Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-02-28
A MADCAP MARRIAGE.

hayward son. But il is all of no use.
You have betrayed yourself. my pre-
clous. had hoped YOU might love me
before | spoke. and now | know YOU do.
Ii l cannot fight the world with Won for
my wife, | shall never do so with anvo le
else. L swear. Minnie. my darling. yor
must and shall be my wife"
And, before she could realize ii all. he
had clasped his strong arms around her.
and drawn her to his broad chest, in spite
OF her struggles, which, it must be con
lessed, were not of a very strenuous
nature.
At the same time, it must not be sup
posed that Minnie surrendered imme-
diately. On the contrary, when she had
recovered from her first surprise. she saw
all the obstacles to her union with tire
man she loved as plainly as before ana
pointed them out to him in no half
hearted manner. for in her love there cx-
listed not an atom Of selfishness, and she
had no ambition to wear a countess
coronet at the cost of her lovers future
career.
But Walter Saville was not to be rea-
soned with-what young man in love
ever was and replied by half leading
halt dragging her into the ld-fashioncd
parior of Heathcote farmhouse. where
they found John Merton pulling his
brain over pile of dusty old account
books.
With all the eagerness of an ardent
lover the earl told his story, and then
straightforwardly asked the farmers
consent to the marriage
John Merton was staggered. for al
though he had expected Minnie to make
what is vulgarly called "a good match"
III his widest flights of ambition he had
never hoped for such dazzling future
for his only child
At the same time the same objections
that had presented themselves to Minnie
now arose before her fathers mental
vision, and he was of too honestly proud
a nature &c give his consent to the union
until he had urged all these upon the
earl with a rugged but sincere eloqucnce.
The earl listened respectfully, but TIE
fathers arguments had no more effect
than the daughters. and at last, seeing
nothing would turn the earl from his
purpose, he gave his consent, though not
without very serious misgivings
And now, as Minnie walked over the
green, veiyety sNard, her thoughts car
ried her back to that day three months
ago, and she found herself graHelv ask
ing the question, whether she had done
right in giving her consent so readily,
and whether she had not acted selfishlv
in considering her own happiness before
| the future career of the man she loved
even though he had persuaded her to do
so.
1T was too late now. howeer. to recon
slider the matter for even now the earl
was in London making all the final ar
engagements, and she could not hope to sec
him again until they met beneath the
| porch of Cranleigh church ON the morrow.
Suddenly she was aroused from her
reverie by the noise of the little wicket
gate that opened from the farmyar |
swinging on its hinges, and turning
round, she saw in the bright sunlight the
/ tall figure of q man approaching.
lie was dressed in black, and wore the
orthodox frock coat and silk hat of tow,
/ society, but there was an irregularity in
/ his stride, and slouching, uneasy move
ment of the shoulders that sadly de
/ tracted from any effect his personal APP
/ pearance might have had upon a stranger.
His face was not unhaDdsOme for tie
| features were regular and we'll propor-
toned. and the eyes were large dark,
and of lustrous brightness, but all was
marred by the upward curve of the cor
ners of the mouth. which. added to the
upward twirl OF the black nustache. gave
the whole eountenaRee a sinister, Mephs
tophelean expression.
CHAPTER II.
| As Minnie gazed at her approaching
visitor, sudden feeling OF faintness al
most ovcrcame her, and she gladly
awaited herself of She support afforded by
the back of rustic seat placed beneath
| the shadow Of lie old pear-tree; but for
that, she would have sunk to the earth
You here, Cousin Rodericl,!" she cried
| in unaffected surprise. Il thought v0u
were out in South Africa with the
c. |. w"
$50 l was, my dear Minnie" replied
Rodcrick Crowther. with plainly per
ceptible sheer in his tone But even a
year must come to an end. and, our time
having expired, we returned last week t.
receive our country's thanks and-a din
ner."
And Eustace, has he come home too 2"
she asked
''He has not. Eidently he likes cam
paigning better than / do, for he Joined
enc of the innumerablc regiments of IL
regular horse being raised in Cape Town
But you do not say you are glad to see
me- Minnie
She flushed scarlet for TO tell the
truth. she was not particularly pleased to
see him at the present time, nor did she
approve OF him scurrying home as soon
rs ever his time was up. and leaving his
brother. careless, happy go-lucky Eustace,
behind.
THAT scarcely requires saying" she
stammered, "and l am sure dad will he
delighted. You must come to him at
once / know he is in the house"
NO, Minnie" he said firmly. Il do
not wish to sec him until have had i
few words with you alone. Tell me. is it
true that YOU are = Ss-.--. to the Earl of
| Jangddi4t"
she glanced down, and her eve rested
upon the plain diamond circlet upon the
fourth finger of her left hand.
1T Is quite true, Roderick," she said
quietly. I'VE are to be married tomor-
row"
Something like half-smothercd curse