The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-27
FIVE THOUSAND.

FIVE THOUSAND.
"My dear girl, you'll have to let me off.
I'm 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 to marry de-
cent barristcr, doctor, or even Journal
list, instead of an earl's younger SOM" said
Miss Muriel Mallett, with a frown on her
pretty face and tear or two In her large,
limpid cyes--eyes which made all the men
think, wrongly, that she was poetical and
sentimental. but, seriously, can you
give mo up2"
Tho Hon. Bob Martintlale looked at her.
She was just his ideal-tall, well built, but
with a saucy face in which the big black
eyes seemed out of place, If fascinating
| There was in her countennnce the strange
ness which, according to Bacon, is neees-
sary to great beauty. She affected a tailor
made gown and was always well groomed.
| Yet, though her dress was n triio man.
nish, in the brusque movements which
! showed that she was fdgety glinpses Of
| gossamer stocking and fine valencicnnes
| revealed themselves and showed that she
| had a conscience in costume that would
have delighted the hero of Gautiers novel
| with the famous preface.
"My dear girl, If it were question of
risking my life or anything like that l
wouldn't hesitate If it 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 l can't be u cad
They have brought me up as II swell with
out any profession, and I'm II bit of o fool,
and l couldn't live on your earnings us
actress so there you arc"
Miss Muricl sighed Bob was u hand
some fellow and manly, and he would havo
the title and estates some day if two OBJ
stacles were to disappear.
II did like you, Bob, and do, and you
were always straight. l should like to have
been your wife. II only we'd some money
to run a theatrical company within
Eyes, il hadn't been such juggins as
to blue the five thou old Uncle Tom left
mel didn't know you then"
Yes, if we'd the five thou. p She start
ed little. "You will marry INC If ever
have $4,000? Oh, you'd have to work.
have to be my manager
Hc nodded
It's promise for two years."
Eyes"
"Honor bright"
Eyes, of course, if''-
"1f l run straight? Well, look herel
We've been engaged you
want to break it off. "
He lowered his head
"1'm young, only "a, even at Somerset
House. Id like to have married you, and
/ should have been u good wife too How
ever, some day may want to marry some
one else. /"
The man shuddered.
"a broken engagement isn't ccrtin-
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 crocodile skin
writing pad with silver edges. She opened
it, took out writing paper and found him
pen and ink.
Now then, write this:
"My DEAR MISS MATIETT-It is my painful
duty to tell you that have made fruitless
ly desperate effort to gain my fathers CON
sent to onr marriage He utterly refuses. say
ing that he is 50 old fashioned as to object to
have an actress as daughter.in.law. Therefore
lam compelled to break off my engagement
with woman whom still love and esteem"
The Hon. Bob signed the letter sadly.
''Now be off. I've to go 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?'
YES, darling, on my word of honorP'
With swift movement she threw her I,
arms around his neck and kissed him pas
sionately. A minute later he found him
self in the street, sad and bewildcrcd
That evening there was rejoicing in tho
big mansion in Belgravo square, and the
Earl Of Hexham drank too much in honor
of the return to responsibility Of the prodi-
gal Bob. !;
well soon find you wife, my boy"
he said over the port, which he drank in
honor Of the affair and in 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 at IL o'clock, when the
earl was vainly trying to put on his boots
without swearing Mt the pain, the Hon.
Bob entered the library with document
in his hand. II never thought she'd have
done it, sir, he said.
"Done whatS'
ar -, M .., Ali. - ,,r,
Loo s Inc peastly thing says ,lhc
piaintll claims damages for breach Of
promise oi marriage;
oring Inc my slippers! shouted mo
earl ~ 'lie horse' eehu round mo
orougiillh!
~ ne wcht 10 Lincoin Inn flclds'
A.. Iou petter se'eie' saio MI fohaer'
'ne oiu family lawyer.
7e',ie' tic shoutea' settie! III SNOW
up tHc DdgRuSe tne -! II put every de- |