Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-12-05


some dull country village, where the
most she could hope for was to marry
the curate.
And all tdis time she was doing her
best to avoid giving either of her rich
suitors chance of proposing to her.
At length, little Sir Frederick Hobson,
by-as she strongly suspected bribing
the footman, obtained admittance to the
house whilst her aunt was out.
1t was quite evident that he had come
with the full determination of asking
her TO share his million. He was fidgety,
ms face was red, and he used even more
slangy expressions than usual in his
speech.
Lefty kept him at distance for
while, but he suddenly seized both her
hands, and blurted out
Miss Monkston-Letty. | am awfully
gone on you, and / want you to say that
you win be Lady Hobson / don't care
what l spend on you, if YOU will only saw
Yes; and, by Jove! you know there are
lots OF girls that would be only too han
py of the chance / will do the right
thing IN settlements, and though | don't
care much about parties. YOU shall have
| your fling every season. The old lady
/ =
as Punch, so give us a kiss, LEFTY, and
we can get married and settled before
the hunting season sets in"
He had held her wrists tight till now
but, IN trying to place his arm round her
waist, he had freed her right hand.
1t was unladylike, of course, but the
proVocation was great, and the smack
he received on the check echoed through
| the room.
How dare you'll" painted the girl.
Have l ever given you the slightest en-.
enlargement that you should dare to in
suit me| Then, forcing back the hot
words that were rising to her lips. she
| pointed to the door. "The only apology
| you can make is to go out of this house
at once, Sir Frederick she said. IF Won
! do so, | viii say nothing of what has
happened, and if 1 cannot forget, | will
| try and forgive"
| Utterly cowed and bewildered the lit
tie baronet withdrew. 1t seemed incred-
ible to him that any girl in her senses
should refuse him. Sir Frederick Hob
son, who had an income of over forty
thousand year
| All, she is mad!'' he muttered to him.
| self, as he left the house. Deuce take
| it, you know, she must be-
| BY the time he reached the end of the
street another point had struck him.
by gadl l hope she will keep her
mouth shut, the little viper" he growled.
How the fellows would chat will
pay her out for that slap n the face
one of these days, if l only get the
chance"
| Fortunately for Lefty, this interview
mot IN be nf I n
who, noticing that Sir Frederick no
longer took the pains to meet Lefty as
he had done formerly booked it to Lady
| Mottesford's account.
The way that woman and her daugh-
ter angle for the poor man is really hor-
rible," she remarked to Lefty. $50 bare
! faced. But just wait till Uptonbury
proposes to you, my love, and then YOU
will see how envious they win be- After
all, it is quite time Ethel married; it is
her third season, and Lady Mottesford
must be very anxious"
But to return to Lefty.
Hardly had Sir Frederick taken his de-
parture than the striking of the clock
warned her that it was time TO start, if
she was to keep her appointment in the
| Gardens with Cyril Fortescue
She had counted on her freedom for an
hour or two that day, for it was that
which Lady Eversmore devoted to hos
| pital, OF which she was one of the lady
patronesses.
Smarting from the scene she had Just
gone through, the cool green of the Gar
dens seemed inexpressibly soothing to
the excited girl. So did the prospect of
seeing Cyril He never worried or fright
ened her. He seemed content to be happy
for the moment in her company, and
never referred to the future
1t was very pleasant while it lasted,
yet Lefty was perfectly aware that the
decisive moment would come before long
OF course, neither her father nor her aunt
would dream of listening to her marrying
the penniless guardsman, whilst to marry
such man as Lord Uptonbury. or even
Abel Sternford, seemed more than she
could force herself to do.
eff only Philip had not gone away"
she thought, "and / had never came to
London and met Cyril | might have
learned to love him, and we could have
lived so happy and contented down at
Radcliffe And he would have managed
to help papa somehow, | know. Poor
Philips am glad he never writes.
Her thoughts travelled back to the
park, and she saw Philip tall, manly,
tender and true, as he had ever been.
And he loved her.
II saw you amongst the trees, dear, so
came to meet you. What makes you
look so grave? Any row at homer"
It was Cyril's voice, and Lefty awoke
from her reverie with start.
She shook her head Presently she
might tell Cyril about little Sir Fred
erick's proposal, for she feared, when her
aunt came to hear Of it and her refusal,
she might be sent straight back to the
court, but at that moment, with her
thoughts full of the past, she felt in
capable of doing so.
"0h, nothing" she answered; "only /
am dreadfully weary of this London
season. This seems to be the only cool
place in town. How late you are!"
NO." he said, looking at his watch.
81 think you are the late party, Lefty.
/ was extra punctual, as / rather wanted
to talk things over with you today"