The new enterprise., 1905-02-23

CuNhlu III FlleflhNltEt W lS
"Who what"
"Oh, nothing in particular, She has
come into lot of money, hasn't she"
Heaps of it. Some girls seem to
have all the luck"
Pooh" said I, looking her over ad-
miringly. what is money without
"WhatY"
Beauty" 1 answered, as bold as
brass; beauty such as"
She made a sudden bolt for the door.
"The rain is over she said, Look,
there is the sun again, l must hurry
away home or shall be late"
And then, TO the very gates Of the
Grange, there was nothing but COM
monplaces exchanged between us. Not
another word would she utter about
my cousin Kate. At the gates we
parted and | watched her until she
disappeared at sharp bend in the
road. and with sigh | said, mo cou-
sin Kate now for me- Poor old gov
nor-we shall have a bad quarter Of an
hour over this" Then l sneakcd round
TO the back Of the house and furtively
interviewed Simpson. our old butler,
and soon after was dressing for din.
ner. On my way down | once more
encountered Simpson.
as Miss Fielding in the drawing
room, Simpson, I asked.
"Yes, sir and Mr.. Dobblns, the cur
ate. He dimes here tonight. too. sir.'
I thanked him, and girding Up my loins
for whatever might befall, entered the
drawing room, where my worst fears
were at once realized She was sitting
alone at a little table tIrnlng over the
leaves Of book Mouse coored hair,
spectacles, n straight up AID down
figure clad in black with a triangle of
HOniton lace down the front. and sc.
dateness enough in all conscience,
Nothing was lacking in the picture my
Imagination had painted, I can Just
remember introducing myself to her,
and being introduced by her in turn to
Mr.. Dobbins. All the rest Is a disor.
dered dream my father making n
great ado over my premature coming;
my taking this dreadful cousin Kate
Of mine into dinner at the very mo.
ment the Ioveliest OF apparitions APP
peared upon the threshold. and with
a glance Of whitening scorn at me, pla-
cidly taking Mr. Dobblns' arm and be.
ing led hy him to her seat at the table.
And TO drive me further mad was this
awful cousin of mine with the mouse
colored hair nodding gravcly to mine,
but never saying a word herself be-
yond an occasional "yes" or mo" or
"oh! indeedw while the radiant being
opposite was heaming upon a delighted
curate and driving me to the very
depths Of despair I held my peace. |
remember, with the governor when the
ladies had retired. thinking to have it
out with him a?tcrward. and it was
with n sense Of relief when | entered
the drawing room to find my cousin
Kate at the piano trolling forth lugu-
brious ditty. All this l recall dimly.
but remembrance clears as see that
radiant vision suddenly advance and
seat itself 10y my side.
"Ah" l said. "at last
"Captain Hamilton" came the as
founding reply, Il am afraid you are
an imposter You told me you came
down here to-well-to be, at least, po'
lite to your cousin Kate"
"Hang it all said, somewhat test
lily, II am afraid I have done my best
to he polite, but it has nearly killed me
all the same"
"I don't believe, indeed. know that
you have not said lone pleasant word to
her this evening"
"Well," l replied. pointing toward
the piano, "there she is. Ask her"
ASK her! Why should l ask her? I
am not speaking of her, but of your
cousin Kate"
My breath began to come quick and
fast as again pointed to the piano.
pray" l asked, "who, then, is that
blessed woman?"
"Why, the curate's wife. Mrs, Dob.
bins, of course, Who else?"
Then glorious light suddenly
dawned upon me.
"Oh! you little wretch I said. ut is
you, then, who climbed trees and
thrashed a boy and smccked n rude
mans face for kissing her without per-
missionW
ALAS! good sir, must admit the soft
impeachment" and the peal Of merry
laughter that burst from her lips at
that moment, even drowning Mrs.
Dobbins' lugubrious ditty, shall
never forget to my dying day.
y
Some little time afterward my father
had his dearest wish, I did not think
it worth my while, after all, to argue
thn mint Ant a.lLh HIM --Llnctna IllltL-