The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-08

but follows the customs to which he's been
| brought up
| Perhaps that's true OF Mrs. Croydon.
too murmured Mrs. Neglisage 10 Alice,
| &" II you wanted to tell me- Miss Went
| File went On. why didn't you tell me when
| he Was not hsre1 No wonder foreigners
| think We are barharians when n noblenlan
! is insulted Ike that
| Il didn't mean to tell you Mrs. Croy-
| don stsrnmersd hunsbly. 1t Just came out
| why didn't you mean To tell me- de
| nandea Miss WentsiIe. whose anger had
evidently deprived her for the time being Of
\ ali GOODNESS.
why, l thought you were engaged to
| him" burted out Mrs. Croydon. fairly
| crimson from brow to chin.
| " 'Engagedr echosed Miss Wenlsiie, kaIf
GREATNESS with Indignation.
| Mrs Nsgligage came TO the rescue coo,
| and collected. entirely mistress OF herself
and OF the situation.
Really. Mrs. Croydon sh. suggested,
| smiling. don't you think that is bringing
| a startling way: We don't speak of en-
sagements until they are announced, you
know
! g But Miss Wents!le told me the other
| Gay that she might anuounce one SOON
persisted Mrs. Croydon. into whose flushed
face had come a ioe9 of bsffied obstinacy.
Mrs. NegIigage threw w her hands in
a graceful little gesture. She played pri-
waite theatricais infinitely better than 4irs.
Croydon. There was in their art all the
difference between the work OF the most
clumsy amateur snd polished profar-
sional.
There IL nothing to do but 10 tell it,
she SAID, as IL appealing 10 Miss WentSile
and Alice. The engagement was that OF
Miss Endtcott and my son. Miss Wentsile
never for u moment thought o. marrying
the Count She knew from me that hs
GaInbi.d and WAS a famous duelisi.'
Alice put out her hand suddenly and
caught that Of the widow.
'Oh, Mrs Neglisager che cried.
Tho widow patted the girls fingers The
face of Miss Wentsile wa. II study for a
novelist who Identifies art with psychology.
Oi course, i ought not 20 have tod.
Alice, Mrs. Nesl!gage want on. bat I'm
sure Mrs. Croydon is to be trusted. /,
isn't fair to your aunt that TIM NONSENSE
cal notion should be abroad that she meant
to marry the Count
'C0ngratuIa tons. awlsUardly nut came
from Mrs.. Croydon. who soon took nar
leave Miss Ncntsile sat gTimIy silent I'M
I'll they heard the outer door downs .airs
ciose oeh'nd the q, parting guest. Then she
Strengthened herself up.
Il thank you. Louisa she sal.. r-ayely.
you meant well. but how Jared you
Oh. | had TO dare retGraed Mrs. Neg
hgage lightly. I'm coming into ,hs family.
you know. and must help keep Up It's credit
HUmph. was the not entira!v oompli-
montary rejoinder. IF you cared for rhe
credit of the family why didn't y,,u tell me-
about the Count sooner? IS he really a fast
man.
Hes been one of the hest-knoun sport.
in Europe. my dear Mis-, went.ila.'
why DIDN'T you tell me. them
why should 1? I wasn't en.secI 10
Harry then. and If the cCGE, wanted 70 re-
form and settle down you wouldn't have
had me thwart SO virtues an ordination.
would you?
II thought you wanted nm to marry
Alicer
II only wanted Alice cut Of The way OF
Jack the widow confessed Csndidly.
Why Miss Wentsile asked.
The spinster was Ion3 Of frdnkncss AMI
appreciated j; when it came III rer way.
Because | hated ia have Jack poor. and
/ knew that II Alice married him you'd
never give them "a cent TO 1--we On.
Alice. her face full OF confusion and
pain, moved uneasily. and put her hand on
the arm of Mrs. Ncgligase once more. as if
to stop her The widow again patted the
Small hand reassuringly. but kept her eyes
fixed full on those of the aunt
You took Il different turn to-day, the
spinster observed suspiciousiy.
had to save you to-day. was the
ready answer; and besides I can't do any
thing with Jack. He's bound to marry
Alice whether You and l like II or not. and
he's going to work IN a bank In the most
stupid manner
ITO hear the careless tone in which
this was said nobody would have suspected
that this speech was exactly the one which
could most surely move the spins;er and
that the astute widow must have been
fully aware Of 1t.
$50 you are sure 1 won't give Alice any
thing IL she marrics Jack. are you! Miss
Wentsile said. Well. Alice. you are to mar
~ Jack Negligage 10 save me from the gos- |
sips"
She actually meant what she said, and
Not only consented 10 this marriage. but en-