The Press., 1904-01-14
MISUNDERSTANDING
! MARRYING
A TITLE
Copyright, 1905, on T. c. McCTufe 3
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By Frank Leslie Bowss

= Copyright, 1905, by T. c. Mcclure
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Gerald Elkins was seriously disturb
ed over his mothers cold blooded pur-
nose to secure titled son-in-law. He
loved his sparkling, vivacious, warm
hearted sister. and his soul was In re-
volt at the idea of forcing her to make
a loveless marriage.
He was still bordering over the ques-
ton in the lobby of the Breslau hotel
when inspiration came to him in the
person of Tom Darlington, former
college chum.
After the first greetings Gerald
dragged his friend into quiet corner
and Immediately began to unfold MS
brilliant scheme.
tom, old man, you are sun slhsie
and heart free. aren't your
The other nodded in mild surprise.
Good! l didn't know but that you
had met your fate during the three
years you've spent In England. DO you
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.
srWeIl. of course she is a young lady
now and, if | do say it, one Of the
in
days travel. Most unfortunately,
mother has determined to marry Ell
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
NV plan is to introduce you to mother
and Elnore as an English nobleman
whom | met couple of years ago in
England I remember you once told me
YOUR father was an Englishman and
distantly related to the Earl of Wei
don. That's what made me think or
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 itT'
"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 trick
had played on her"
ooh, 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 l are sat
| isfied, and | can vouch for the gov
ernor's views. At any rate. as long as
you are i'm the party mother won't be
| infiicting 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 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 a flutter 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. Il gentleman whom | met two
years ago in England the last state
ment. ut least. being a literal truth.
Elnore's face bore a look of doubling
surprise as her eyes first rested on the
| clear cut features of my lord" and
the latters quick glance caught it. 1t
worried him a bit. but he soon forgot
| it in blissful enjoyment of her So
ciety.
"By George 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 | entered into his plot now.
I'll carry it through and win her if ]
cam ..-
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 a girl of the most distracting-
ly variable moods" he declared in half
despair one day to Gerald. 81 believe
she likes me. At times l almost think
| I've won her, she is so sweet and gra-
cious to me, and then just as l 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 woman's
way, my lord" he kept up the siege
most valiantly. Finally one day his
eager eye saw signal of distress in
her mantling cheeks and dropping eyes.
Then he boldly demanded capitula-
ton. . -.....
When she whispered. 81 love you,
Tom" he took her in his arms and
shamefacedly acknowledged the deceit
Elkins.
Mischievous dimples danced about
the corners of her sweet mouth as she
raised her head from his shoulder.
Tom Darlington" she cried gleeful-
lY and to his great CONSERVATION 81