The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-12


Rupert, Rupert! come back at last
she said.
s'At last" he says. my happiness is
complete
Then he kisses her again. oh. he was
having a real good time, was Bob
Then he makes a speech to the SER
wants and thanks them all for their
welcome
That evening I waited on them at
dinner. I always knew Bob was a bit
of an artist in the way of rOmancing,
but his conversation at that meal was
an eye-opener- He told her of his trav-
els all over the world; his luck at the
gold-diggings in California; the tre-
mendous estates he had purchased out
there; and the beautiful palace he hal
built A wonderful place it seemed to
be, complete in every particular save
one.
And what is this one thing that is
missing, Rupert?" she aSks-innocent
like.
"A queen, my darling" he answers.
and as soon as my palace was ready L
set out for England in the hope that /
could bring you back with me to share
my throne"
oh, Rupert, do you-io you mean
us to leave England?"
why not, my darling? We two are
alone in the world, and with you by
my side the place in California will be
a Paradise. L propose to sell Sandilands
and get away as soon as we can"
Well, l was so fabbergasted thit I
dropped bottle of fizz. l was always
under the impression that Bob would
come to me some fine night, and we
would loot the place comfortably; but
when l heard him talking of selling the
place SO audaciously, we'll. my breath
seemed bit tight on my chest
Dinner was over, and they strolled in
to the drawing room, and 1 didn't see
Rnh in fha lob lint inst of Tor
breakfast the next morning Miss Cur
ION tells me to send man over to
Richmond to ask Mr.. Woodrow to come
to Sandilands at once.
Who's Woodrow" I asked Bloxam.
Woodrow. He's the family lawyer"
I thought Bob was playing a very
risky game, and I began to get nervous.
The lawyer turned up about midday,
and after the three had had a long
conversation they started on lunch.
1 was waiting of course, and the law
yer did most of the talking.
Couldn't have happened more con-
venient,'' he said. Lord Sandpipe came
to me yesterday and asked me if Sandi-
lands was in the market. 1 said. No,
not that was aware of he relied that
if it was he would buy it as it stands,
lock, stock, and barrel, all except the
horses
WELL he can have it. and the horses
can be sent to Tattersalrs."
And you will send my jewels over
tomorrow? Rupert is so anxious to see
me decked in the family diam onds."
II shall bring them over myself
1 had heard a lot about those dia-
monds, and l smiled broadly as I
thought of Bobs smartnes..
l tried to have a word or two with
Bob, but he always seemed to frown
when I approached him, and 1 remem-
bered his instructions not to speak to
him until / was spoken to.
But, to tell the truth, I began to get
bit troubled about Miss Nelly.
thought Bob was going a bit too far. 1t
is all very well making up to a SER
want when you want a bit of Informal
ton, but to make love to a beautiful,
girl like Miss Nelly. and even fix up the
wedding day was. to my mind, only
CON plicatinE things.
The next day the lawyer turned up in
time for dinner, bringing with him
heavy brass bound box, which was sent
straight up to Miss Nelly's room.
Bob was ready to receive Mr. Woodrow,
ry and bitters | tell you my chum did look
a regular dock, with his evening toys and
he got them from, don't.
Na just then the do4r opens and in sails
light; Oh! the diamonds. the rubies the
sa APP L shut my eyes, turned away.
ours. e rnine and B Be ssiese were an % De
However. 1 learned something at the
dlnner Lord Sandplpe had agreed to pur-
deeds Were to be prepared at once. This
was 10000 each for Bob and me.
Then after dinner Bloxam was asked to
assemble the servants in the hall. l won
dered what was up. but 1 was soon to
And then Bob made speech 1t com
pletely knocked me into silence. The sers
came near the end, then they got stag
gerer.
And so. Miss Curzon and myself are to
when We leave Sandilands Hall it will be
to return to it no more. as we sail to our
new home across the sea in far off Cal
ifornia- This will be a greak blow to
a lifetime situation But, in orc order ' that
the circumstances will not fall so hardly
you who have been in the service of the
family for ten years shall receive a check
t for FIVE years wages in fact, you win all
served
There was a lot more, but this was the
ished they gave cheers for both of them.
Things were going splendidly for US,
cessity for the wedding, and determined
to risk it and speak to Bob.
that I thought had opportunity. Bob
and Miss Nelly had gone to the stables to
them out. 1 found Bob standing by him
self lighting a cigar.
He looked up as approached him.
well, my man, what is it?'
Il say, don't run it too hard, guvn nor
just then Miss Nelly comes out and
hears my words.
what is the matter. Rupertg'
Il don't know. This man says some
thing about being too hard
see dear, he has only been here a few
days, and of course, the checks you prom
ised the servants viii not include him.
What hard luck; anyway, we must al
ter it. You look a likely young fellow
how would you care to come to Califor-
MIA ?"
Il would follow Miss Nelly anywhere"
I answers.
Good Judge" he laughed. well. you
shall have a check for G100 and our adj
dress in California. If you find your way
out there, well and good; if not, that is
your own look OUT
/ thanked him, of course, and deter
mined to let things take their own way.
Bob knew what he was about, and must
not spoil the game.
When Saturday came Mr. Woodrow ar
rived at SandilandS and at 10 o'clock we