Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-12-03
CHAPTER III.
DO you know Miss Laugherne?

| Do you know Miss Laugherne?'
1t was April when Shalto Graham
came to the conclusion that Patrice
would be an admirable wife for him in
the near future, and charming girl
to be engaged 10 III the meantime
Whether she was his first love or his
fiftieth had nothing tc do with the
story. She was at ony rate the first
one who had ever won a direct offer
OF marriage from him. lie had flat
tered and alrted with many, he had
been what he himself called very hard
hit half dozen times. But the lack
OF money on the side of the ladies' and
lack of opportunity OF making suf-
ticieE, himself to keep any one OF them
IN decent comfor had hitherto put a
paddock on his tongue. In previous
cases he had either observed a master
ly inactivity which Disguised he par
ents or he had retreated in irreproach-
able good order in a prudent way that
filled the breasts Of the girls he had
left behind him with .epid unharmful
regret merely But In the ease OF Pat
rice he had lost his head His heart
tween its teeth, and had bottled with
him inside the guarded lines of for
NAL proposal resulting In an engage
ment to marry.
He was supremacy happy, and salts
fled that this should be the
case and in the first flush of
the exuberant joyfnlness he felt
he wrote OF to his sister and
some other relations, and called upon
them to join In hallelujah chorus
over his prospects. He described
Patrice in lovers language, and
though he was very much in love-lhe
did not overstate one of her physical
beauties or facinntions. He dwelt
briefly but forcibly on the fact of her
being well-born, well-bre and not
altogether badly lowered. But to his
sister he added
"The latter is a very unimportant
factor In the case. though, for ] mean
to conquer fortune for her sake in or
der to lay 1t at her feet and to do her
the more honor. My love for her has
stirred the best ambition that's in me.
am not a soldier, 80 | can't make her
glorious by my sword, but I'll make
her famous by my pen. am apply
ing for the post OF special correspon~
dent to the Daily Electrifyer at the
seat Of war, so may get my orders TO
start at any moment. Therefore It's
no use my asking you TO come and
stay with me. But Patrice and her
old stepfather, Capt. Kelly, will show
you bit of London life. shall know
tonight whether ] get the specials
billit or not, and will wire You at once.
In any event you had better come TO
London as soon as possible. You need
not equip yourself for the fray. before
starting, as Patrice will tell you where
to go for the right things when you get
here. She has perfect taste. BY the
way, bring packet Of old Mary's short
bread. Patrice is yonug enough TO be
very fond OF chow still zBelieve me,
dear old girl, your affectionate brother,
Shalto."
He wrote this letter and posted "
10 his sister late in the afternoon,
when his official duties were over.
Then he stnolled into the Bohemian
club, TO which he belonged by virtue
OF hts fugitive connection with the
press and his hopes Of being soon rec
ognized as a permanent and popular
power on IT; and while glancing care
lessly over some gossip column as ne
pulled his cigarette. his eye caught
the following announcement:
"a little bird has just whispered IN
my ear that Sir Andrew Gwenap the
head Of the widely known firm q
Gwenap. PIT. T'withemore & Co., Is.
about TO lead 10 the hymeneal alter
Margaret, only daughter Of the late
shalto Graham, ESQ !. Of Heathermoor,
Edinburgh. and niece Of Dr.. David
Graham, VI. D.. OF Rose street, Edin-
burrh. Miss Margaret Graham is,