too and
( III os-d my sui for a few serious
| words with tina. fellow Hampton.
Coming back from the cliffs after u
| while. by the side path, I stumbled I'M
expected,y from behind upon a garden
| Sc It. overhung with rose bushes and
other scented southern shrubs, whose
| names are unfamiliar TO me. Sylvia
| was sitting there, half in tear. ,nce
more. and, Oh, horror. by her side that
fellow Hampton. won't be quite GER
tain, but l almost b lie, his arm was
ar ,und her waist. or something like it.
Papa was so unreasonable Sylvia
was sObbing out as | came up: 50
dreadfully unreasonable. He wouldn't
! Il low me even to explain. And, Hugh
dear, he called you all tho dreadfulest
names in tho English dictionary"
My tongue i:ched to correct her, and
tive, most dreadful, hut l waited to
hear what the fellow would answer, so
| interpOsed nothing.
| He lifted her hand to his lips b fore
my very eyes, and kissed it terderly.
My darling" he said, in his soft,
low voice, very winsome and seductive,
don't let this worry you for moment
at all. 1t didn't matter in the least to
M. | assure you. | love you ten thou
sand times too well, Sylvia. to think Of
being angry with your father abou: u
mere misunderstanding. I'll explain
it all to him BY handing him my card.
That's the only way. It's extremely
natural. You know you yourself went
wrong at first about it."
He drew a card from his pocket as he
spoke. and glanced at it carelessly. |
could stand it no longer. | burst forth
openly.
Give me that pasteboarl, sir" l
| said, in my sternest voice.
He laughed and handed it across to
me.
| stared at it in surprise. Impossi-
BILE. Incredible. 1t bore on its face
the words. MIR. Hugh Ampton:" then,
down in the corners. "lfield Hall. Sus-
SEX" and United Universities Club,
st. James"
! Excuse me-" said. gasping. am 1
to understand that your names Amp
ton. without any II ut all in the world
to it,"
80 my ancestors decided for me-"
the young man said, bowling.
And you live ut a place called Ifield,
equally without an H. cried.
He bent his head slightly again.
| I'm squire of the little village" he
answered modestly.
stop q Eoment.' exclaimed. taken
aback. This isn't cleared up yet. |
must get at the bottom of it, Where
did you say some one lived in Philadel-
/ phia?"
He started and laughed again.
| What q curious coincidence" he