The Delta independent., 1901-06-21


consisting Of one long-suffering maid.
one ditto man. one lapdog. and one
dilapidated canary.
The canary always means three
months. does It not?" asked Eddie.
tragically. as the cortege swept up the
stairs.
Mildred burst into an understandable
laugh
"Oh. what shall we do?" she gasped.
What is to become of us? little
of Lady Eagleton goes such a very long
way. Mr. Blount"-to Roy. who had
walked over as usual, and who, having
seen the procession. was enjoying the
whole thing as much as any Of them
Il will give you anything / possess. II
you will show me some method of get
ting rid Of her before Christmas time"
And l will give you anything. II
you Will just take her out and tie her
to tree and deliberately shoot her."
said Eddie, gloom!ly.
Edward. how can you speak SO dis
respectfully of your grand-aunt?" put
in Lady Caroline. reprovingly. walking
away, her face covered with smiles.
For a week everything had gone on
smoothly. or rather there had been no
actual outbreaks on the part OF Lady
Engleton, though smothered hints and
comments had been numerous. In a
covert manner she inyeighed against
actions. habits. acquaintances. and all
that came beneath her notice. but
carefully subdued any open demonstra-
tons OF disapproval until the day be-
fore Roy's departure. when she chose
to be particularly offensive.
Blount had come over rather earlier
than usual. II being his last day. and
he and Mabel had gone for farewell
walk among the strawberries and
through the winter gardens where they
Ind loved to linger all through their
hurried courtship. As he was not to
leave until a late train the following
day. he parted from her with the as
surance that he would be down the
next morning.
Slightly flushed and wholly miser-
able. Mabel entered the small drawing
room. whore she found her mother.
Mildred. and Lady Eagleton assembled
How heated you look. child, What
have you been doing with yourseif2"
demanded the old lady. the moment
she came within her view.
Walking" returned Mabel. shortly
with that young man again, / pre-
sume7" grunted her grand-aunt. omin-
ously: whereupon Lady Caroline began
to look uneasy.
Il was walking with Mr.. Blount."
said the queen" dehantly. She was
pathy. so that the old woman's words
and manner grated cruelty on her
overwrought feelings.
Il really think all decency and order
have gone from the world" went on
Lady EaEleton. Society nowadays is
widely different from what II once was
Even common propriety Is a thing OF
the past. In my time young woman
would scarcely be allowed, under any
circumstances, to walk alone with n
young man for hours together-certain-
ly not unless they were formally be-
trothed. having the consent of all par
then. presume he has made you an
offer OF marriage?"
Mildred rose. as IL to interfere: but
Mabel spoke again.
People In your time must have been
very depraved people indeed, Aunt
Harriet" she said, with ill-suppressed
Indignation. III they could make mis-
chief out OF simple walk with ones
friend. At all events. l am very glad
iive in the days | do: and. IL you are
particularly anxious to know. l will
tell you that Mr. Blount has not made
me an offer OF marriage, as you call
It,"
Her ladyship was triumphant.
Has he not?" she said. Then, II
I were you, my dear. would have as
little more to say to him as possible
! Young men who dilly-dally. and put
on the evil hour, as he appears to be
doing. seldom or never mean anything
dare say he is only agreeably Will
Ing away his time down here, and will
think no more OF you once his back Is
turned"
Mabel was choking with rage, but
could think OF nothing to say. Lady
Caroline. who sat a little behind her
with gesture OF sympathetic affec-
ton. but she was nervously afraid of
this terrible old woman, and knew not
how to interfere eifectually.
Young men now are not what
young men were.' continued Lady
Eagleton. impressively. "and think
Mr.. Blount one of the worst specimens
have yet seen. His manners are SO
cool; and he is 30 insolently self-pos-
sesscd: and he has none Of the we'll
bred dinhdence. the courtly elegance
that distinguishd the men OF my Aen-
Grafton. He II not half good enough
for you. my dear, even were he In