The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-01-13

GEAEMHlAEAtAs i anu a az UAAlG AG0AuAEA .T49A I
property to your room. Shl No one
knows anything about it. Ahi (tuTns
ing her eyes d6wn upon his vanished
toes) 81 see that you have already re-
claimed your own
At that moment Julia Slanderson |
swooped down upon her prey, and to
his great annoyance forcibly annexed
him for the rest Of the evening.
Next morning after breakfast the un.
fortunate viseount noticed that this
persistent young lady was still hover
ing on the pounce. He evaded her at
the expense of some skill and slipped
of into the dampest and most secluded
portion OF the garden to enjoy his cigar
alone.
Mabel Wentwarp startled him by
suddenly appearing at his side. Her
face was white and distressful. Her
eyes, he noticed, were bright with un-
shed tears.
"Oh, Lord Petersfeld, she exclaimed,
forgive my intrusion, but 1 saw you
come out, and I have followed you, be-
cause IL have something III must
tell you"
,I-I-trust there is nothing the mat
ter" remarked his lordship, looking
embarrassed and conscious of vague
sense of alarm.
'I-I-cannot deceive you, A great
deal is the matter. And-it has all
arisen out of our-our foolish mistake
last night. I--have Just had a
dr-dreadful interview with --that-that
-odious Lady SlandersonH'
"The de-ob, / beg your pardon. But
-but-do you mean to say that she dis
covered ou-our mistaken"
'She-she-thinks that she has found
out some-something dr-dreadful
about u.s."
And poor Mabel, unable to restrain
her feeling any longer, began to sob.
"Oh, dear? Pr-pray don't distress
yourself, Miss Wentwarp."
) "0h, Lord PetersfeId, III don't
know how I shall tell you the-the
| shameful things Lady Slanderson said
to me. But-but-in justice to you, as
well as to myself must, lit seems
chat she was upstairs last night at .
most unfortunate moment, and that
that-she saw me sl-slip out of your
room without my shoes onl"
''Good heavensl" gasped his lordship,
in q tone of evident dismay. What
a."
! And also" Mabel went on, hurried.
as if anxious TO finish her painful
1 disclosure, ',she waited up there, spy
ing ID the dark. and g8 lipgei
of my room without your shoes oni
"But, surely" began Lord Peters
field.
''T-I-told her the truth, !" interposed
the girl. Il explained everything. She
/ she scoffed at my version. She sale
she would -would-publish the sOanda
to the four winds OF heaven. Oh, Lore
Petersfeld, what is to be done?"
''But, surely" stammered Lord Pc
tersfeld, WHO was naturally in grea
state of mind, :'people win accept oul
version rather than that Of this viii
scandal-mongerl"
''Alas," sobbed Mabel, "I wish
thought so. You see, Lord Petersfeld
cannot help recognizing the very un
fortunate state of appearances. Sh
will say that if-if-we had-any any
thing to conceal we should, of course
be ready with an explanation, and tina
even at that our explanation is lam
and improbable. Besides, she win en-
large and exaggerate and-and tell
falsehoods, until-Oh, had rather hav
; died than have had this happen!"
The viscount was silent for a min
A r,F ofV
cumstances, had flashed across hi
: mind. He had never thought Of Mabe
! in this light before. He would not hav
+ done so now unless the situation ha
forced it on him, but as he looked a
{, her pretty, woeful face he realized tha
it was not such an uncommon light i
which to think of her after ALL
: -my-dear Miss Mabel, IL
! might, for all that Lady SlandersO
0 knows to the contrary, have-have- ar
] quired the right to-to-take your
y slippers to your room"
"I-L-what do you mean, Lord p
tersfield?"
d "Why," replied his lordship, blushin
T and stammering, ''if l were-were-eI
d gagged TO be married to you, Miss Mabe
S it w-would make a--a-difference-
4 wouldn't it?"
! "Oh, no, Lord Petersfeld! Not tha
q not that" she cried, starting away.
I fCouldn't you s-stand me at-at-a1
a price, then?" gasped the yiscount, pail
{ fully mortified.
"Oh, yes! It--it was not that.
d should--I mean / could not let yo
It sacrifice yourself to-to-saye my re
p utaUon."
IT 1T wouldn't be much Of a sacrifice
p said his lordship. DO you know, / a
L rather glad now that this-this unfo
e. tunate situation has opened my eyes
y It--it-shosys me something didp
le realize before. I--I-oh, Mabel, W
'e you2"
a. ''He is . noble man, mamma" sa
T. the newly engaged girl TO her mother
ID few hours later ''He-he says
# didn't realize that he loved me till tl
Is morning. And 1 did not realize tAat
s. that-I loved him. If I had, wou
IS. n-never have played that horrid pra
" tical joke upon him about his-l