The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-10

5 A Young Man in a Hurry. )


| you. In the meantime / regret that
you were not more candid at the first"
| And so, regardless of poor Lena's
heart -rending grief, Charles Radford
| was dismissed peremptorily.
Since everybody is so sensible"
thought Charles bitterly. II suppose
the most sensible thing for me to do
would be to blow out my brains" He
did not commit this crowning folly,
| however.
Lady Mount Michael was a clever
woman and she soon guessed that the
engagement was off Charles miser-
able face alone would have betrayed
him, and the fact that he made no
further reference to the subject was
suspicious. 1t was also suggestive that
he said no more about staying In Lon
don during August and September ITO
work"--which, of course, would have
meant going down to Lena'B home for
every weekend. and probably bicycling
down to the same destination for the
day at least once during t!ic week. lie
threw out hints about going abroad,
and finally when it became evident
that there was TO be an exceptionally
good grouse season, he decided TO join
his family at Haggishaw and revenge
! hiilStll VII lllC SlOhSS lO' N''N '''''N-'N
that fate had dealt him.
Lady Mount Michael said nothing
about visitors of the fair sex. 1t was
just to I've shooting party-one or two
strange guns added to the men of the
family. OF course, 1t was natural that
she should invite lady or two as well
for herself and her daughter, and it
these additions to the circle die not
J happer to be all intimate friends,
| Charles would be none the wiser.
And so, one day, there was a. fresh
arrival in the shape IF Mrs. Scarpnnt
the youthful widow of a very wealthy
commercial person, who had omassed
an enormous fortune out of old borCs.
Lady Mount Michael had made her hc-
quantance about two months before
and had cultivated her solely for the
sake of Charles. but she received Ter
as a dear and intimate friend.
This is my step-son. Charles Rad
ford" was her introduction. You VIII
find him rather a bear He 6ces not
care for the society of our sex
! Mrs. Scarpent was not a bit pretty.
She was a plump little woman, with
rather too much color and pleasant.
CoOd-humored expression. She looked
Jolly" and she soon proved great
acquisition in the way Of liveliness. She
gave a hint of her capabilities hv re-
marking in reply to Lady Mount
Michael: Then he doesn't know when
he has got good thing" and took no
further notice of the alleged misogy-
mist, which in time piqued him-so
curiously constituted is man.
Before Mrs. Scarpent had been in the
house a couple of days, however, there
happened one of those 'unlucky acci-
dents" that every clever women can
IaIrange if she gives her mind to 1t.
The details don't matter. The point
was that somebody must drive Mrs.
Scarpent in her dog-cart, and it. really
seemed as if there was no one to do it
but Charles.
II am very sorry to be obliged to ask
you" said Lady Mount Michael. be
cause / know you don't like her. But l
cannot arrange it any other way, and
it would be rude to leave her behind"
II don't dislike her l don't know
lanythinG about her, except the very
obvious fact that she can't bear me-"
said Charles with a touch of sullenness,
"and that is scarcely calculated to
make me adore her"
Dear me, how silly people are!"
laughed Lady Mount Michael. "Why,
she really has very high opinion Of
you-.was saying the other day that
she had heard of your cleverness at
the bar-only as you never say a word
to her, of course, Not but what
You have a perfect right to please
yourself. But if you will be kind
enough to do this you shan't be both
cred with her again."
II assure you / have no feeling on
the subject. If she doesn't mind COM
ing with me-"
Il am sure she will be delighted"
"Confound the woman!" was
Charles mental commentary.
You are quite wrong" hintai Lady
Mount Michael to Mrs. Scarpent. ITS
only stupidity on his part. lie thought
you hated him."
Starting under these auspices both
parties felt bound TO make an effort,
and as Mrs. Scarpent was really "Jol-
ly' it was only natural that the pair
should arrive excellent friends
After that they got on very WELL and
very soon Mrs. Scarpent found herself
failing in love with Mr.. Charles Rad
ford. He was such a fine manly young
man, perhaps two years younger than
herself-but she did not mind that at
all-and likely to make q great name
at the bar If properly pushed on by a
clere" woman, Moreover, he would
give her the rank and connection which
she wanted.
AS they grew confidential she began
to advise him. By all means he should
stick to Shuttleworth. No doubt it was
hard doing so, much work for no pay
but 1t was the best policy. One day she
added, in low voice and with a rath-
, er shame faced expression:
You should marry a rich woman-
not too young, but a sensible one-who
would help you and be devoted to you
Now Charles Radford was not in the
, least in love with her. He considered
, her a FOLLY little woman" "a good
fellow" and a lively companion. But
since he could not marry Lena-and
the combination of both sets of par
ents rendered this absolutely impossi-
ble-perhaps on the whole it would be
wlsest to take her advice. 1t would
make him Independent OF his stepmoth-
Ell delight his father, help him on in
his profession. And as a companion
apart from all considerations of love