The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-07


very pretty5hand and very neatly gloved
and there was good excuse for hin. :
"But there Is something" he said, low
ering his voice, something in the gallery
Ella, that I would give every penny I have
in the world to possess. -,
"a pictured"
"Prettier than any picture"
"Statuary?"
Better shaped than any statuary."
"Not disposed Of already"
! II hope not. There Is only one difficulty
Il am not sure If were to make an offel
now that it would be accepted"
"How shall you ilnd outf' "
He rose and adjusted his frock coat with
the manner of man to whom for some
years frock coats had not been familiar
wear. He was tall, brown faced man,
with good deal of earnestness in his eyes.
II shall ask Mrs. Beckett"
"Ohl" she said. She gaspcd little
before she went on. "And you--you think
my stepmother will be-will be able to ad.
wise you in the matterp" 81
~ think she will" They walked slowly
on the thick carpet to the swing doors.
Besides, it's only fair to do SO"
ut seems to me, she said rolling up
her catalogue very tightly, rather an old
fashioned mode of procedure
as"There is this excuse In my case Mrs.
Beckett has on idea, am afraid, that !
have brought back from the Cape untold
gold. Iwant to make her understand that
when I say Ishall have to work for my
living, really mean it,"
II am glad" she said quietly.
II know that you are, dear. But sup
pose parents are different"
"My parent is. H.
"And If she objects, why" he looked
down upon her affectionately, II shall just
pack you up, Ella, and run off with you. I"
Now" she said delightedly, THAT is
more old fashioned than ever. ] believe
it's an idea you have learned from the
Kaff1rs. What a wonderful thing travel is
for improving the mind.''
II shall see you tonight" IT,
II am not sure" she said, with her lit
tie hand resting for moment in his. II
think the invitation Is for two only"
II have great mind" said Mr.. James
Marchant, looking down at her affection
ately, "to kiss you"
"That Is no evidence of great mind, +"
she said reprovingly. Besides You are in
London now"
"And don 7 people kiss in LondonH'
"They don't kiss me, Mr.. Marchant."
II am very glad of that" .,. ,
"And people don't talk of kissing at the
doors of picture galleries.
II am afraid" said James Marchant
apologetically, THAT have much to learn
before l become recivilzed The Cape
makes one forget all ones manners.
ut has not made you forget your
friends" she said .,..y..
N"There was one," he said as he assisted
her into the hanson. "She was only q
small girl'- --
mot old enough to COUNT"
--"of whom I thought every day of my
life out there"
There were tears In her eyes that chal-
lenged the lightness of her goodby. The
small gloved hand was pressed in the big
fist of the man from the Cape for one mo-
ment, and then he gave the address to the
driver.
A bright face with the tears of happiness
still there looked through the glass as the
hanson drove off, and Mr.. James Mar
chant strobe away with glad heart to see
q business man in Bedford street, for
men who want to earn money must force
their thoughts away even from the direc-
ton of pleasant young women.
1t was by great dexterity that at dinner
In Duke street mansions that night Mr..
James Marchant contrived to get himself
paired with the excellent Mrs. Beckett.
Mrs. Beckett declared herself enchanted.
But this was so frequent a declaration
on the part of Mrs. Beckett that it was
held to mean something less than the
phrase really meant.
IL should have thought you would have
insisted-simply lnsisted--on taking down
my dear Madeleine
Mrs. Beckett futterod her fan at Mr.
Marchant in manner that had in the
early seventies been pronounced bewitch-
ing.
II want particularly to speak to you,
Mrs. Beckett. want to offer myself
"S.s-hsh," said Mrs. Beckett mysteri-
ously "Not word. know exactly what
you are going to say, Madeleine, my DEAR"
She called to a tall, bony damsel just in
front of them: "You haven t shaken hands
with dear Mr.. Marchant. How very re-
miss of you! The dear girl is so thought
lessI Do you know, Mr.. Marchant, that
declare to goodness believe she's in lovef"
Miss Madeleine received this raillery with
grim smile and shook hands with Mr..
Marchant. Miss Madeleine explained that
her half sister Ella had remained at home
because she had some writing to do
Poor Ella" said Mrs. Beckett, with
ELUSIVE sympathy. Poor, dear girl I'm
really dreadfully fond Of her. You must
give me your advice, Mr.. Marchant, con-
corning her at dinner. feel already
forgive me for saying SOL feel already as
though you were one Of the family"
Mrs. Beckett gave her little cackle of
self approval and general satisfaction and
went on as they seated themselves at table.
II Fave noticed it all along, do you
Know, and l am so delighted; quite en-
chanted really. And my influence with
the dear girl will make her like you. /
dare say you may have thought her little
what shall / say ooldp But, as mat
ter Of fact, 1t has only been-oh, bless my
soul, thick soup, please-what is the ex-
pressionP 1t has only been-it has only
becn''-
"Maidenly reservef" suggested Mar
chant
"Pre- cisely, precisely what was trying
to say. How clever Of you, dear Mr.. Mar
chant. can understand now how 1t was
you got on so well in South Africa. And
your assertion that you had come home
with very little was, could see, only q
pretense to try us. Yes, sherry, please"
"Iwant to speak to You about that, Mrs.
Beckett. I'm afraid you don't realize
what mean when l say that haven't
brought much home with me-"
snow, my dear Mr.. Marchant''--
"You must allow me. please. to tell you