Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-06-05
AN ENGAGEMENT.

A kindly providence called Mrs.
Beresford away for a few minutes, and
Gwen and | were alone.
81 presume, observed, THAT there
was reason in asking me to call this
afternoon"
"Well, yes" she replied in hesi-
tating tone. Something has happened,
and''-
She paused. Somehow I did not feel
particularly eager to hear the news.
"The fact is, :" she continued hurried
ly, Il didn't want you to lear it from
any one else and think me mean, so''-
1T does not give promise, I inter-
rupted, ''of being intelligence that will
make me deliriously happy"
''It' S charming she cried, land you
must be very pleased! I'm going to be
engaged" p"
"How jollyr' I remarked presently
required only few seconds to appre-
ciate the information.
Gwen stirred her tea in a meditative
manner
~ . NC1J sIC IL
is not to be announced until tomorrow
to the world at large, but to you, as an
old friend''-
looked at Gwen. Her eyes were still
contemplating her tea. Eyes, 1 suppose
l am an old friend," replied dryly.
Then l screwed up my courage and said:
"Well who is hep
She blushed. I thought she was look
ing remarkably pretty.
"Leycester, she said softly.
"Ah," l exclaimed, as if the whole
mystery had been solved, ga title!'
Gwen gave nervous little laugh.
Lord Leycester is very nice. Don't you
think sop.
'"There's no harm in Leycester," I
replied. "He's only stupid"
She shot an indignant glance at me.
81 think he's very nice," she said,
attempting to impart an air of convic-
ton to her tone.
"You don't seem to be very positive
on the point. 1t is all very sudden"
added. 81 have not heard even a whis-
per-
Gwen looked rather embarrassed.
"It happened last night" she began.
''At the duchess danceT'
The duchess was Leycester's mother,
an awe inspiring parsonage.
"Yes," she replied. "You see, moth
err
81 quite comprehend, broke in.
"Your mother and the duchess have
been lunching together lately. Heaven
has not monopoly in the making of
marriages" "
1t was ridiculously simple. Gwen
was an heiress, Mrs. Beresford was am
bilious, and the Leycester family deriv-
ed their income from Irish estates-a
derivation that was every year growing
more fanciful in it's results
cts pity" began Gwen, toying
with lace handkerchief, "that''-
81 haven't title? Exactly" said,
rather brusquely.
She appeared not to have heard the
remark
AT one time Gwen and I had seen
lot of one another, and I felt that an
other straw in my favor would have
brought the matter to happy termina-
tlon. However, it was not to be, and
now Mrs. Beresford had taken the mat
ter into her own hands, and Gwen had
probably been allowing her tongue to
trip lovingly over the pretty name Of
Lady Gwendoline Leycester until the
present arrangement had been arrived at.
81 suppose" she said, thinking it ad-
visable to change the subject, 81 shall
see you tomorrow at the Fenwickes'?''
"Yes," l said "And now I must be
going, l added, lingering for mo-
ment, hat in hand. 81 have to see a
physician. -
II thought you were never ill?" she
said anxiously. "What is it?''
An incipient attack of profound
melancholia, replied as took my de-
parture.
went home to dinner and afterward
strolled round to the club, thinking that
smoking room gossip would be pleasant
er than my own reflections. 1 spent the
remainder of the evening there, and it
was striking II when l stood ON the
steps, contemplating whether I should
walk or ride back.
Going home, Temple?" said voice.
| turned. 1t was young Leycester.
"I'm your way, if you're walking"
he continued.
Yes" l said, and he linked his arm
within mine. He commenced to talk
about himself, being quite young.
''I'm an awful fool, Temple, he said
presently.
Lglance at the fair. boyish looking
face and mentally agreed with him.
GIVE come frightful cropper." he
continued.
"If you will play baccarat with cap
tains' who have forgotten the name Of
their regiments" 1 remarked, "you
must exIrct to come croppers.
"And l dare not tell the duchess" he
exclaimed. 'She has advanced me all
she can spare already. 1 don't know
where to raise another penny, and I
shall be sold upr'
/ began to think of Gwen.
"The worst of it is," he went on,
the duchess has arranged a marriage
with pretty little heiress. The engage.
ment is to be announced tomorrow, and