The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-06

law
"What?" she exclaimed.
81 thought | should startle you. AS
his future son-in-law he'd be in red
hot fever to make n coming man of
me-coming somewhere! You follow
me? / propose TO persuade Kate TO
join me in 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 il 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. /
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 l would live happily ever after.
Again, what do you think of it?"
Il don't know" said his fiancee.
"Anyhow. | don't think your cousin
would agree"
I'm doubtful OF that part of it my
| self. But she is a pal, Kate--I'm not
sure. IL she does agree, what then?"
If she would agree, don't know that
| il is bad plan. 1t sounds rather silly,
but silly things sometimes come OF.
| it would certainly stimulate that
lethargic peer TO action"
Rather! He'll positively perspire in
his hurry to assist me. My talented
nephew, young Hopetoun!' a really
| brilliant young fellow, Arnold Hope
| toun!' You will be serving me, me per-
| sonally!' l can hear him! a thousa ID
year? In no time at all / shall be
| drawing two, three thousand yearl
| Wen have bays in the carriage, Bella,
and brougham for night work."
They both laughed.
go and see what Miss Drillingham
says" advised Bella. go and put il 10
her; and if, like BarlSis, she is willing,
| we'll play the farce out. When shall L
| otc spu
| I'll ask leave tomorrow. If she con-
sents, III write you at once; if she re-
fuses, IA come and tell you so. L wish
she knew you, Bella; it would make her
| the more anxious TO help US. Your
ILLNESSES don't do you anything ike
| justice, darling, upon my word!"
| He applied for leave, and got it, nj d
two mornings later he was steaming
out of Euston prepared to put~bis idea
| into execution. lie had announced his
impending arrival by telegram, ahd
| when he reached the Deercourt piui-
| form, he saw the dog-cart was waiting
in the lane behind the gate to meet him.
Ten minutes drive brought him to
the house. Drillinghan and his cousin
were in the mornng-room~A
"Glad to see you, Arnold" said ais
uncle. "l have been thinking of you a
| good deal of late"
''How are you, Arnold?" said Kate.
1--WE were very glad to get your wire"
Then they had lunch, and afterwards
Drillingham, who was nervous of being
brought to bay in tete-a-tete, pleaded
| letters to write, and retired to have a
4
| girl were alone.
| They went out into the grounds.
whats the news?" said Kitty. "How
| is she?"
"She is very well, thank you, but I
am a wreck. Kate, this state OF things
| is awful
~ saw your letter to papa" she said,
"and l spoke to him about it,"
"And he said-?"
| "He said he would certainly bear you
| in mind. l am n.yfully sorry for you,
| Arnold. l remind him as often as l can.
but--well, you know papa! lcan't say
I've done any good. though I've done
my best"
"You could do much more" said Ar
mold. nervously, "if you would"
"I?" she stared at him in surprise.
| "You are not blaming me, too?'
"Oh, no, no! l mean you CON do
much more in future if you will. You
and were always good friends, Kate,
weren't we? IL asked big thing
| OF you-if-if you agreed with me that
IL would have the desired effect, yen
wouldn't refuse. I'm sure"
what are you talking about?" shc
said rather coldly. ''yes. we are quite
/ good frends-we always shall be. 4
hope. What does the preamble lead ?"
what | mean is" he stammered,
that you have always been very SYM
| pathetic, and all that. In plain Hing
lish, you alone can help me TO win
| Bella. I've come to-day to find out
whether you'll do it."
Under a cedar close by there were
| two garden chairs. Miss Drillingham
| sat down, her white hands folded in her
lap, n little pucker of wondcrmcnt
| gathering on her brow. Yes. il was in
finitely more awkward than he pictured
| il.
However. he had gone too far TO re-
treat. His cousin was waiting pa
tiently for him to proceed, and his ST.