Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-08-27
Continued.

her most desperate resolves, Drought
a smile to the lips of Florence; and
Mrs. Harcourt, happening most I'M
fortunately to see one of those smiles,
commenced a violent TRADE against
the insolence of paupers. 1t was in
terrupted By a summons from Mr..
Harcourt, who wished to speak to her
at once.
I'VE shall soon know now, my
dears," said the lady. pray do not
allow any trace of ill-feeling to inter
fere with Sir Leonard's happiness"
But the battle was renewed most
fiercely when Mrs. Harcourt had gone
away. How it would have terminated
had Sir Leonard really asked for one
or the other will never be known the
astounding intelligence that. reached
them made them friends in a common
cause.
Mrs. Harcourt entered the library
with an air of winning ease and dig
nifty that she really believed irresisti-
bic, "a smile that was gracious and
broad" but the smile faded abruptly
when she saw no one but her husband,
and he was looking more surprised,
more frightened, more miserable than
she had ever seen him look before.
He gazed at her in silence, then spread
out his hands with a gesture that sig
nifled unusual ruin and desolation.
What Is the matter?" cried his
wife. why can you not speak-why
do you stand looking so foollsh?"
MY dear" said the little man, q
| really dare not tell you. | am over
whelmed!"
will you have the goodness to tell
me what you mean and what has hap
pened?" said Mrs. Harcourt, reso-
lutely.
She drew near him with such an I'M
flnching expression OF face that his
fright increased.
sir Leonard Falconer has been
here. and he has proposed"
"Of course" said the lady, with
gratifled smile. II knew 1t. am
right proud of it. No need to make
this absurd fuss-only tell me which
of my darlings It is? The dear girls
themselves do not seem to know-we
must not keep them in suspense"
He has proposed for Florence
Latour, and insists on marrying her.
What" shrieked the lady Say
that again."
The unhappy gentleman repeated
the words, and his wife's rage knew
no bounds.
That deceitful. cunning intruder!
Where has he seen her? How does he
know her? Did you tell him what she
was?"
Il did. | made the worst of her,
you may be sure. He looked so fierce
that really thought he was going to
XIII me. 1t Is all of no use; he means
to marry her, and we can not prevent
it,"
Il will prevent it,-she shall go this
moment!-she shall not remain in this
house another hour!"
Then he will marry her all the
sooner-he said So he said that, with.
out doubt, we should oppose the mar
riage; If so, his friend Lady Brough.
ton, should at once fetch the girl
away. and he would marry her at
once; but If. on the contrary, every
thing was peaceable and friendly. he
proposed that he should marry her
from here in a month from now
That he never shalll How am | to
bear this? If you had but the spirit OF
a man you would have prevented it,
How could | prevent it, my dear?H
Pray do not talk to me!--pray dc
not irritate me! am almost mad to
think of such chance lost"
But. after a long conversation. the
irate lady, who was not without sense
saw that nothing was to be gained by
quarreling with Sir Leonard,
Our neighbors would all laugh al
us said her husband: they would
know we were disappointed: and to be
on bad terms with Sir Leonard and
Lady Falconer, of Falcons Court
might be great disadvantage to us.
Pray do not call that upstart Lady
Falconer" said Mrs, Harcourt. with
lofty contempt.
she will be Lady Falconer. let us
say what we may, II strikes me tina
1t would be very bad policy on tn,
part of the girls to quarrel with her.
DO you assure me that he know,
what she is by birth and training, Mr.
Harcourt?"
Plainly as the plainest EngllSl
could tell him. my dear"
Il will make her suffer; she shall
have such month as she shan re
member let her live long as ST.,
may"
And. with those words, Mrs. Har
court left her husband to his own re
Elections, and returned to the room
where she had left her daughters
They looked up eagerly as she en-
tered.
What news. mammae" they both
cried.
She sunk in chair and held up
her hands.
such horror. my dear children-I
am so grieved for poor Sir Leonard
which of us is it, mamma?" asked
Jane. who was never impressed by