Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-06-29
THAT FRIEND Of SY[YIA'S
Written for This Paper. By Grant
Allen.

tinct. l recognized at once as that fell
low Hampton's. Against nv will, some-
how, l caught what the man was say
ing.
"He was at Eaton with me at first.
you know, and after that at Christ
church,"
The fellows impertinence. A born
ad%venturer, no doubt. Trying to palm
himself off upon the world as a man of
education and mean and position!
/ began to shave. a minute or two
later 1 caught the voice again.
".Oh. yes" it said softly, with a rather
aristocratic drawl, he's a city man, of
course, and not very brilliant: and he's
= peppery old fellow, too, who won't
listen to reason. But still l like him.
meaning enough in his way for all
that. How he flared at me like a
Bengal-light at dinner last evening.
I'm really afraid he made poor Miss
| Worthistan feel most awkward and
uncomfortable.."
My blood ran cold. He was talking
of mo. And what vas more, though
he called ne "harbit-a.y' with an UNI
necessary h. he had positively the
audacity for all that to patronize me.
| brcakfasted alone. Maria and
| Sylvia scnt down word by the maid
that they We're tired that morning.
The coffee was capital. After break
fast l strolled into the ground by my
self-mo.t charming grounds, too and
cc mnosed my soul for a few serious
words with that fellow Hampton.
Coming back from the cliffs after a
while, by the side path, / stumbled UNI
expectedly from behind upon a garden
seat, overhung with rose bushes and
other scented southern shrubs, whose
names are unfamiliar 10 me. Sylvia
was sitting there, half in tear; once
fellow Hampton. l won't be quite GER
tain, but | almost believe his arm was
ar ound her waist. or something like it.
Papa was so unreasonable" Sylvia
was sobbing out as l came up; so
dreadfully unreasonable. He wouldn't
allow me even to explain. And, Hugh
dear, he called you all the dreadfulest
names in the English dictionary"
My tongue itched to correct her, and
substitute for that incorrect superla-
tive, most dreadful" but l waited to
hear what the fellow would answer so
L i%nterposed nothing.
He lifted her hand to his lips before
my Very eyes, and Kissed it tenderly.
My darling" he said, in his soft,
low voice, very winsome and seductive,
don't let this worry you for q moment
at all. 1t didn't matter in the least to
me, I assure you. 1 love you ten thou
sand times too we'll, Sylvia, to think of
being angry with your father about a
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 q card from his pocket as he
spoke, and glanced at it carelessly. |
could stand 1t no longer. | burst forth
from ambush and discovered myself
openly.
Give me that pasteboard, sir" 1
said, in my %sternest voice.
He laughed and handed it across to
me.
[ stared at it in surprise. 1mpossi-
bic. Incredible. 1t bore on its face
the words, MIR. Hugh Ampton:" then.
down in the corners "Itiel1 Hall. Sus-
sex," and United Universities Club,
St. James,"
Excuse me-" 1 said. gasping, "am 1
to understand that your names Amp
ton, without any II at all in the world
to it,"
so my ancestors decided for mo, "
the young man said, bowling.
And you live at a place called field,
equally without an HI" 1 cried.
He bent his head slightly again.
sim squire of the little village" he
answered modestly:,
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 a curious coincidence" he