The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-12
LADY RUPERT'S
UNLUCKY DAY.

II was tANA AAsNM ANAAsC Ul ALCu- NIr Aa4
certainly put her own experience to
good advantage for Sir Rupert Fitz-
maurice was regarded by the match
making mothers OF 25 years ago as the
best catch in his county.
Lady Rupert had, moreover. carried
IN her success by marrying her two
eldest daughters we'll, if not altogether
happily. and was disliked by other
women as designing matchmaker.
But her youngest daughter. Alicia,
was a strange puzzle. She seemed alb
solutely devoid of that social ambition
which was the handspring of Lady Ru-
pert's matrimonial designs.
To-day she was particularly annoyed /
with Alicia This was the end of Ali /
oia's second season. and her mother
had spent a great deal in dances and |
dinners, in theater parties and week
ends for her.
And yet when she had at last sue
eeeded in bringing a really eligible |
young man within her reach, Alicia /
persisted in snubbing him.
My dear Alicia" she said, as they
drove home from the park, isn't It
/ little foolish to treat Lord Tevksbury
as you did in the park this morning
You gave him the coolest OF bows
/ and"
Il don't like Lord Tewkesbary.' Ali
cha broke in.
"As if that had anything to do with
it. said Lady Rupert snappishly THE
question is whether Lord Tewksbury
likes YOU"
''IIe is probably after my money"
my dear Alicia. what silly vulgar
thing to say retorted Lady Rupert
now thoroughly angry "Of course,
man in that rank who is not very well
of must marry money, but that doea
not mean to say that he wants to mar
+ ry you for your money. I spend my
/ whole life in trying to make you hap
py. and you simply thwart all nv
schemes. although they are for your
own good.
Alicia had 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 a terrific bully, as Alicia
knew.
50 Alicia heaved 4 little sigh, and
said nothing. Suddenly quick flush
came to her cheeks. and Lady Rupert
sharply following her daughters eye
saw young man raise his hat and
stop in indecision.
The carriage had been caught in a
block of traffic. and he evidently want
! ed to advance. But Alicia shook her
head with slight smile, and the next
minute the figure was lost In the
crowd.
she can be polite when she wants Il
be- thought Lady Rupert. If an
e not mistaken, it Is the briefless harris
ter. whom | SO properly warned of
!. when he ventured to call too often; thi
$ foolish girl is fond of him"
: The rest of the journey home wa
h made in silence. Alicia knew, how
Z ever. that her mother had noted tn,
y tell-tale blush when she bowed to MIR
X Swinton, and that the campaign woul'
e now begin in earnest.
Alicia was not an eavesdropper, bu
e the study door was a chink open. an
II she could not help hearing voices a
d she passed. The mention Of her owl
u name had arrested her attention.
Ie "No, Sir Rupert" said voice whic
: was strangely familiar to her, 7 mus
NJ have E3.c00 a year as your daughte
N Alicia's dot. The estates are heagil
- mortgaged. and 1T must be so arrange
n that most of the money is at my dis
e posal"
a Alicia's heart beat very fast as 81
T. heard her mother reply: 81 thin
= cS.000 Is a very large sum, Loi
" Tewkesbury"
r "shali We make Il e2,5oO. I.ol
m Tewkeabury?" said Sir Rupert al
e cia. you know. is not an ordinary cir
She is exceptionally well educated, 9
ceptionally well educated" and h
fathers voice died away among Il
y rustIng of the papers
~ Alicia clenched her hand Did til
~ think she was a mere cypher WI
" could be bought or sold?
IA am very SORRY, Saiu Sofu lew NJ
bury. and his voice was loud and
I'M cisive. but cannot do without $50
N OF course. 1T Ii detestable to haggle
,N this way and ! am quite aware
VII Alicias good points" CHE spea
~ about me as IL we're horse" thoue
Alicia. ready to laugh and to cry}.
t. fear that $4,000 "a nay limit, he &C
ed. t,My price, he means" said 4
r cia 10 hersalfl
eng Wont you think IT over? HERES
tns my dear fellow, are not very comm
on al present" 1t was Sir Rupert v
~ spoke.
~ We'll, well, said Lord Tewkesb'
Aen with a laugh, perhaps I had bet
o.e ask Aliucia what she thinks about
w, first, and If she consents. then we 4
NJ talk about the settlements later. |
- sure, my dear Sir Rupert, you wo
not stand between us for the sake
paltry $500"
And now Alicia heard their footst
nv advancing 70 the door
Al