The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-01-31
AN AcCOMPLHE.
Ey CECIL IILyTER.

|
i say, Uncle Tommy" said Eric
looking very woebegone, lou might
give me helping hand"
Il shook my head It's against all my
principles to muddle myself up ir 9th
er peoples concerns. It is a 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 we'll hep me-" re-
! peated Eric, after pouring himself out
drink. You know the Ogre thinks
I suce of a lot of you
The Ogre" l should explain, is
ErlcS dlsrespectft. way of referring to
his, maternal uncle. Sir Richard Allot-
son, whose prcsunable heirs he is, Sil
Richard being widower without chill
dren.
You see, it's this way" he con-
tinued. Il haven't got farthing in the
world barring my allowance, and the
Ogre threatens to cut me Off with the
proverbial shilling, or even without it,
if | marry. I can't even induce him to
see Betty, or listen to anything about
her"
"As far as can make OUT said l
Judiciously, ''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 reyered uncle hates her
profession for reasons of his own
thinks you, for similar reasons, an
adjectived idiot, as you so nicely put it,
and bids you choose between marri-
age and comfortable income"
That's about the size of it," groan-
ed Erie.
well then, which do you intend to
choose, love or lucre?"
Don't be absurd retorted Eric
stiTy, 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"
l 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 |
door to no money, she was studying |
elocution, with view to making her |
way on the stage. She was plucky |
girl, and pretty one into the bar
gain: also she was devoted to Eric
All this he knew too, but what he aid
not know was the reason why his crus-
ty but k.nd-hearted old uncle was
such woman-hater, and so dead set
against marriage. l 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 a young man still, and set
ne thinking.
Il will see what can do" said l
The next afternoon had long talk
With Betty. Three or four days later
asked Sir Richard to core and nave
J bit of dinner with me at the Carlton,
md he assented.
BY the way" said l. II hope you
Won't object, but I've got q young
l.end Of mine coming, too, very pret-
Y girl, in whom l ta.se an interest
Miss Caselet She doesn't get much
poor little thing. ard |
hcusht it might cheer her up
Betty was good quarter Of an lolr
ate-girls always are. it is their priv
,ge. l.
However, when she did come she
,oked SO pretty found myself envy
lg Eric in secret. anil wishing | was
omc twenty years younger. She made
erself SO pleasant and agreeable and
as SO witty and apt in her remarks,
lat before we had finished the entire
yen Richard himself was t.t:ayed in
} series of approving grunts.
Sir Richard piled her with more
uestions as to how she lived and
here, all of which Betty answered
enough. Finally. r. wormed 6
1t of her the story Of Ler engagement. !
J Eric and the obstacle of the hard
,arted. uncle-nanes carefully sup
'essed; for Betty, fcrewarned ~ me,
AS perfectly aware Who he was. and {
e situation aroused her dramatic ;
lenta