Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-12-03
MISUNDERSTANDING
] MARRYING
) A TITLE |
9 By Frank Leslie Bowen
4 CoD,ufob1 1905 btJ T. C. Mcclure

He was still pondering over the ques-
ton In the lobby of the Breslau hotel
when inspiration came to him in the
person Of Tom Darlington, a former
college chum.
After the first greetings Gerald
dragged his friend into quiet corner
and Immediately began to unfold his
brilliant scheme.
tom, old man, you are still single
and heart free, aren't your
The other nodded in mild surprise.
"Goodl l didn't know but that you
had met your fate during the three
years you've spent in England Doyou
know, the sight of you put a queer
idea into my head. You remember my
little sister, Elnore? You saw her once
about six years ago. She was only a
little girl of fifteen then, but l remem-
Der you said you thought her deucedly
pretty"
The others brown syes kindled at the
recollection.
"Well, of course she Is young lady
now and, If l do say it, one of the
loveliest girls that you'll meet in many
q days travel. Most unfortunately,
mother has determined to marry FL
more off to some duffer with title, and
she's badgering the life out of the poor
girl about it. So far Elnore has turned
down all the lords, counts, ct cetera.
for, though she says she is willing to
marry one provided she loves him, she
draws the line at the half baked speci-
mems of nobility that the mater has
sprung on her. | want you to come to
the rescue, Tom. Go in and win the
little sister yourself and save her from
the titled fortune hunters. You'll fall
In love with her, I'll wager my head.
My plan is to introduce you to mother
and Elnore as an English nobleman
whom 1 met a couple of years ago in
England. l remember you once told me
your father was an Englishman and
dlstantly related to the Earl of Wei
don. That's what made me think of
the plan. OF course, having only seen
you once for a few minutes years ago,
Elnore won't remember you. Join our
party for the next two months while
we are doing Germany and Austria.
What do you think Of it?"
For heavens sake, Elkins, are you
serious?" the other gasped.
"Never more so in my life"
"But your sister! You are not con-
sidering whether she will like me or
not. Then think of the position 1t
would put me in. She would despise
me when she discovered what a trick
l had played on her."
"Oh, she'll like you all right, and you
can tell her the truth when you pro
pose You need not care what the 9th
ers think so long as dad and are sat
isfied, and | can youch for the gov
ernor's views. At any rate, as long as
you are In the party mother ''1'
inflicting any more of these fossilized
and impecunious mobiles on the poor
girl"
There was a peculiar twinkle in Car
rington's eyes, and he gazed medita-
lively at the opposite wall a full min
ute before answering.
'I'll do it." he said briefly as he
swung around. "You may introduce
me as Lord Carnleigh, the courtesy
title of the heir apparent Of the Earl
of Weldon"
Tom Darlington was tall and broad
shouldered, with polished manners Of
a man of the world Mrs. Elkins was
In futter of ecstasy that evening as
her son presented to her "my Lord
Carnleigh, heir apparent of the Earl
of Weldon, Castle Weldon, Sussex, Eng
land, a gentleman whom / met two
in, 4ba Iao cfo 70
ment, at least, being literal truth.
Elnore's face bore look of doubling
surprise as her eyes first rested ON the
clear cut features of my lord" and
the latter's quick glance caught 1t. 1t
worried him a bit, but he soon forgot
1t In blissful enjoyment Of her So
ciety.
by Georgew he exclaimed as he
paced up and down his own room
later In the evening. Gerald was not
a bit too partial in his praise of her.
She's the handsomest, brightest, most
adorable little girl I've ever met. I'm
not sorry 1 entered into his plot now.
I'll carry it through and win her If I
can"
Carrington's courtship Of Elnore dur
ing the next few weeks was of the
most industrious and persistent char
acter. Gerald smiled contentedly as
he watched the couple SO absorbed in
themselves, so oblivious to externals.
Mamma Elkins, too, was complacent.
True, Lord Carnleigh" found no
easy victim to his noble charms.
"She's q girl of the most distracting-
ly variable moods" he declared in halt
despair one day to Gerald. 81 believe
she likes me. At times / almost think
I've won her, she is so sweet and gra-
cious to me, and then just as I am
getting my courage up to the proposal
pitch she'll suddenly turn cool as an
iceberg"
Taking consolation from Gerald's
wise commonplace, That's q woman's
way, my lord" he kept up the siege
most valiantly. Finally one day his
eager eye saw signal Of distress in
her mantIing cheeks and dropping eyes
Then he boldly demanded a capitula-
ton.
When she whispered, 81 love you,
fom," he took her in his arms and
shamefacedly acknowledged the deceit
pc had practiced upon her and Mrs.
Elkins.
Mischievous dimples danced about
the corners of her sweet mouth as she
raised her head from his shoulder.
"Tom Carrington," she cried gleeful-
ly and to his great CONSERVATION, Il
knew who you were the moment saw
you there in Breslaul A schoolgirl OF
fifteen never forgets q young man she
meets, particularly II he is a-a-well,
rather good looking fellow. knew
you were not Lord Carnleigh.' / don't
believe / should have learned to like
you SO well If you had been. l have
grown prejudiced against titles since
/ have been in Europe. OF cCvrse, /
forgive you, you bad, deceitful fellow,
but / can't say what mamma will do"
Mamma" did just what Tom antici-
pated when he told her of his love for
her daughter and bravely confessed
that he had been guilty of an atrocious
hoax In passing as Lord Carnlelgh.
Apologies availed him naught. Even
when Gerald broke in and attempted
to assume responsibility for the whole
affair and to explain that Darlington
was rich and really connected with
noble English family, Mrs. Elkins'