The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-06

long, because he had had so many SINH
lar notes. hut just at first-say, for the
same length of time as his correspond
ent's fervor of purpose lasted.
When week had gone by he was
every whit as Respondent as before, and
then an idea occurred TO him. 1t was
a strange idea. u novel idea; it was, he
told himself, the idea of social genius.
but the question was whether he could
obtain the collaboration that was nec-
essary. About that he was not sure. in
fact he was extremely doubtful, though
1t was entirely worth while making the
attempt. The first thing to be done,
| though. was to ascertain whether his
fiancee would approve. and when he left
the +. q. that afternoon--the inSDira
tion had occurred to him In his official
chair-he drove to the little Hampstead
house forthwith.
The mother and daughter were to-
gether.
Il want to speak to you" he whis-
pered. and by and by feminine diplo-
macy had effected a disappearance of
| mamma.
What is it?" asked Bella. Import
ant?"
We'll, yes" said Hopetoun, 81 think
1t may be called important Give me
kiss before | Begin
She lifted her face and smiled.
"Goose!" she said. You are mys-
terious.''
because like to kiss you?'
mo. wretch: that is natural"
delicious modesty!" laughed Hope
tOun. Bella, I've Il scheme!"
II hope you are going to say you had
an appointment"
Tout Went q lui, etc The scheme
first. and the appointment will follow.
In fact. the scheme is the appointment,
In chrysalis form. Give me another
kiss. there's an angel--l'appetit Went
Ell mangeant!
You are very prolific of proverbs
today" she remarked.
There. Now impart.''
Il am ready-prepare to be startled.
Bella. some three and twenty years
ago"
"Oh, do be serious!" she said
Il am, I am" he cried. some three
and twenty years ago. the late Lady
Drillingham gave birth to daughter"
We'll, l know all that, Kate"
"Precisely-Kate! You have not met
her, but you have heard from me that
the young lady is a trump. You have
also heard from me that the one thing
in the world harder to move than my
respected uncle is a steam-roler Well.
now listen. Lord Drillingham has an
immense amount of influence. He
couldn't make me prime minister, or
chancellor of the eXchequer. or arch
bishop of Canterbury, but he could very
easily indeed make me the happiest
man in the world
"He?'
completed by you! He could, as
we both already know. effect that de-
lightful vagueness termed putting me
into something Only his Incidence
prevents him."
Why" said Miss Carstairs. inter
rupting. waste time by repeating
things that we both already knOw?'"
Bella" he returned. you are as
| usual right. / won't waste time. In
| a nutshell, he could. but he's too con-
fOundedly lazy. Well. I've thought of
a way of waking him up-but I'm not
quite sure whether you'll like it,
Il can answer that in advance:
SHALL
Wait and hear. fl say 'if'-my
| uncle were to understand that Kate's
| interest In me was something warmer
than cOusinly one, he would hustle
on my behalf indeed. He may be salts
fled to let me stagnate i'm the +. O..
| as his nephew. but as his future-son-in-
law
''What?" she exclaimed.
"I thought I should startle you. As
his future son-in-law he'd he in a red
hot fever to make a coming man of
me-cOming somewhere! You follow
me? l propose to persuade Kate to
join me ffr-the plot--tO tell him she
wants to marry me. In all his life he
has never denied her anything, and
after his first explosion was over-I
suppose he would explode to begin
Withheld display something like COM
mendable industry at last. What do
you think of it?"
Miss Carstairs mused. .Well-but
how would 1t end?" she asked
THE deception would have to be
sustained for two or three months.
When was really in substantial APP
pointment. we could tell the old gen.
tleman that he had been fooled. He
would not be outrageously angry. I
daresay-I should not be the most de-
sirable of parts at the best. We should
explain the motive; Kate would be
bridesmaid at our wedding, and you
and would live happily ever after.
Again. what do you think Of it,"
Il don't know" said his fiancee.