Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-10-05
Lady Rupert, the Matchmaker.

ly put her own experience to good adj
vantage, for Sir Rupert Fitzmaurice was
regarded by the matchmaking mothers of
twenty five years ago as the best catch
in his county. Lady Rupert had, more
over. carried on her success by marrying
her two eldest daughters well, if not
altogether happily, and was disliked by
other women as q designing matchmaker.
But her Youngest daughter, Alicia, was
a strange puzzle. She seemed absolutely
devoid of that social ambition which was
the handspring of Lady Rupert's matri-
monial designs.
Today she was particularly annoyed
with Alicia. This was the end of Alicia's
second season, and her mother had spent
a great deal IN dances and dinners, in
thea ter parties, and week ends for her
And yet when she had at last succeeded
in bringing really eligible young man
within her reach, Alicia persisted in snub
bling him.
MY dear Alicia" she said as they
drove home from the park, isn't it
little foolish to treat Lord Tewkesbury
as YOU did in the park this morning?
You gave him the coolest of bows,
and"
L don't like Lord Tewkesbury," Ali
cia broke in. She felt tired and cross,
and she was not going to be driven into
marrying any one whom she did not like
''As if that had anything to do with
it. said Lady Rupert snappishly "The
question is whether Lord Tewkesbury
likes YOU
Alicia shrugged her shoulders.
He is probably after my money" she
said
My dear Alicia, what silly. vulgar
thing to say" retorted Lady Rupert, now
thoroughly angry. 'sOf course, a man
in that rank, who is not very we'll off.
must marry money, but that does not
mean to say that he wants to marry
you for your money. | really don't
Know what will be the end of YOU
Alicia. [ think you are a selfish. spoiled
child. l spend my whole life in trying
to make you happy, and you simply
thWart all my schemes, although they
are for your own good
Alicia had d very biting retort on her
tongue, but she had an idea that it was
not only bad form, but dangerous. to
quarrel with her mother. After all. Lady
Rupert meant it for the best, and could
be q terrific bully, as Alicia knew, when
convinced of the wisdom of her schemes.
So Alicia heaved little sigh and said
nothing. Suddenly quick flush came
to her cheeks, and Lady Rupert, sharply
following her daughters eve, saw a
young man raise his hat and stop in in
decision. The carriage had been caught
liz a block of traffic, and he evidently
wanted to advance. But Alicia shook
her head with a slight smile, and the
next minute the figure was lost in the
crowd
"She can be polite when she wants to
be- thought Lady Rupert. IF | am not
mistaken, it is the briefless barrister,
whom [ so properly warned off when he
yentmed to call too often the foolish
girl is fond of him.
But Lady Rupert said nothing aloud,
and the rest of the journey home was
made in silence Alicia knew. however,
that her mother had noted the tell-tale
blush when size bowed to Mr.. Swinton,
and that the campaign would EG,7 begin
IN earnest.
Alicia was not an eavesdropper, but
the study door was a chink open. and
she could not help hearing voices as she
passed. She felt instinctively that she
was being discussed, but would probably
have passed on if the mention of her
own name had not arrested her attention
No, Sir Rupert said a voice which
was strangely familiar to her, II must
have three thousand pounds year as
your daughter Alicia's dot The estates
are heavily mortgaged, and it must be
SO arranged that most of the money is
at my disposal"
Alicia's heart beat very fast as she
heard her mother reply, II think three
thousand pounds is a very large sum,
Lord Tewkesbury."
There was a pause, in which Alicia
could hear the rustling of papers 1t
was her fathers turn to speak. But Sir
Rupert was a weak man, under the
thumb of his wife. However, he could
be obstinate about money
Shall we make it two thousand five
hundred pounds, Lord Tewkesbmy % said
Sir Rupert. Alicia, you know, is not
an ordinary girl; she is exceptionally
well educated. exceptionally well edu-
cated''-and her fathers voice died away
among the rustling of the papers.
Alicia clencbed her hand Did they
THINK she was mere cipher who could
be bought or sold?
Yes, | do think, Lord Tewkesbury''-
this time it was Lady Rupert's voice
that you are very lucky man. and
then the tone was lowered Her mother
was evidently trying to get round the
young man.
L am very sorry said Lord Tewkes-
bury, and his voice was loud and de-
cisive, but [ cannot do without three
thousand pounds. Of course, it is detest-
able to haggle in this way, and l am
quite aware of Alicias good points, -
Gle speaks about me as if 1 were a
horse thought Alicia, ready to laugh
and to cry.) Il fear that three Thousand
pounds is my limit" he added. ("NIy
price, he means" said Alicia to herseIf.)
Won't you think it over? Heiresses.
my dear fellow, are not very common at
present" 1t was Sir Rupert who spoke.
We'll. We'll" said Lord Tewkesburv,
with a laugh, perhaps l had better ask