Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-03-19

/ LnOuPn the force OF circumstances ma
brought me thus low, am by brit
and education a gentleman. Having
told you this, / trust that you will re
member it, even in the heat Of you
natural resentment
"You speak almost rs prettily as yo,
WRITE" he answered, scornfully, pulling
letter from his pocket
'"This is beyond me-" thought I; for
of course, knew it could be no lette
of mine. Besides, a glance told me tina
l had never set eyes on the paper o.
handwriting before. think my mex
remark showed self-possession
would you be kind enough to ex
plain p asked. g e#
II rather think that should be you,
business" said he; and, faith, I al
lowed the justice of the contention
awkward as it was. But he went on
at astonishes you, l dare say, to sc.
this letter in my hand?" aas ' ..
1t did. 1 acknowledged 1t with 6
bow. .a.
He began to read in an affected, min
licking voice: "My ever-loved Kate
since your worthy but wrong-headet
father" ..- 49,. .....
"Father!" 1t sounded like an echo
1t came from the young lady, who hat
sprung forward Indignantly and was
holding out a hand for the letter. 1.-THE
servants! Have you not degraded me
enough?" She stamped her foot
The old gentleman folded up the let.
ter again and gave it into her hand with
a cold bow. She was handing it to me
oh, the unfathomable depth of WON,
an!-when he interfered. 81 ......
For your own delectation, if you
will, miss; but as your protector must
ask you not to give it back" IT,,
He turned towards me again. AS he
did so Il caught over his shoulder, OF
fancied caught, glance from Miss
Kate that was at once O warning and an
appeal. The. next moment her eyes
were bent shamefast upon the floor. ]
began to divine. g..
Said l: IF that's sample of your
manner toward your daughter, even
you, in your cooler moments, can hard,
~ wonder that she chooses another pro-
tector."
Protector" he repeated, lifting his
eyebrows, and that Internal footman
cackled again.
IF you can't behave with common DO
likeness to a lady," put in, smartly
you might at least exhibit enough OF
rude intelligence to lay hold of an ar
gument that's as plain as the nose on
your facet"
Gently, my good sir!' said he. "Do
you know that, if choose, can march
you off to Jail for a common house
breaker?"
l should think l did know ia
plaguey sight better than he!
ITO begin with" he went on, you
look like one, for all the world"
This was sailing too close for nv lils-
ing.
odd gentleman" said I, "you are
wearisomely dull. Possibly I had bet
ter explain at length. To be frank
then, l had counted, in case of failure
to avoid all scandal to your daughters
name. had hoped you (you will ex-
cuse mel to have carried her off and
evaded you until could present myself
as her husband. If baffled in this. pro.
posed TO make my escape as a common
burglar, surprised upon your premises
1t seems to me-" 1 wound up, including
the three servants with an indignant
sweep OF my arm, that you might well
have emulated my delicacy! AS it is
must trouble you to recognize it."
Heaven send" I added to myself
that the real inamorato keeps his
bungling foot out of this till get
clear!" And reflected with much com
fort that he was hardly likely 10 make
an attempt upon premises so brilliant
~ lit up.
In justice to my daughters taste y
replied Sir Harry, II am willing to believe
you looked something less like jail
bird when she met you in the Pump.
Room at Bath. You have fine clothes
in your portlnanteau, no doubt, and /
sincerely trust they make all the diff
ference to your appearance. But fine
suit is no expensive outfit for the cap
ture of an heiress. You may be the
coInmonest of adventurers. How do 1
know, even, what right you have to the
name you carry?"
If he didn't, it was still more certain
that didn't. Indeed, he had con-
spicuous advantage over me in knowing
what that name was. This very painful
difficulty had hardly presented itself,
however, before the girls wit smoothed
it away. She spoke up-looking as in
nocent as an angel, too.
Capt. Fitzroy Pilllington could add
no lustre to his name, father, by giving
it to me. His family is as good as our
own, and his name is one to be proud
Of"
$50 it Is, my DEAR" thought I, "if l
can only remember it. So it's Capt.
Fitzroy Pilkington l am-and from
Bath. Decidedly 1 should have taken
some time 10 guessing it,"
II suppose, sir, I may take it for
granted you have not brought your
credentials here tonight" said the
old boy, with a grim smile
1t was lucky he had not thought of
searching my pockets for them.
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