The Washington herald., 1907-10-12
Copyright 1907, BY The Washington Herald Company

prospects were such that the greatest
match in England might not have been
reckoned unequal for him. and here was
"a girl from Bardstown. Ky. who pro-
posed TO wait for an auspiciOus moment
when she could break this dlreful news
10 her aunt and unclet Something Of his
involuntary surprise showed in his face.
and Lucy studied 1t grayely and then
suddenly laughed.
Il see she whispered, 'you don't un-
derstand. This is our secret; the world
has nothing 10 do with it,
7 thought. answered Sir Percy. in
fatuated, but stin retaining some of the
vesuges Of conventlonality, that mar
riages were quite public affairs One has
TO get a license and be married in
church"
But this isn't being married" explain
ed Lucy; this is only being engaged. -
Then the two looked al each other with
adoring but uncomprehending eyes.
Lucy's woman's wit, however, came Eo
her rescue.
Il think" she said gravely. that per-
maps you know more about the ways Of
the world than I do, and. after all. there
are other ways than those in Bardstown.
Ky. So that it shall be as you wish"
She said this with such a pretty lower
ing Of her lonS lashes. and 50 much deep
feeling visible under her coquetry. that
Sir Percy was more than ever charmed.
Nor was the sound sense at the bottom
Of LucY's remark lost upon him. A
compromise was effected. by which Col.
and Mrs. Armytage were 10 be Informed
Immediately. and the rest of the world
was 10 remain in ignorance until within
one month Of the wedding day.
There was no suspicion among the rest
Of the party concerning what had oc-
CURED. and least Of all with Eleanor
Chantrey and Stanley. both OF whom
might be said to have contingent inter-
ests in the matter
The morning after LuCy's return she
was awakened to receive a bouque; of
roses and a letter from Sir Percy Carl
yon. There was also a note for Col Army
tage asking for a private interview. This
precipitated matters.
Il should like TO know" said Col.
Armytage, standing with his back 70 the
fire in his own room, with Sir Percy :
letter in one hand and the Congressional
Record of the day before in the other,
what this means-'a private interview. +"
Perhaps, ventured Mrs. Armytage,
''he wants to ask you for copy of your
speech Of yesterday. There is an edi-
torial in the newspaper about it this
morning"
Lucy, dressed in a delicious pink neg
ligee, was standing by the window. hold
ing the roses in her hands.
NO she said. coming forward with
cheeks matching the pale beauty of the
roses; he wants to ask you, uneIe-we
were together you kn0w-and-and-'
A light dawned upon Col Armytage.
The fellow wants to marry you," he
roared
And I want 10 marry him. answered
Lucy, with much spirit
And then there were kisses and tears
and embraces among all three of them
1T is a far cry to England" said Col.
Armytage. "and I had always hoped you
would marry some rising lawyer in
Bardstown"
Mrs. Armytage hinted that it might be
marriage of ambition for Sir Percy.
who would naturally wish 10 be allied
to man Of such eminent perfections as
Col Armytage.
At II o'clock Sir Percy walked into Col
Armytage's room. His manner was 50
manly and so debonair, even IN his i'm.
manent circumstances, that Col Army
tage could not but compare him mem
tally with those Kentucky thoroughbreds
who are models of decorum in the stable,
on the race track and wherever they are
seen. Sir Percy told his story and then
waited for Col Armytage's decision.