The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-13

pleasure and gladly assented.
1t was a gay little supper with cham
pagne. The American palate is nowhere
more pleasantly entertained than at q
well ordered dinner or supper
Near them at table eat a man with
a handsome young woman. The girl
was fine type of the British female at
Its physical best. There was suspicion
Of coarseness about her. though she was
q sleek. well groomed animal creature
The man was red faced. with blotchy
complexion. large nose and scraggly
mustache. His hair was thin and his
general appearance dissipated and blase.
He did not pay much attention to the
girl. Every now and then he felt of his
mustache in an absentminded way that
suggested the wandering mind of a
shattered good liver. He stuck his mon
ocle into his eye and inspected Miss
Rodney with cool air of appraisal that
brought her American spirit to its legs
in a moment. She gave one contemptu-
Gus glance at him. which did not have
the effect of visibly disconcerting the
man. although he transferred his atten-
tion for half a moment to the rest Of
the party.
"Who Is that's" she asked in low,
indignant tone of Mr.. Ramsay.
"That," he answered with q half
sneering smile. 'is the Earl of CARING
ton, one Of the biggest blackguards in
the United Kingdom. He had stroke
of something or other two weeks ago,
and am surprised to see him 90 much
on deck again. But it is hard to kill
that sort Of a reptile"
"Who is the girl with himf" in
quired Miss Rodney.
THAT Is young woman from the
Gaiety named Ethel Camperdown. She
used to do skirt dance there very had
y. But she is, as You zee. very pretty
girl. She Is not doing the dance now."
IL shouldn't think they would let
that sort o. epeople in here" said Miss
Rodney disgustedly.
"Whati A lord and well behaved
young woman who acts like perfect
padyl" retorted Ramsay. "They are
glad to have them. They add to the
general attractiveness.
Miss Rodney could not refrain from
stealing another glance at the man
whom her aunt had proposed as her
husband. Her detestation of him in the
abstract, when she knew nothing of
him but what rumor had to cay, was
considerably enhanced by the spectacle
he presented. He was evidently little
the worse for liquor and was drinking
champagne freely.
During the course Of the converse.
tion Mr.. Ramsay spoke Miss Rodney's
name clearly enough for the noble lord
to hear 1t. He braced himself up and
stared at her again with considerable
interest Miss Rodney chanced to look
his way at the moment He raised his
champagne glass with a slightly nm.
steady hand. and. without withdraw.
ing, his glance. held 1t a moment and
then raised 1t to his lips. He had the
air Of drinking to her.
With curl of her lip Miss Rodney
turned away her face with q fresh
movement Of disgust They were
through. to her relief. and Mrs. Ram.
say rose. As they passed the table
where tie earl and his companion were
sitting. Miss Rodney carried herself
with hauteur which seemed to afford
the noble lord not little amusement.
With some remark to the girl, he
rose and followed them. He spoke to a
man in the hall. and then returned and
told his ruddy faced Gaiety girl some.
thing which he and she both found
rather laughable.
The man to whom he had spoken took
IL on himself to open the carriage door
for Mr.. Ramsay's guests. and heard,
naturally. the order he gave the driver
to 20 to the Metropole.
The next morning at about 10 a serv.
ant brought Miss Rodney card. She
picked u up with that pleasant interest
one feels in caller when one is in a
foreign land. Her cheek grew hot az
che read it. Then. acting on an i'm
pulse. she tore the card in two and said
coolly to the servant:
lyon can take the card back That
is the only answer.
About 90 minutes later the servant
brought her note, written on the hotel
paper. The address was in loose,
scrawling hand. She opened it and
glanced at the name at the bottom. Her
temper was not improved by seeing
that 1t was once more the hated name
OF Darlington. Her first movement was
to treat 1t as she had the card, but the
curiosity Of woman led her to read it
Dear Miss Rodncy-Dont see why you are so
devilish rude TO fellow. Your aunt put il In
your way TO make tidy pot Of money by marry.
Ing me. IL ] refuse, II Is TO 80 to you. l wanted
to let you know that don't refuse. I will marry
you any time you like. You've got to make up
your mind In the next six or seven months II
you refuse. ] get IT, 50 you see I'm only doing
the decent thing In showing my willingness to
take you. We don't have to do any lovemaking,
you know. though ! should be charmed to do
little o' that too You ought to let me know
what you want to do. Yours. IL you want me.