Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-07-13

dIueu.
MRS. Terrier?' No answer.
Couldn't it be that he had fixed upon
the wrong name? Again he repeated his
catalogue puppy-greyhOund - spaniel
terrier He was prepared to swear that
it was one of these two.
Mrs. Spaniel!,
Gould you oblige me with a beef
steak?"
"Well, sir. the fire has gone down.
Howsomeever I'll soon make it up, sir!''
mo; don't trouble. Mrs.-er-Ter-
Mrs. Spaniel. l think I'll take it raw!'
Raw, SIR" and the homely old soul
began to ascend for further particulars,
causing Ned to beat a retreat within the
friendly shade of a reading lamp.
THE fact is. Mrs Pup-Mrs. Spaniel,
I've got a black eye, and piece of raw
beef is the best thing cut, you know"
Upon further solicitation he lucidly eX-
planned that, "When the lights were out
the church was dark, and--er-"
"Oh. yes, sir, l understands; you hurt
your eye on one of those nasty corners.
Deary me, how dangerous, sir"
In five minutes he was ensconced in an
armchair before the fire, his head mon
ument to the praise of home surgery.
Half an hour passed. Deep in his own
reflections he heard not light feet ascend
ing the stairs, and saw not a laughing
The first intimatiOn that he received of
second presence was the twining of a
pair of shapely arms about his neck and
the imprinting of Il soft kiss upon his
forehead.
Now. dear I will not allow you to
move! Mrs. Spaniel has told me all
about your fearful accident" said a
sweet. musical voice.
DisObeying the letter of the mandate,
Ned brought his uninjured optic into
play. Jupiter! Whom did he behold?
None other than the girl who had made
the sudden conquest at the London con-
cert. Was he dreaming? No, no! he I'M
derstood it all. The attraction must have
been mutual.
''Fairest angel, [ little expected this
pleasant visit
mo, dear, l came back tonight instead
of tomorrow. Mamma is DISTINGUISHING
down below, SO | ran up to see you for
a minute"
How she must love him,
Ned began to feel at home. and draw
ing her closer to him he whispered:
My darling, you have never been alb
sent from my thoughts since that con-
cert"
That was one of the happiest nights
that l have ever spent. Oh! how cross
Selsby CroOke was!'
WAS he thought said Ned. wonder
ing who on earth Selsby Crooke hap
pened to be.
She fingered but moment and then
departed. promising a longer visit next
day with mamma, and stOutly refusing
to allow him to escort her even step for
fear that he should take cold in his poor,
dear eye.
Left to himself, without the excitement
of the fair visitor. Ned's feelings were of
a decidedly mixed character Many
things in the late interview puzzled him;
her bold Standardization her familiarity
the mention OF her parent. Added to
this, Maude Heath's face would insist
upon floating before him, and he fervent-
ly wished that his allegiance to her had
never swerved.
/ arrived in London, and feeling hun
CRY. was about to enter a West end con-
fectioner's shop, when out tripped q hand
some brunette. AS soon as her eyes rest
ed upon me her face lighted up with a
joyous smile; and, after squeezing my
hand in most confding manner. she
linked her arm in mine and marched me,
astOnlshed and helpless into the street.
You are dear darling TO come to see
me tonight; however did you know? But
there, of course, you must have heard
that my friend has recovered sufficiently
to be moved to the seaside" And so she
ratified on, detailing all her dOings dur
Ing the past week. For the first time in
my life | rejoiced to find a woman an in
cessant talker. 1t gave me time to re-
cover myself. [ could get no word in,
even edgeWays, without being positively
rude, and q certain dignity of mien for
babe any treatment other than that of a
gentleman to a lady.
At length came lull, and my contin-
ued silence was noticed
Ned, darling, how quiet you are! Are
You not pleased to meet me?'
NJ
immediately occurred TO my mind "A
rich tradesman's daughter" I was mis-
taken for him. My companion was none
other than the badly-treated Maude
Heath. My heart warmed toward my fu-
ture cousin. What should I do? To ac-
knowledge the error would surely lead to
an exposure of Ned's fickleness, and that
l determined to prevent, feeling convinced
that his new whim was but passing fan
cy, and that a little judicious handling
would cause him to return to his true
love. No! l would not make myself
known, but would watch my opportunity
leave her as soon as | decently could, and
do my best for both of them.
For some minutes [ cOntrived to genpr-
alize. but soon began to fear the worst
Fortunately. just as l was inwardly bid
ding adleu to my very last topic her IA
Their appeared, and suddenly remembering
may L be forgiyen!-that l had an i'm
pOrtant engagement with i friend leaving
England poor auntD, l managed to tear
myself away.
The midnight train took me back to
B, my sorrow at the loss of an almost
unknown relation, being considerably tenn
pered by the fact that she had made me
Der heir. l had planned that, by rousing
Ned's jealousy, his love should be re-
stored to Maude.
Giving him a tremendous slap on the
back as he rose to greet me, roared, ex-
citedly, What do you think, old man?
Have been to town-Was introduced to
splendid girl, tall, dark, lovely eyes, hair
of queen-haye fallen in love with her,
she with me, spooned awfully, am en-
gagged to be married-give me your hand!''
Ned, who had been writhing under the
weight of my fist, stared in blank amaze
ment.
who is she?"
''The daughter of a rich confectioner'
"Eh? What? Where?
''Oxford street" Here visibly cooled
down and took a seat.
''You don't say sou Ned began to
show signs of anxiety ana uneasily asked
her name.