The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-10-18
HER SOCIETY v

said Racket was rich and his daughter
would be an hciress. She had known
Tom all her life, and there had been Il
time when she had believed that her
fathers wish might come to pass and
Tom Hadaway become her husband,
but with the elegant house in the fash
tonable square had arisen other ideas.
So during one of her fathers longest
voyages she permitted Melton Melton,
who had by slow degrees become her
beau ideal of manly perfection. to slip
an engagement ring upon her slender
papa in the most approved fashion.
why didn't you ask me frst?' said
the captain. "That puppy! Lord love
you! What do you women see in a fell
low like that? They amt men accord
ing to my reckoning, only gals in
wrong clothes! Him!'
"He adores me, papa,' said Eliza
beth, melting into tears, "and I should
papa"
"And how about Tom HadawayY
asked the captain.
At this Lizzie curled her lip.
.'Tom loves you better than his hfe,"
said the captain. "I've as much as CIV
en- him to understand that IN make II
objections. AS for this fellow, the only
use you could make of hin in the time
% .4o-,, ,,o,I1 M +C 4Lrn1xy him 81
overheard to tighten the ship, and, by
the Lord Harry, his weight wouldn't
make much difference. Think it over,
Lizzie..'
But Lizzie was firm, and she was the
captains pet, and, though the old mar
gave his consent very reluctantly, still
he gave it at last. And poor Tom Had
away heard the news with a sad heart
and sailed away to sea again with the
captain.
This time the captains voyage was
but a short one. He returned quite un-
expectedly one day with something
unpleasant evidently upon his mind.
"Perhaps," thought Lizzie, lit was
all about the engagement. Tom was
such a favorite."
She was so sure of this that she felt
nervous about mentioning the fact
that Melton Melton was anxious that
she should ''name the day." but she
did at last.
And, 1.-The young fellow arriving al
most on the moment, the captain
shook hands with him warmly enough,
and they sat down together very ami
cably.
"Has Miss, Lizzie-ah-ah-mention-
~ed-ah-the object of-in fact, Of this
call-ah-ah"-
''I've heard hat you are anxious to
be spliced as soon as possible, my lad"
said the captain, land I've just told
Lizzie that, as. things stand today, l
don't care how soon the affair is set
tied. I've got to leave home again,
and I'd rather leave her under some
ones care"
And the captain groaned.
"Ah, your health-ah, life is very
ah-uncertain!' said Melton Melton,
with a thought Of the reports of the
captains will at his heart.
my health is perfect" said the cap
tain, "and your Jack is as safe at sea
as on land, for that matter. But, you
see, something has happened. I've
been q precious fool To tell the truth,
plain enough for a marine to under
stand it, I've been specializing without
knowing what l was about, and I've
lost every penny l possessed I'm as
poor today as Jobs turkey, and
nat'rally I'm glad to see Lizzie set
tied"
Here the captain arose.
"Settle the day between you," he
said. "I'l leave you together" And
he rushed out Of the room.
Lizzie sank upon a sofa and burst
into tears. Melton Melton, Esq, stood
near her, with a peculiar expression
upon his face.
tits very distressing" he said. "'Pon
my word, l sympathize with you. l.
all couldn't trouble you to talk
about that little matter at so distress
ing a moment. ami believe delicacy
requires me to-ah-depart. Au re-
, voir!"
, And Melton Melton, Esq, vanished.
In q week the captain and his daugh.
.
ter had gone back to the old second
floor in the riverward street and there
with the painted furniture, the plaster
parrots, the bunch of white coral and
, other belongings which had been the
pride of the late Mrs. Jackets heart
a began a new life.
And thither, despite Lizzie's hopes
4 Melton Melton. ESQ.,, did not come tt
offer his fortune to the impoverished
heiress.
But thither once again Tom Hada
r way came often.
u And Lizzie, separated from tn
throng whose glitter had blinded her
saw Tom Hadaway's worth and at las
gave him her heart and hand, feeling
that all her adversities had been bless
ings in disguise, having brought her t