The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-05
PUBLISHED WEEKLY

choked off this time, he would hardly try tn
matrimonial business again"
| He walked over to mirror, and surveyed
ms ood-looking face fixedly.
Could L cut him out 1 Wonder?" he muir
INJURED twirling his rnoustache with dan
ul!eo ar IN twenty years younger, tel
lines better looking, and heir to his title
IL go down tomorrow-to congratulate A
any rate, can geta Little cash out of him
ana De out of the way of these dunning fel
lows at the same time
SO the next day Lord Houlden's dutifu
nephew arrived at the hotel where his lord
snip was staying at Tetley-not perhaps, t.
the uncle,s very great delight, though he re
ceived him kindly, as usual
Il hope you mean to Introduce me to Mis-:
Randal, uncle" remarked the younger man
at lunch.
'Oh, certainly" Lord Houlden said, though
not with very great avidity. I'm going ove1
tneTe this afternoon. You had better come
with me-
So the two went off together, and turned
into the Vicarage gates just in time to be
received by Lynette, who, pretty slender
inquire in white gown, came across the lawr
rather Shyly to welcome her lover.
BY Jove! my uncle has taste" thought
Mr.. Fairlove to himself as ; he noted the
pretty blushing face, with its lovely grey
eyes, sweet mouth, ard it's fringeof brown
curls, also the slender, graceful figure the
dainty little hands and feet and the elegant
distinguished bearing of the girl.
He put on his most killing airs as his uncle
presented him, and Lynette received him
most cordially.
He artfully contrived to get the girl to him
self for most of the afternoon and had the
Satisfaction OF seeing that his uncle was
plainly and Enthusiastically jealous.
When he was sure of this he redoubled his
attentions to Lynette, delighted to find that
she was cordial and kind and seemed tc
enjoy his conversation.
Lord Houlden took a seat and chatted with
the vicar and Mrs. Randall; and the shade
ho
young and good-looking his nephew was, and
how old he himself must seem to a girl of
Lynette's age.
Reginald laughed and talked, paid compli-
ments, and otherwise eXerted himself and
felt great satisfaction in the thought that his
Scheme was going we'll and that he should
have no trouble in gaining over his uncle S
sweetheart Tor himself. and SO stopping the
marriage.
His elation did not last long however. They
had tea in the garden, after it was over Lord
Eoulden so pointedly asked Lynette to walk
round the garden with him that, as Reginald
thought to himself, "she couldn't refuse
AT any rate, she did not, but rose as though
she were glad to CO.
Full of curiosity to hear what they should
say to one another and whether any re-
proaches would pass, Mr.. Reginald managed
so that he, without being observed, got near
enough to overhear their talk
They were speaking, he found, of the ar
rangements for the identifying of Lord Houl-
oenS town mouse; but presently there came
pause, and Reginald thought to himself.
with chuckling Of delight
Nov for it!''
'Lynette," Lord Houlden said, presently:
what do you think of my nephew?'
"Oh! I've hardly seen enough Of him to give
my opinion"
Lord Houlden locked at her attentiyely.
Z Tell me- he said, after a pause. almost
pleadingly, whether you like him or not"
I'm a fraid you will be .vexed" nurmured
Lynette, confusedly.
"Vexed with you? Never"
TT seems to unkind so ungracious 7
wanted so to like everyone belonging to YOU. %
said the girl. with; a sound almost of tears in
her voice.
Then you don't like him?"-and the un-
seen listener detected the relief in the tones.
Don't be afraid to speak, darling. I'm not
so very devoted to him myself''-and his
lordship laughed gaily
We'll, Geoff, then will confess that T
took great dislike to him. think he is a
most unpleasant young man. His manner to
you is not at all nice, think, considering all
he owes to you, and I don't like the Way he
speaks Toto others tried hard to be nice
to him, so that he should not guess did NOT
like him. but I'm afraid I'm prejudiced. y
ended Lynette, half gaily, half shyly; "for
resent his monopolizing all the afternoon so.
never got word with you"
And then followed, as the angry and NOR
lied listener thought, some sentimental lar