Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-10-25
CHAPTER III.
MR.. PITT SAMSON.


ais Mrs. Warrington at home?"
Yes, sir. What name shall ! sayg"
'Mr. Pitt Samson"
'Oh, yes-this way, please, sir
Mr.. Pitt Samson had known that Mrs
Warrington was at home to him, and to
him only. 1t was, i'll fact, she who had
made the appointment, and there was
an even greater air of self importance
added to her usual bumptiousness as he
followed the servant to the ante-room
which led out of the drawing room, and
whose privacy was greater than the lat
ter apartments. He rather wondered
what Mrs. Warrington was going to say
to him, and whether it concerned Theo
Deering. But there was no nervousness
in his demeanor as he stood on the
hearth-rug, with his big feet planted
rather far apart, surveying the room
with condescending approval. There
was plenty of color and gliding about
it, for Mrs. Warrington was fond of
crimson plush and French mirrors, and
the combination suited Mr.. Samson's
taste. But he promised himself that
when he married Theo, his big house in
Hampstead should be done up even
more gorgeously than this. He had just,
in fancy, upholstered the drawing room
in particularly crude shade of peacock
blue, and dressed Thee in a pink silk tea
gown to await his return from the city
there, when his hostess entered with n
great rustling of skirts.
How dye do, Mr.. Samson?" she said,
in her loud voice-rather louder than
usual today, as though she were trying
to brazen out n difficult situation. sit
down, won't you? Now, daresay you
have been wondering why / asked you
to call on the quiet lika this p
Il hoped it referred to my suit with
your niece" said Pitt Samson, coming
to the point as directly as she could de-
sire.
$50 it does" the lady admitted. "And
I want little talk with you about her.
l suppose you are quite serious in want
ing to marry herr"
Mr.. Samson's red face grew rather
redder I'm as serious as | can be-"
he said explosively; but / don't see az
yet that it does me much good. Things
haven't advanced a bit since | first spoke
to you on the subject"
sOn the contrary, they have gone back!
You remember meeting us at the Acad
envy Soiree three weeks ago."
Yes. / do. And | thought Miss Theo
very standoffish in her manner that
night"
"Oh, that's only a girls airs-they
always put it on before marriage. You
can take it out of them afterwards to
make up" said Mrs. Warrington, with
coarse laugh. "But do you remember
a young fool in n high collar whom
found talking TO herr
THAT supercilious ass VINO was Lord
Somebody or said he was! How did
she get TO know him 7"
Mrs. Brimley Rourke introduced him
to her-I hate that womanl Meddhng
and interfering, and then putting on lit
tie innocent airs like a kitten! She has
been to call since, and brought him with
her"
Mr. Samson checked an oath and his
thick bTows came together in an ominous
frown. And your niece encourages
him q he said
Yes. He's been here off and on many
times during the past three weeks, and
/ thought it was about time you heard
how things were going. ! can't choke
him of. and Theo insists on seeing him
when he comes"
Can't you choose her friends for
hcr!"
Il wish ] could-Id soon bang the
door in his face, and Mrs. Rourke's, too,
But the girl is of age, and has a will Of
her own. If you want TO marry her.
we've got TO manage it more carefully
than by trying to use force"
Mr.. Samson sat on the red plush sofa.
and frowned. He was no diplomatjst,
though he managed his trade admirably.
He looked for help to Mrs. Warrington
What do you adviser" he said I've
set my heart on getting the girl, and /
won't spare trouble-no, nor expense.
She's a fancy article, and she's just what
want, and Pm prepared 70 pay for
her"
Exactly" said Mrs. Warrington, set
ting her hard month still harder. And
I'll be as frank as you. If you make it
worth my while. III marry her to you,