The Delta independent., 1901-08-09


taking care of him while was fearing
that he was alone all this time. Dem
I'll. you are a spoiled boy from all the
attention you receive. hope the time
did not seem too long. Mildred, dear.
l meant to be back directly"
Miss Trevanion blushed, and, max
ing some pretty. graceful answer, es-
capped from the room, while Lady Car
oline glanced covertly at Denzil. who
appeared totally unconscious of any
undercurrent in the conversation, and
old Blount looked mischievous.
We'll" said he, when he had shaken
hands with Denzil and wished him Joy
in his kind hearty way at having re-
covered his freedom, Il have just been
with Sir George. Lady Caroline, and
he tells me you are determined to mar
ry of all your family at once. like a
sensible mother"
Il don't know about that" returned
Lady Caroline, laughing. "One at
time, If you please. will suit us well
enough We do not want TO be left
without any solace in our old age. But
you mean Charlie and Frances, l SUP
pose?"
Yes" said he. they have come to
a proper understanding at last hear
Il think they came to that before
Christmas" observed Lady CAROLINE:
but the question of late has been
when to name the wedding day.
Frances was very refractory in the be-
ginning. but at last she has given in,
and it is actually arranged to take
place on the thirteenth of next month;
always provided the day is fine-as she
says nothing on earth would induce
her to be married in rain"
Old Dick laughed.
"She has been such a spoiled pet all
her life" he commented, that l think
she will give Charlie something to do
to manage her"
Il agree with you" said Lady Caro-
line; but she is such a dear girl with
it all that one can not help loving
her and forgiving her the very triding
faults she possesses"
And then true love is such a
smoother of all difficulties" put in
Mrs. Younge, softly, raising her eyes
from her knitting.
1T is time for us to be thinking Of
wedding presents" said Denzil. Il
wonder what she would like, Lady
Caroline"
We'll, l hardly know" answered
her ladyship; but can easily ind out
by putting a few adroit questions.
suppose jewelry is about the best thing
young man can Offer"
And how about Mabel's affair"
asked Blount
"Oh, the child" cried Lady Caro-
line-''surely she can AFFORD to wait;
and. besides, she must, as George has
decided nothing must be said about it
until Roy is in better position"
Il have just been talking to Sir
George about that said old Blount:
land l think it a pity the young peo-
pie should be signing for each other
when they might be together. l am
an old man now, with more money
than l know how to spend: so I have
decided that they shall have half. and
set up housekeeping without further
lay"
MY dear Richard" cried Lady Car
oline. greatly touched. this is too gen.
erous. Why should they not wait?
Why should you deprive yourself Of
at your years."
My dear creature" returned old
Blount. Il am not thinking of doing
anything OF the kind. am far too
selfish to deprive myself of any lux
uries to which have been accustomed.
But l literally can not get rid of the
money; so they may Just as well have
it as let it be idle"
There never was anybody like you.
Dick" said Lady Caroline, with tears
in her eyes.
Except Sir George" returned old
all laughed.
And still We have Mildred to dis
pose Of" he said presently. with side
glance at Denzil. who gazed stol;dly
out of the window
Dear. dear-will you leave me no
expostulated Lady Caro-
line: md Mrs. Younge. who had grown
very intimate with them all during
her sons illness, looked up plaintive-
ly to say:
There is really no understanding
young people in these days. Now how
she could object to that nice Lord
Lyndon is beyond my comprehension
quite. He seemed in every way so
suited to her."
And he seemed to me in every way
unsuited to her." put in Denzil. i'm
pulsively and rather Grossly.
did he indeed. my DEAR" said his
mother, with mild surprise. We'll, see
how differently people judge
Differently. indeed" coincided old
Blount. And now tell us, Denzil,
what sort of person do you think
would make her happy"
There was sly laugh in the old
mans eyes as he asked the question,
and Denzil. looking up, caught it; so
that presently he laughed too, though