The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-04-09
A NJ e RICAN
SECU RITES.

"why, is not this odd. Mr.. Ascot?
We have letters alike with the same
| English postmark. Oh, they must be
from your brother. It's very kind OF
him to write to me. instead of amm
isn't it,
The pretty girl smiled mischievously
at her mother and Mr.. Ascot as she
| opened her letter. Mr.. Ascot had
come with them from their Western
home to see them off for Europe. He
smiled, too, as he began reading his
letter, and then sighed. Really" he
thought, "what a case Arthur Isl"
"He does not seem to have written
80 cheerfully to you as to me-" said
Elizabeth. noticing Mr.. Ascott's per-
turbed expression.
what does Arthur Ascot say,
Elizabeth? Does he give us those ad-
dresses we wish?" asked Mrs. Board
man.
dress you desired, and will meet us
at Southampton. Now, I call that
downright kind, when he has never
seen lis. Your brother mist be awfully
fond of you, Mr.. Ascot, TO do SO much
for your friends"
"Oh, Arthur is a jolly chap. and I
have nc doubt he is pleased with the
idea of meeting two American ladies.
In fact, he says so here" said Henry
Ascot, tossing his letter to the middle
Of the table, with the other mail, and
beginning his breakfast.
1--WE shall be glad of a guide. phil
osopher and friend in the shape of a
young Englishman. Does he look like
you, Mr.. Ascot l really wonder if
l shall know him."
"He will know you at any rate. Miss
Elizabeth, AS l have given him the
fullest description, and besides YOU are
to your sailor cap and REFER the
day you land, as that is what I've
written Arthur"
II wonder If he will like me?' asked
Elizabeth. demurcly.
Come, Beth. you have bothered Mr..
Ascot enough, and we have some
shopping to do. Remember we have
only two days left"
Elizabeth picked up the swagger
blue letter and followed her mother
from the dining
The text time she thought of that
letter she was we'll out at sea, and
1t occurred to her that she would
read it again, for she was quite in
terested in Arthur Ascot.
She found 1t In her steamer trunk,
and was much amazed as her eye fell
upon MY Dear Henry" He first I'M
y,t1ISo xr0c fn nut IL n uo, nc chn ,.on1
lied that she had exchanged letters
with Mr.. Ascot that morning in the
hotel, but seeing her own name on
the first page, she finally succumbed
to her curiosity and read it through.
Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks
flushed as she put it carefully away,
and there was an expression of de-
termination quite unusual about her
delicately curved lips.
During their stay in London Mrs.
Boardman was made gairly dizzy by
her usually sedate daughter. 1t seemed
as if Arthur and Elizabeth were never
apart. There We're rides in the parks.
rows OH the Thames, long days of
sightseeing and nights of theater and
opera, until the %chaperOn grew weary
and occasionally reverted to the Amer
lean custom of letting the young peo-
pie "go it alone"
Positively. Elizabeth. l believe you
are in love with Arthur Ascot. He is
of good family. and quite a handsome
fellow, but l think, with your wealth
and beauty you might make me
mother to a duchess. You should not
encourage him, dear, unless you are
serious
81 am serious. as he will see if he
ever asks me to become his wife,"
The color mounted to Elizabeth's fair
brow and she lowered her eyes.
The night they left for the CONT
nent, Arthur asked Elizabeth to be
his wife. He told her that he had
loved her eve since she had come to
England, and, though it was but six
weeks, it seemed to him that he had
lived only since then. He took her
hand and she returned his pressure
slightly.
"Give me time to think, Arthur.
This Is very sudden.
Answer me now. dearest. There is