Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-08-23

Der one, which was followed by Esme's
legacy, her disastrous engagement, Au-
gusta's marriage, and now it remained
only for Florian to make some small
stir, and which he accomplished in the
following manner:
He arrived, quite unexpectedly, in time
for dinner one day. Never before had ne
favored his home in the bleak month OF
March, and Esme said to him, half play
fully, as she helped him off with his top
coat: ''To what are we indebted for the
honor of this visit, london Pride? What
has brought you"
81 will tell you after the missus has
gone to bed,' he returned impressively.
II shall go up and come down again IN
smoking jacket; after she has retired we
will have a talk"
"Why, what can it beP' staring at MIN
speculatively.
You'll hear soon enough, my good
girl nodding his head expresslVely.
''Have patience"
So after Mrs Brabazon had gone to resi-
the young people took possession OF two
drawing room.
Cant you guess it?' he asked, staring
at her fxedly, and with conscious, com
placent smile.
You are going to be married" she re-
piled, after a pause.
Right you are. Clever girl! l am
going to marry Hatty Clipperton"
"Hatty Clipperton? 2" with a little start
| eyes. An awfully jolly, nice little girl
Some money Heaps Of go in her! just
my style down to the ground! 1 have not
told Gus yet, nor, of course Mrs. b. !
want you to break the news to her gent
ly, Esme.'' :,
"Iw aghast. my dear Flo, 1 would
mott could not-I dare not-not for a
thousand pounds"
'Oh, come, that's nonsense; you are the
only one all these years who dared brave
her, and you must do it for me; it's the
| last time"
"Why not speak to her yourself, Floi
| you and she have always been friends
| it would come best from you"
''No, no; when you have anything to
| do you don't like, always get someone
else to do it for you, that's my idea. We
are to be married in three weeks. Yes
| indeed, you may well open your mouth
| but I'm telling you the truth. We have
| been engaged this two months, and I'm
my own master, you know; and there
was no one to consult. 1 used to say I'd
never let myself go under $4,000 year
but I'm knocked down a dead bargain
after all. Hatty likes you and Gussie
superbly, but she hates Mrs. B. like ole
boots, and swears she shall never spend
a night under her roof"
Meaning this roof?' said Esme, with
raised brows.
"Yes; and as old Cipperton wants to &c
off abroad, he has rather run me in to gel
the wedding over; do you see? and we are
thinking of coming here for the honey
moon; and, of course, you and Mrs. b
will have to clear out, and let the house
be done up bit; don't you understandT
''This is very short notice, Flo. How
long can you give u.s.?
"Well, say a week! You see, there's
nothing to move but yourselves-and your
Clothes" he drawled, unconcernedly.
81 am not so sure Of that" shaking he1
head. 81 fancy from what Mrs. B. sale
one day that she claims a lot Of orna
ments, silver plate and pictures and
linen"
''She be blessed! She had better not lei
me see her lay finger on anything here
or I'll set my lawyers at her. She ha:
been playing very deep game, by all &C
counts, and she feathered her nest right
we'll"
"Oh, Flo, you shouldn't" expostulateG
his hearer.
"Oh, Flo, but 1 should! Pm not at al
friends with her, l can tell you; and the
way in which she has treated you two
girls has been simply abominable, and 81
everybody says. I shall give her piece
of my mind about it, one Of these days
I'm not afraid Of her," valiently, 'NO
| Iv'
Esme sat over the slowly dying fire fol
more than an hour after her brother hat
retired; strange thoughts, and some very
sad ones, chasing each other through hel
brain. So the old home, such as it was
was to be broken up at last; and in one
week, well, as the wrench had come
there was no use in prolonging the agony
the sooner it was over the better. Sht
could not bear to think of Hatty Clipper
ton, of all people, reigning among theil
household gods; Hatty, with her louC
laugh, her slangy ways, her contempt fol
old-fashioned things and people. Sht
would no doubt store all the Chippendalt
furniture, the ancestors, and the china
and inaugurate blazing cretonnes an(
brilliant chrome Autographs instead
"And how am to tell Mrs. Brabazon? 2
she said aloud, brushing away the tears
is quite too fearful to think of. I know
I shall never sleep a wink tonight"
(To be continued.)