Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-11-08
AN ACCOMPLISH.
BY CECIL HAYTER-


shook my head. It's against all my
er peoples concerns. 1t is thankless
task at best, and induces indigestion.
Have cigarette" said |. You'll
find whisky and soda on the table over
there in the corner"
You might just as well help me-" re-
peated Eric. after pouring himself out
a drink. You know the Ogre thinks
n deuce of lot of you
The Ogre" l should explain, is
Eric's disrespectful way of referring to
his maternal uncle, Sir Richard Allot-
son, whose presumable heirs he is. Sir
Richard being a widower without chill
dren.
You see. it's this way" he con-
tinued. Il haven't got a farthing in the
world barring my allowance. and the
Ogre threatens to cut me of with the
proverbial shilling or even without 1t.
Ii marry. | can't even induce him to
zee Betty, or listen to anything about
her.
las far as | can make out" said l
judiciously. 1.-The case stands some
thing like this: You are in love with
Miss Betty Caselet. She is in love with
her profession. and incidentally with
you. Your revered uncle hates her
profession for reasons of his own-
thinks you. for similar reasons. an
sdjectived idiot. as you so nicely put it.
and bids you choose between marri-
age and a comfortable income"
That's about the size of it," groan-
cd Eric
We'll then, which do you intend to
choose. love or lucre?'
Don't be absurd" retorted Eric
5tiffiy. there is no question of choice.
Nothing will induce me to give up
Betty, but at the same time don't see
what in the world We are to marry on.
That's why I've come to you to see il
you can't coax the Ogre into a more
rationed and human frame of mind"
happened to know Betty Caselet;
she was a particular friend of mine.
She was lady of birth. and. being
possessed of strong dramatic instinct.
Inherited from her mother. and next
1oor TO no money. she was studying
elocution. with a view to making her
way on the stage. She was a plucliy
girl, and a pretty one into the bar
gain: also she was devoted to Eric
All this he knew too. but what he did
lot know was the reason why his crus-
~ but kind-hearted old uncle was
such woman-hater. and so dead set
against marriage. I did. 1t was an old
story, and had been played to a finish
while Eric was still in the region of
the nursery. And this fact conjured
memories of bygone days. when Sir
Richard was young man still, and set
me thinking.
Il will see what l can do" said
The next afternoon had long talk
With Betty. Three or four days later
Z asked Sir Richard to come and have
bit of dinner with me at the Carlton.
and he assented.
BY the way" said /. Il hope you
won't object. bEt I've got q young
friend of mine coming. too. very pref
~ girl, in whom | take an interest
Miss Caselet. She doesn't get much
amusement, poor little thing. and
thought il might cheer her up
Betty was good quarter of an lo'r
ate-girls always are. il is their priv
tege.
However. when she did come she
looked so pretty found myself envy
ing Eric in secret. AMI wishing | was
some twenty years youngei. She made
herself so pleasant and agreeable and
was so witty and apt in her remarks.
that before we had finished the entire
even Richard himself was t:ayed in
o series of approving grunts
Sir Richard piled her with more
questions as to how she lived and
where. all of which Betty answered
truthfully enough. Finally. b. wormei
out of her the story of Ler engagement.
TO Eric and the obstacle of the hard
hearted uncle-nan;es carefully sup
pressed: for Betty, fcrewarned h. lie.
was perfectly aware who ne was. and
the situation aroused her dramatic
talents.
The way she pitched into the selfish
ness. narrow :ninde,!ness. and general
perversity of that uncle was delicious:
and when old Sir Richard agreed with
her Tin all innocence) that such con-
quot was scandaious. thought should
have succumbed to the pains of re-
strained laughter.
There is no such thing as acting
nowadays" said Sir Richard, apropos
of things theatrical.
when | was young man, my dear
once knew woman who could have
acted Rachel's head off or Bernhardt's
either, only she made a fool Of ner-
self. threw it up. and married some
parson fellow"
What was her name" asked Betty.
"Her name. Ell? Never mind her
name" grrnte1 Sir Richard.
But l saw his face twitch with pain:
1t was his life's secret that was being
touched upon.
WAS it Violet Delamaine?" said
Betty softly
Sir Richard jumped as if he had been
shot.
''Eh? What? Why, bless my soul.
How did you guess that?"
''She was my mother" said Betty.