Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-08-06
"urFIVE X THOU'lp"
n n Y dear girl. you'll have to let
wi me off. I'm awfully sorry, but ]

are of me. but
20! why didn't l want to marry q
decent barrister, a doctor, or even q
journalist, instead of an Earl's younger
SON." said Miss Muriel Mallett. with
a frown on her pretty face, and a tear
or two in her large, limpid eyes-eyes
which made all the men think, wrong
ly, that she was poetical and sentiment
al. But, seriously, can you give me
up?"
The Hon. Bob Martindale looked at
her. She was just his ideal-tall, we'll
built. but with a saucy face in which
the big black eyes seemed out of place,
If fascinating. There was in her coun-
tenance the strangeness which, accord
Ing TO Bacon, is necessary to great
beauty. She affected a tailor-made
gown and vas always well groomed;
yet, though her dress was a trite man
nish, in the brusque movements which
showed that she was fidgety, glimpses
of gossamer stocking and fine Valen-
ciennes revealed themselves, and show
ed that she had a conscience in costume
that would have delighted the hero of
Gautier's novel with the famous pre-
face.
"My dear girl, if it were a question
of risking my life. II anything like
that.1 wouldn't hesitate; If it We're even
n of those affairs of fellows who
for a few hours of-of-well. you know.
gladly die, Id be there; but-but l can't
be a cad. They have brought me up
as a swell without any profession. and
I'm a bit Of a fool. and l couldn't live
on your earnings as actress, SO there
you are"
Miss Muriel sighed. Bob was a hand
some fellow and manly, and he would
have the title and estates some day if
two obstacles We're to disappear.
II did like you, Bob, and do, and
you We're always straight. l should like
to have been your wife. If only we'd
some money to run a theatrical COM
pany WITH
Eyes, if l hadn't been such a juggins
as to blue the five thou. old Uncle Tom
left mel didn't know you them
eyes. if we'd the five thou" she
started a little. You will marry me
If aver l have $1,000? o. you'd have
to work. have to be my manager"
He nodded.
"It's a promise for two years?'
"Yes."
Honor bright"
Eyes, of course, if
"If l run straight? Well. look here.
we've been engaged-honorably-and
you want to break it off,
He lowered his head.
I'm young. only "a even at Somer-
set House. I'd like to have married
you. and l should have been a good
wife. too. However. some day l may
want to marry some one else"
The man shuddered.
"a broken engagement isn't a GER
tificate of good character; you must
give me one. That's fair"
She got up and wheeled to him a
little round table, on which was a croc-
odile-skin w%riting-pad, with silver
edges. She opened it. took out writing
paper. and found him pen and ink.
Now, then. write this
"My Dear Miss Mallett: 1t is my
painful duty to tell you that l have
made fruitlessly a desperate effort to
| gain my fathers consent to our mar
riage. He utterly refuses, saying that
he is so old Fashioned as to object to
have an actress as daughter-in-law.
Therefore. l am compelled to break
off my engagement with a woman
whom l still love and esteem"
The Hon. Bob signed the letter sad
".
"Now. be off. I've to go to rehearsal.
| No, you mustn't drive me down. Once
more, if within two years l have five
thou. as capital, you promise you will
marry meT
Eyes. darling, on my word Of honor"
With a swift movement she threw
her arms around his neck and kissed
| him p%assionately. A minute later he
| found himself in the street, sad and
bewildered.
That evening there was rejoicing in
the big mansion in Belgrave square.
and the Earl Of HeXham drank too
much in honor Of the return to re-
%spectability Of the prodigal Bob.
"We'n soon find you a wife, my boy
he said, over the port. which he drank
in honor Of the affair and in defiance
Of govt and doctors orders. "None
| Of your rich American trash. but some
| one Of decent family and the sort of
solid, reasonable dowry that a younger
son deserves"
Next morning at II o'clock. when
the Earl was vainly trying to put on
| his boots without swearing at the pain,
the Hon. Bob entered the library with
q document in his hand. II never
thought she'd have done it. sir" he
said.
"Done what?
"Look; the beastly thing says, The
plaintiff claims damages for breach of
promise Of marriage"
Bring me my slippers!" shouted the
Earl; "damn the horse! send round the
brougham!'
on he went to Lincoln's Inn Fields.
"You'd better SETTLE" said Mr.. Pom
der. the old family lawyer.