New-York tribune., 1903-04-05

We'll if they did, no one could blame for
not being Lady Blakenhurst-not even mother,
she said deTnure smile creeping into her eyes
To think had actually brought him back for
her sake, and all the time she would have well
coined his abduction as good get outI
mad idea came TO me
Just one question" I suffered ''Supposing
he had been carried off. would the fact of quaint
Aunt Selina's recent decease have inclined you
for another courtship?"
Her eyes dropped before mine.
Perhaps" she answered, softly. but what's
the good? He is here STILL" she added, regret
fully.
On the impulse caught hold of her hand and
kissed it
Yes but he won't be long," I said IN just
put him back the yacht again Thank
Heaven, he's a man that can be managed!
Goodbyi Don't go to bed until l return"
heard her give a little gasp of aTnazenent'
then raced away and up to Blakenhursts room
two stairs at time. I found him lying his
bed, still fully dressed 1 caught hold OF MS
shoulder.
"AwfuIly sorry Blakky, but made a fright
full mistake in getting you away just noWF
cried, breathlessly. 1T appears the colonel told
Mrs. VAN excuse for YOU, that you'd been
uDayo1dably called away Tor an houT out liraI Ia
he had extracted your solemn promise to re-
turn for the remainder of the evening. so
came at once to bring you back
He was very muddled, but found water
bottle again.
You simply must make the effort. else Mrs.
Van viii forgive you point of honor,
my dear old son!" 1 continued
With a few more unscrupulous arguments
managed to get him on to his staggering ieet
OF
hour we were board the yacht, and put him
in the cabin-just for a few minutes, 10 pun nm
! self together, 1 told him He laid his weary
form in the bunk, and l knew that thirty Sec
onds after I left he would be asleep again
Then 1 picked VI cigarette case belonging
to the colonel and made my way round to the
music saloon. Mrs Van was still singing eA-
plained how 1 had discovered had taken away
the by mistake and thought II ptlter "
return it at once. ,
Mrs Van and the colonel came out on to the
deck to see me off for the second Tune we
passed the cabin, and the colonel couldn't resist
opening the door and peepinS in
''Sleepin like a babel" he remarked con,
tentedly as he turned the key in the lock anu
slipped it into his pocket ~
| II somehow feel as if my conduct left a niue
10 be desired this evening" l said, thought1uIy
But the end justiies the means, dear MI
Trenchr' cried Mrs. Van, as she gave me d par
ing affectionate pressure of the hand
And as ultimately all of US seemed hlghIy
pleased with the result suppose 1t did
The only one who was. perhaps, not c0mpleteiy
charmed from the outset was Mrs HetherIon-
On discovering that Lord Ernest had SicLuatly
taken his departure Mrs. Van "Opens yacnl,
she was terribly annoyed, for, OF course she
realized that her prize had been snatched from
her I pacified her to the best OF my aDlIIy:
Beyond doubt he was managed SdIu,
1.-THE only thing now is to save the SITUATION anu
pet the first laugh. There is but one way TO 90
that-oe course, 1 only speaking as a frleno!
I said, apologetically.
'sWeIl?'' said Mrs. Hetherton, irnpatlently-
"T would suggest Patties immediate engage
working fellow, tried and trusty, Wlth' say TWO
thousand a year. z
Mrs. Hetherton glanced up sharply. and
caught her daughter smiling at me III the hiosI
barefaced manner.
She now calls me by my Christian name. L
s11ppose one must allow a mOther-1n-laW soII'
license.-CThe Sketch.
IL 4 ID