The Somerset reporter., 1897-02-18
shameful things Lady slanderson said

shameful things Lady Slanderson said
to me. But-but-in justice to you, a.
well as to myself, | must. lit seems
that she was up stairs last night at
ut a most unfortunate moment, and that
-that-she saw me sl-slip out of your
room-without my shoes onH'
Good heavensN gasped his lordship
In Il tone of evident dismay. What
a.
And also, " Mabel went on hurried
ly rs if anxious to finish her painful
disclosure, "shc waited up there, spying
in the dark and saw you slip out of my
room without your shoes on
But, surely began Lord Peters
field.
"I-I-told her the truth, " inter
posed the girl. Il explained everything.
She-she-scoffed at my version. She
said she would-would-pub the
scandal to the four winds of heaven.
Oh, Lord Petersfeld, what is to be
done?"
But, surely" stammered Lord Pc.
tersfeld, who was naturally in a great
state of mind, people will accept oul
version rather than that of this vile
scandal monger!"
Alas" sobbed Mabel, Il wish
thought SO You see, Lord Petersfeld,
cannot help recognizing the very un-
fortunate state of appearances. She will
say that if-if-we had-any-any.
thing to conceal we should, of course
be ready with an explanation, and that
even at that our explanation is lame
and improbable Besides she will en-
large and exaEgerate and--and tell
falsehoods, until-oh, had rather have
died than have had this happenn
The viscount was silent for minute
A sudden idea, born of the circum
stances, had flashed across his mind He
had never thought of Mabel in this
light before He would not have done sc
now unless the situation had forced il
on him, but as he looked at her pretty
woeful face he realized that it was moi
such an unwelcome light in which tC
think of her after all
"My-my-dear Miss Mabel, IL
might, for all that Lady Slandersor
knows to the contrary, haye-haye-ac
quired the right to-to-take your
your-slippers to your room. .
"I-I-what do you mean Lord Pc
tersfield?"
why" replied his lordship, blush
engaged to be married to you, Mis-,
Mabel, it w-would make a-a-differ
ence-wouldn't it?'
ooh, no, Lord Petersfeldl Not that
not that" she cried, starting away.
Couldn't YOU s-stand me at--at-
any price, Them gasped the viscount
painfully mortified
"Oh, yes! lit was not that
should-I mean | could not let yol
s-sacritice yourself to--to-saye my rep
utation.
1t wouldn't be much of sacrifice, y
said his lorGship. DO you know, | an
rather glad now that his-this-unfor
tunate situation has opened my eyes?
-it-shoWs me something didn real
ize before I-I-oh, Mabel. will you?'
He is Il noble man, mamma, sale
the newly engaged girl to her mother {
few hours later "Ie-he-says he
didn't realize that he loved me till thi
morning And did net realize that
that loved him If | had, | would
n-never have played that horrid practi
cal joke upon him about his-his pumps
But when he-he-sp-poke to me
knew in moment thaf-that-I die
love him You will-Wi,l-neycr tel
him that l meant il org atlly for {
stupid hoaA, viii va. II ,n.a dear
Don't be afraid f hat. NIB You
old mother will not Civ you away l
was risky sort # io'le ~asn't it
THOUGH it has had the h5anie-t results
as it seems to hay" opened both you
eyes? H-LOudun Truth