The Somerset reporter., 1897-04-15

y
must be very pleasedl I'm going to be
engaged. "
"How jolly" 1 remarked presently.
/ required only a few seconds to appre-
ciate the information.
Gwen stirred her tea in IA meditative
manner
eyes, it's very nice, y she said. ct
is not to be announced until tomorrow
to the world at large, but to you, as an
old friend
l looked at Gwen. Her eyes We're still
contemplating her tea Yes, | suppose
l am an old friend y replied dryly.
Then l screwed up my courage and said:
well, who is he?'
She blushed. | thought she was look
ing remarkably pretty.
"Leyeester, " she said softly.
"Ah, / exclaimed as if the whole
mystery had been solved "a titler'
Gwen gave a nervous little laugh.
Lord Leycester is very nice. Don't you
think sou
"There's no harm in Lcycester, "
replied. Hes 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, y ]
added. 4 have not heard even a whis-
per. ="
Gwen looked rather embarrassed.
ut happened last night, she began.
cat the duchess dance?"
The duchess was Leycester's mother,
an awe inspiring parsonage.
YES" she replied. You see, moth
err
Il quite comprehend, broke in.
''Your mother and the duchess have
been lunching together lately Heaven
has not IA monopoly i'll the making of
marriages.
1t was ridiculously simple. Gwen
was an heiress, Mrs. Beresford was am
bilious, and the Leycester family deriy-
ed their income from Irish estates-a
derivation that was every year growing
more fanciful i'll its results.
cts a pity" began Gwen, toying
with lace handkerchief, "that''-
VII L a tii1O1 1LAI1Aiyb SdlNli
rather brusquely.
She appeared not to have heard the
remark.
AT one time Gwen and ] had seen a
lot Of one another, and | felt that an
other straw i'll my favor would have
brought the matter to "a happy termina-
ton. 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 adj
visable TO change the subject, Il shall
see you tomorrow at the Fenwickes'?'
Eyes, - l said. "And now | must be
going, | added, lingering for mo-
ment, hat in hand. 81 have to see
physician.
81 thought you We're never ill?'' she
said anxiously. "What is it?'
"An ineipient 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 | spent the
remainder of the evening there, and it
was striking II when / stood on the
steps, contemplating whether l should
walk or ride back.
Going home, Temple" said voice.
turned. 1t was young Leyccster.
I'm your way, if you re walking,
he continued.
eyes" l said, and be linked his arm
within mine. He commenced to talk
about himself, being quite young
''I'm an awful fool, Temple, " he said
presently.
l glance at the fair, boyish looking
face and mentally agreed with him.
eve come frightful eropper," he
continued.
eff you will play baccarat with cap
tains' who have forgotten the name of
their regiments" l remarked, you
must expect to come troopers. "
And | dare not tell the duchess, " he
exclaimed. "She has advanced me all
she can spare already. | don't know
where to raise another penny, and
shall be sold up"
/ 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
mcHt is TO he announced tomorrow, and
| shan't be able to carry the thing
through. | haven't even the money to
buy ringP
"Do you wish to marry" l asked
quietly.
NO." he said impatiently. "She is
nice enough girl, but it is not in my
line. What am to do? The duchess
will simply eat me when she finds out
the true state of affairs, and if | can
make some sort of a settlement by to
morrow | shall have to bolt. It's com
Portable position to be in, he concluded
dismally.
reflected. Gwen would not marry
me >evcn If this precious young idiot
did bolt, so | might just as well as
sist in giving her the title she coveted.
"Leycester, " l said what sum will
settle your creditors for the moment and