The Florence daily tribune., 1899-01-09

re UCre s.oV! Gown uptE Us. ! made
l sudden move in his direction. which
-auaed my eompanion's eyes to fol-
.ow me.
who is thar very distinguished
.ooLing mani she asked. -.
Prcv,,., nee l.aG indeed delivered Mrs.
Vivian ,...o my n.nds! ! engaged
her e. L a. IvE.i.d, without any show
OF .nrpr,se ri The question; That is
Lord 81. A.leyne."
Ineyvi a>wt5error sit more palpably
upon .aee; then. without word
aid. the terror changed 10 beseeeh-
lag. IIoaiiy lcit sorry for Mrs. Vivian
at that moment. but | thought of Jack
and hardened my heart.
ALLOW ne TO presen you to him." |
said lieiore she had time to reply /
lad advanced half a dozen steps to
meet him.
Il want 10 introduce you TO Mrs.
vivian" | said You know all about
my love affair"
(Which one?" he asked.
The one, said. He thought care
fully for a minute.
do you mean Jack?" he asked.
-''Ol course | do"
''Wen?"
Mrs. Vivian is Jacks mother
glanced across the lawn and saw
Jack herself, alone, shining white
against some dark laurels. My mind
VAS instantly mad, up.
''Wch?'' he said. again.
Il wart you 10 ,alk to her for ten
minutes. And. like a dear old chap,
say. the nice things you can about
me, viii you?''
You w!uit me to bamboozle her, do
your"
Il war, to marry Jack" said.
"Ali MY friends are marrying" st.
Aieyne murnured; they'll soon be
all gone. I'm always doing them good
turns, and they never do anything
Tor me"
tn co anything you like for you If
you'l' only manage this said. As
| turned le csugAt me by the arm.
Look here" he said, what am to
talk about-rising artist, increasing
popularity and all that kind OF
thing
leave ii to you. But for heavens
rake don't give me away" He smiled
t.nderly.
As IL could" he said.
| saw hat Mrs. Niyian's face famed
as | presented him. 1 haG never seen
her b. us Ii Ueforv; but at he same time
there was "a kind OF feebe triumph i'll
her expression that made me sick. St.
Alleyne dropped languidiy at her side
and sped across The lawn. Mrs. Wv
ian was at liberty to look as much as
she liked; | could trust my friend to
hold her.
Jack saw me coming and turned
away towards the rose garden; i
blessed both her and her acuteness as
followed. She paused when we
seemed fairly alone.
Where have you been all the after
noon?'
Talking TO Mrs. Vivian"
OH" She said, was it interestin
Very. And you?"
I've been waiting for YOU"
We'll, IN here now. e.. Jacki"
Yes" she said
You want to marry me. don't you,
Jack?"
You silly boy" she said l took her
hand and held il so that no one could
see.
"You know you do" / said: you told
me so once"
Did ~ she asked, closing her fin
gers tightly over mine.
Yes; and I'm going to marry YOU"
You dear boy!" she said. But how
can you? Mamma willnever consent"
| thought detected hint of tears in
her eyes.
but II ! gain her consent, and this
very afternoon
She looked at me with all her youth
on fire. l leaned towards her sudden
ly and she kissed me; the thing was in
evitable. If the world had been look
ing on | believe she would have kissed
me then.
MY dearest Phil" she said, 'Iu mar
py you whenever you like" She
stopped above a rose bush and plucked
blossom; l bent over her shoulder,
and my lips brushed her ear and cheek
deliciously.
Phil, Phil" she cried. followed
her glance, and there was Mrs. Vivian
sailing towards us, leaning heavily on
ST Alleyne's arml
felt convinced. by the indifference
OF ST. Aneyne's manner, that he had
been doing his duty to me. He left Mrs.
Vivian with me, saying: "I'll see you
later. old chap" and he added, in a
whisper: "Strike now"