The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-14
FIVE THOUSAND.


FIVE THOUSAND.
my dear girl, you'll have To let me off
Pm awfully sorry, but the gov won't give
way. I'm really fond of you, and think
you are of me, butt
"Oh, why didn't want 10 marry de
cent barrister, "A doctor, or even a journal
list, instead of an earl's younger sonY' said
Miss Muriel Mallett, with frown on her
pretty face and tear or two in her large
limpid eyes-eyes which made all the men
think, wrongly, that she was poetcal and
sentimental. But, seriously, can you
give me upS''
The Hon. Bob Martindale looked at her.
She was just his ideal-tall, well built but
with "a saucy face I'm which the big black
eyes seemed out Of place, II fascinating
There was In her countenance the strange
ness which, according To Bacon, is neces-
sary to great beauty. She affected tailor
made gown and was always well groomed.
Yet, though her dress was IA trifle man
nish, in the brusque movements which
showed that she was fidgety glimpses of
gossamer stocking and fine valenciennes
revealed themselves and showed that she
had conscience in costume that would
have delighted the hero Of Gautier's novel
with the famous preface.
my dear girl, II IL were a question of
risking my life or anything like that |
wouldn't hesitate. IL IL were even one of
those affairs OF fellows who, for few
hours of-of-well, you know, gladly die,
I'd be there, but-but i can't be cad
Thav hau htn,, o,t al xx,ith
out any profession, and IN "a bit of fool,
and couldn't live on your earnings us
actress; so there you are"
Miss Muriel sighed Bob was hand
some fellow and manly, and he would have
the title and estates some day if two OBJ
stacles were 90 disappear.
Il did like you, Bob and do, and you
were always straight. / should like to have
been your wife If only we'd some money
to run a theatrical company within
Eyes, If hadn't been such "A juggins as
to blue the five thou. old Uncle Tom left
mel didn't know you then.
Eyes, If we'd the five thou. ~ She start
ed little. you will marry me If ever
have $4,000? Oh, you'd have to work;
have to be my manager"
He nodded.
Its IA promise for two years."
eyes"
"Honor bright?'
Eyes, of course, IT,
"If / run straight? Well, look herel
We've been engaged-honorably- you
want to break IL off. ="
He lowered his head
I'm young, only "a, even at Somerset
House. I'd like to have married you, and
1 should have been a good wife too. How
ever, some day / may want to marry some
one else. "
The man shuddered.
"A broken engagement isn't certifi-
cate Of good character You must give me
one. That's fair"
She got up and wheeled to him little
round table, on which was a crocodile skin
writing pad with silver edges She opened
1t, took out writing paper and found him
pen and ink.
Now, then, write this:
"MY DEAR Miss MAILETT-It is my painful
duty to tell you that / have made fruitless-
ly desperate effort to gain my fathers con-
sent to our marriage He utterly refuses. say
ing that he is old fashioned to object to
have an actress as daughter-inlaw. Therefore
am compelled to break off my engagement
with a woman whom still love and esteem
The Hon. Bob signed the letter sadly.
"Now be off. I've to 20 to rehearsal
No, you mustn't drive me down. Once
more, If within two years have five thou
as capital, you promise you will marry
me?'
Eyes, darling, on my word of honorp'
With IA swift movement she threw her
arms around his neck and kissed him pas
sionately. A minute later he found him
self 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 respectability Of the prodi-
gal Bob.
"we'll soon find you wife, my boy"
he said over the port, which he drank in
honor Of the affair and i'm 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 younger son deserves.
Next morning mt IL 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 document
in his hand. II never thought she'd have
done 1t, 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 ON the horsel Send round the
brougham!
OF he went to Lincoln's Inn Fields
YOU'D better settle, /" said Mr.. Ponder,
the old family lawyer
Settle, he shouted, settle! I'll show
up the baggage, the - I'llput every de-
tective in London on the job. I'm not
afraid of court, and when the jury hears
what she really Isl
but the scandalY'
Don't talk about scandal. Enter an
appearance and leave the rest to me. "
my dear governor" interrupted Bob,
who had accompanied him, "be fair to the
girl l didn't think Muriel would have
done it, but she's perfectly straight. I'd
stake my life on it. "
Nonsense, Bob. You're a fool, and
you'd better stay abroad till the affairs
over I'll attend TO It, I'll show her how
to fight"
The earl's eyes cleaned. Wen teach
her, won't we, Ponder, what litigation
means" Then he told a lengthy, stale tale
of his successful lawsuit about right of
way-a success which added a new mort
gage to the family collection.
ats all very well, /" said Mr. Ponder,
"but that was chancery; this Is common
law. I'm sure we should make n mess Of
It. One of my articled clerks has set up In
business I'm Bedford row. He's n smart
fellow and will fight hard and just suit
you"
Bob went of to the Riviera and lost all
the money his father gave him. During
his absence the old gentleman employed