Amador ledger., 1905-03-31
lat she intends to marry Mr.. Edward

Then Margaret proceeded to state
the number and length of her inter-
views with her lover-not quite as they
have been told above, but still sub
stantially and conscientiously exact
as to time and date.
: But, good heavens child that
makes five times that you have seen
him!'
Yes, father, five times; but that is
has been long enough for Edward to
learn to love me. -
80 it seems, - replied her father
dryly.
F" And 1 also love him. said Mar
garet quietly.
It's unheard of! perfectly ridicu-
lous!' cried Mr.. Durnford.
And then Margaret had asked that
pertinent question above recorded.
And why should not have a lover
as we'll as other girls?' Mr.. Durnford
was very much put out indeed. will
ycu see him, father?' inquired his
daughter with quiet persistency;
he is very anxious to see you.'
See him of course shall see him,
and make inquiries about him too!
Has he any pIofession?'
Not that know Of
No, | should imagine not. Has he
any income-any means of his own
then? What does he propose to keep
wife on? You could not expect
me to ask such questions as that,
fatherl' said Margaret.
'Umph! no, l suppose not. What
is he like then, this precious lover
of yours?
He is very handsome-the handsom-
est man L ever saw, answered the
girl, reddening with pleasure and
pride as she spoke of him.
Mr.. Durnford laughed.
Oh! and l suppose this handsome
young man tells you you are beautiful
too, my dear
No father; that he could not do,
she answered, with simple dignity
that was almost touching to see. Il
am not beautiful; but if my face as it
is is dear to him, that is enough for
Ge,
Well, said her father, after mo-
ment's pause, yon can tell your Mr..
Edward Welby that | will see him;
he canscall on me tomorrow morning
before l go into the city; half past
nine sharp, if he can get out of his
bed so soon.'
oh thank you, dear father!'
You needn't be in hurry to thank
me, Margaret, because l promise no.
thing; but will see the young man
and talk things over and see if any
thing can be done. You can write to
him and tell him so; and now run
away my dear. l must finish reading
my letters. and then be off,
But not to pen and paper did Mar
garet conide that precious message
of hope and good omen. Twenty min
utes later she was in the shady walk
of the Kensington gardens that leads
down towards the bridge over the
Serpentine, where her lover had
agreed to meet her.
Needless to say, she was there fully
twenty minutes before he made his
appearance. Had she known more OF
the world, this alone would have told
her that the ardor of his passion was
not very great. The lover who does
not keep to his appointment is scarce
ly worth the waiting for. But Mar
garet did not dream of reproaohing
him. She was so delighted to see
him appear that she hardly heard his
hurried excuses.
So dreadfully sorry, my dearest
girl! A fellow stopped me just as 1
was coming off with some stupid
busienss, and the hanson was the slow
est | was ever in. l thought l should
never get here. Well?"
Oh, Edward, my father will see
you tomorrow morning at half past
nine!'
ooh, come, that's hopeful. Was he
very angry about me, darling?'
No, not very; bnt he seemed to
think that you had known me rather
short time
Not too short to learn to love you,
my darling.
That is what told him, Edward,
said Margaret.
She had passed her arm under his,
and now walked by him looking up
proudly and adoringly into his face.
She was quite right. Edward Welby
was very handsome young man. He
was as she told herself, like hero in
a picture-tall, we'll made, and dark,
with regular features, and long
dropping moustache; that his eyes
were narrow and close together had
not perhaps struck her; nor that the
mouth was thin Tipped and mean look
ing, and that too was concealed by
his silky moustache. But on the whole
he was decidedly very handsome
man.
You must be very quiet with my
father, Edward, and tell him every
thing quite openly
oh, yes; L shall know how to talk