The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-10-07
LADYLOVE
-
-. By.
MARTHA Neutrality-suspicious.
Copyright, 1893, by T. G. Mcclure
s%s+s*s*s*s**

tllt L ItIltu AliiIoN lito tit libIuls III
Cresswel he mude half motion TO
turn back. Ladylovc was crying hard.
her head buried in her folded arms On
the big library table, Aunt Nun sat u
little way of, frowning, yet heaming
over u letter. She ii WAS Who caught
sight of Jack and called 10 him with lit
tie excited breaks between her words:
Don't 20 away, Mr.. Nanston. You
must help me make this hcndstrons
child listen To reason
IF she's badly in need of discipline
suppose you let me take her for walk
this morning. Jack said. pulling II
rrbellious curl that strAyed down over
l.adylove's neck. she told me yes
teriay she hated me.
Miss Nancy shook her head. Il can
not permit the walk now" She put
such emphasis on the last word Jack
could not choose but ask, Why"
"Oh. ia elk" Ladylove walled, sitting
up. hut keeping her face hidden. Its
because she wants me To marry that
fat, pig eyed Sandy Corlew. He he
has written to her proposing fancy
proposing that way
Il ut least appreciate dear Sandy's
fine Difference To your natural guard
ian" Miss Nancy said, sitting
thought straighter and earessing the
letter with two fingers Then, In an
swcr to the question of jacks eyes, she
went on: OF course Lndylove will ac-
cept She came here to establish her
self"
Il didn't 1t was just because
thought you We're lonely and wanted
me and there were So many of us ut
home one could well be spared" Lady
love broke in. and | had rather 20
back To daddy and the pigs and the
chickens and the children and have
only calico froeks than marry this
this OFF"
She was standing at the last word.
one little foot stamping hard as she
spoke. Jack dared not look straight at
her II he did he knew he should catch
her in his arms and comfort her That
would ruin everything 1t WIS elenrly
casc for diplomacy. He said sooth-
ia4lS Ia tsadylaNc. FLUSH, naughty
girl" Then To Aunt Nancy i agree
with you. Miss Crcsswell Sandy Cor
lew Is n fine, solid fellow, WHO may nj
ways bc depended on To do the right
thing But please let me see his letter
I'm not asking ont of impertinent cu
rioSity," rs he saw denial In her face.
"Do believe that! | have an idea
that that you may not have under
stood quite what lac meant"
Jntk's breath came fast as he said
ii. lie WAS 10y turns hot and cold. But
desperate eases require desperate an
dacitics. lie bent toward Miss Nancy
and half forciby took the letter, read
ii through twice, folded II. read II
again then stood with 1t in his hand,
the model of one impellcd To speak, yet
loatl To obey the impulse. Miss Nancy,
watching him as bird watches n
snake, at last snapped out. We'll,
what's the natter DO you find any
thing strange or startling In the fact
that "A gentleman has the courage ana
tleceney to say outright hc wants TO
marry my niece
40 NOT, Jhth Salh, th'li III 'oh
strained voice but forgive me, Miss
Nancy has he said sof think not
why, bless and snVe us, Are you
crazyf" Miss Crcsswell demanded.
Not n bit of it, jack retortcd stout
ly only that you have misunder-
stood Here is all the first page about
how he has admired you all his life
and now that he has reached mans
estate hopes for closer alliance.
And then with manly courage most
admirable he sums up, My heart Is
set on marrying the one woman In
the world for me Miss Nancy Walton
CrcsswclI' Ladylove Is Nancy Walton
Gresswell on the family register, but
whoever heard her called SO anywhere
elsef"
ooh, you can't mean that. 1t would
be too ridiculous" Miss Cresswell said,
but as she said ii she turned away
her head TO hide the blush that spread
even TO her round white chin. Lady
love sprang ut her like mad thing
crying out: It's truth, Auntie Nam. II
must be true. Sandy means you; no
body else And you'll take him, and
I'll adore my Uncle Sandy. He's only
nicely fat after all. and I'm sure a
pigs eyes can be kind and funny
"Ladyloye, you forget YOURSELF"
Jack said, his voice heavy with re
proof Then to Miss Cresswell: Hon
estly | cannot doubt that Sandy meant
you. That was why ! insisted upon
seeing the letter. | had heard him say
things which made me sure you nils
and did not want you to
make IA grave mistake"
"Why, the boy Is ten years younger
than | am" Miss Cresswell said weak
~, stealing glance at herself In the
mantcl glass.
'And looks live years older at the
very least" Jack said. That is one
advantage Of being so ahem- well, so
finely built. At least think ii over.
Tell him youll take week to consid.
er his proposal
"You don't think | could be so in
delicate as to accept mean to say
either yes or no-under fortnight"
hlSS IfShNtH l u hliNt "
Sandy that | must consult my brother
and shall possibly give him definite
answer at the end of Il fortnight"
With that she clutched the letter and
vanished. The door had hardly shut
behind her when Jack had Ladyloye
tight in his arms and was saying to
the curls on the top of her head: Hon
ey girl, would you believe ! sat up two
full nights concocting that epistle for
the good fat witted Sandy? Even at
the last | was afraid he'd see through
1t. although truly it is document you
can read pretty well any way you
choose. My heart was in my mouth
unA Aunty Nan took the bait. Now
We two have plain sailing. Before the
fortnight Is up we can be-
WHAT Ladyloye asked GREATNESS
~, freeing herself and standing In front
OF him on tiptoe. lie caught both her
hands aud made her reverence, say
ing softly: Happy and married. My