Hutchinson gazette., 1901-05-16
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* Mildred so
\ * 6reT)0ni0n
~ by THE DUCHESS
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II X X II \; \ \; X
BY THE DVcHEss

Wlbbeu IN-nOW well ne lONeu neT--
how entirely every thought of his was
centered upon her alone, and how he
had that day written to her father ex-
planning how affairs stood between
them, and asking permission to make
her his wife as soon as things should
have arranged themselves,
1t was very like all other love letters,
ard wound up with an earnest loving
entreaty that she would not forget him
that whatever happened she would
be true to him,
II would rather be dead than hear
that you had been untrue TO me" were
his words, Remember this Not that
/ feel anything but the utmost faith
In you. Ever, my own darling your
affectonate Roy Blount."
So 1t ended, Miss Trevanlon, as she
folded It, felt n sensation Of sudden
tightening at her throat, How good a
thing II seemed to her Just then to be
be loved-to have tender words on pa
per folded up and sent to one with the
certain knowledge In ones breast that
somebody was waiting with impatient
heart for other tender words in re-
turn.
Meanwhile "the queen" was standing
gazing into her face with eager long
ing eyes.
rs 1t not the very sweetest letter."
she said, innocently,
"rhe very sweetest letter | ever
read" returned her sister kissing the
upturned lips,
Then she went back to the cher
ished production, and read 1t again
with fresh warm interest that went
straight to Mabel's heart.
"Well, perhaps you had better take
It down and show 1t to mamma" she
said relentng; but do not let Aunt
Harriet see you Mildred"
SO Mildred, having given the desired
assurance, carried the letter away with
her to Lady Caroline, who read It with
eyes tenderly sulfused. Sir George,
coming in at the moment with the
companion epistle in his hand, con-
tanning a manly straightforward pro-
posal for Mabel, read It also, and sig
nl0ed his intense satisfaction in and
appreciation Of the entire affair, But
the engagement must Of necessity be
a long one, so he decided, the young
man-though with great expectations
on all sides-havlng little at the pres
ent time beyond his pay, They were
both only just as the commencement
Of their lives, so could afford to walt
until year or two had gone over thelI
heads; and when once Roy could sign
himself Captain" they might begin tC
look at things in a nearer light,
So It was arranged, to the delight
of all concerned, except Lady Eagle.
ton, who objected to every argument
that could be produced in their favor
protesting obstinately to the very last
that the girl was throwing herself
away
1t SO happened that by mutual con.
sent they had all maintained strict
taciturnlty on the subject Of the
Younges-their antecedents as mer-
chants Dur ct simple not being con-
sidered such as would meet the views
Of Lady Eagleton, She had wonder
fully relieved their minds by letting
them know of her intention to spend
Christmas with some more fortunate
relatives farther south, and indeed had
named day in the ensuing week as
that on which she would deprive them
Of her society.
The whole house instantly brighten
ed up, and began to look more like IT,
self, while 1t was thought with conf
dence that the Younges' visit might
now indeed forever be kept in the dark,
so far as their grand-aunt was con
cerned, But Eddie, unluckily, as it ap-
peared afterward, had been the only
one not warned on the matter, and
therefore It was he who, on the Sunday
before her departure, brought down
her ladyship's wrath upon the family.
Lord Lyndon was great favoHte
with her, he having certain placid
deferential way with him that never
failed to propitiate even the most OBJ
durate of old ladies, She characterized
him as well-bred, courteous and gem
tlemanly, looking upon him as a young
man who had happily escaped all the
communications of the period
II consider 1t q most fortunate
thing. in this out-of-theway place,
your having as a constant visitor a
young man so distinguished, she said;
and then she asked again, for about
the hundredth time, And where did
you first become acquainted with
him."
well, Just about the time the
Younges were here as well as | can
recollect,' answered Eddie promptly,
who was unhappily present
"The Younges? Who are they that
have never heard their names men
tioned?"
"0ld Younge went in for cotton some
years ago." answered Eddie, frankly,
and without moments hestation-"a
mode of making money that fear
your ladyshlp will scarcely appreciate;
but 1t paid uncommonly well in his
case, If we are to believe all the ac-