The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-09-26
IRIS AND AUNTIE.
XxN4NANN4NN1Ns

tcitdlDly 1 an, IcpiiSu Dop, "hu
his face corroborated his assertion.
"GoOd heavens!' | exclaimed.
"Where's the obiection!" he began,
in an injured tone. Because it's not
conventional, because it's contrary to
| custom? That's conventionality's fault,
not mine. Look here, Reggie, throw
| precedent and sneaking sentiment
talism to the winds, and her look the
thing straight in the face and then
point out the harm. Iris Maypel is an
angel, we will assume
agreed" | said, enthusiastically.
ooh, we all know you're gone en-
her." he replied snappishly.
GO on" ! said.
"Wcll, if Iris is an angel"
Good heavensv' | interrupted again.
"That's just the point. IF should MOI
enter into the argument. 1t never
does, in fact, where there's real love.
That's the sure signal of affection.
Eliminate the affection, and in creeps
the eff"
you're young, Reggie" replied Bob,
i'll tone that made my lip curl. 1--WE
will return to our hypothesis. If Iris
is an angel-which at present J. am in
| clined to allow-and if she is expect
ing me to put the marriage question
which l feel positive is a ~fact-where
is the harm if / go to a private de-
tective--to Norton Scrubs, to wit
and say, Il want to know the ups and
downs of MSS Iris Maypel; here's my
money, report as 500 as possible?'
Where's the harm? In a few days |
know all about the lovely Iris from the
worlds standpoint, my own convic-
tons confirmed beyond question i'm the
future. Sure of the quality of my
game | load and fire, and at my feet
falls the young and lovely Iris"
And if the detectives report Is not
to your liking?"
"Ah, that's where the gain comes
In. am saved a lifelong disaster.
There are fools that aver that mar
riage is a lottery. Bosh! Built on a
commercial basis, it's as sure a thing
as exists. Start without any bad
debts-without any misunderstand-
ings, fallacies, p~recOnceived embellish-
ments which never existed but in
your imagination, and there's q life
long happiness to draw from as you
require. Where, | repeat, is the harm
Of inquiry"
vas too disguised to reply, so
pleaded an engagement and left him.
Bob Iallant was my friend, and |
doubt If | could have swallowed his
lmpertinent suggestion had it referred
TO a stranger, but when Iris, the pref
~, s~oft-yoiced, dOWny-cheeked, limo
cent-eyed Iris was concerned, my
stomach absolutely refused. For l
adored Iris Maypel, and that she
should be subjected to such an insult
as Bob proposed made me simmer.
For it was an insult this prying into
her spent life, ven if Iris were con-
scious of the liberty. Moreover, l had
read of how these private inquiry
agents would pry even around the do
nestle hearth, and cOuld-by mistake
or i~ntent-thrOw such lurid light upon
a little error as to make it appear
CHASTITY and terrible.
Her innocence alone should protect
her from such duplicity," | argued as
l walked. nc attack such guileless
rusticity with the subtleties of urban
resource was blackguardly in the ex-
treme. Even Iris's maternal aunt, who
had piloted her through her first Lon
don season with creditable care and
watchfulness, would hardly be alert
to Bob's unprincipled suggestion.
L wished as l went my way, that
II of Iris's brothers would suddenly
present himself, for | felt equal to
proving my friendship to Bob by dis
closing his intention ere he could per-
petrate it. But, for l knew, Iris was
brotherless. l had never imagined to
elicit such information of her people
beyond the simple fact, that they liv-
ed in the country;-certainly that huge.
rambling mansion buried in the re-
cesses of a well-timbered park from
which there issued in the morning
gay squires and fair ladies in full
hunting rig, and where, at night, loves
soft cooling was echoed by the wood
lane doves and the roar of q hunting
chorus was Knocked at by the owls,
could not have been altogether a men
tai alteration, though who put it all
into my head, if not Iris or her arntie.
| could not recall.
L purposely avoided Bob'S rooms for
a week. | knew l should only insult
him If L went, and l was loath to do
that. Besides, upon reflection, a little
brightness broke through the mist.
If Norton Scrubs made a mistake
~and-either by accident or design
supplied Bob with a report of Iris's
character and upbringing, libellous
and untrCe, Bob would throw I'D the
sponge, and then
All along it had been patent, to me.
at least, that Iris's preference for Bob
was the result of chance. She had met
him an hour before l was introduced,
and Bob had made the running. He
had had the start of me. and [ was
not quite good enough to verhauI
him. But what opportunities for me
were offered by an adverse report
from Norwood Scrubs! | would never
submit my darling to such an indigni-
ty. l would never
In the midst of my reverie in walk
ed Bob.
Congratulate me, Reggie he smil-
ed.
"Eh? You're-you're engaged, do
you say?'
las good as. I've got Scrubs re-
port. Here it is. Iris Maypel, of
Maypel Court, in the county of Blank
shire, only child and heiress of Alex
ander Thomas Maypel, J. p"
He looked up suddenly from the pa
per.
81 verified name and address in the
county register" he said.
"Allything more?" ] asked.
"Oh, yes. lots. I'll give peril.
nent extracts. Born, May, 1875
She's younger, than | thought, Reg
gle"