Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-08-28
CHAPTER ".

| Elahh, sald Lady beaGrnamp one
morning, of course Beryl must be pre-
sented. / suppose / had better see to it,
and take her to the second court. do
not think we could possibly be ready
! before that"
DO you think it will add in an appre-
cable degree to her happiness" in
quired Franklin, looking up from a
magazine which he was deeply studying.
| "Happiness My dear boy, one can
not place mere happiness before prestige.
1t Is necessary for every gill to be pre-
scented, whether she likes it or not
But Beryl is not an ordinary sort of
girl" objected Cover
| Lady Beauchamp looked at him keen
ly and raised her eyebrows.
AT last" she said emphatically.
Franklin frowned, with gesture of
impatienee.
Don't, for PHYS sake, be a little
donkey, Helen! What far fetched ideas
you have. Why Beryl looks upon me as
sort of venerable grandfather.
docs she2 IT does not necessarily
follow that you regard her in the light
of a granddaughter
"Oh. thatll do! What | meant was
that Beryl is so essentially a child of
nature, with no particular reverence for
what is called society and its weird and
wonderful way; and therefore it seems
to me quite unnecessary TO put her to all
the torture of formal presentation
My dear Frank, presentation to their
most gracious majesties a tortured Why,
| it is one of the most coveted hOnors in
the world"
san right Settle it with Beryl. then.
/ What is about the figure it Will run tor
'Ah, see now! 1t is the reckless ex-
| penditure of her money that you object
| to. If you will tell me how much she
has l viii arrange to suit her finances.
l could make the expenses a hundred or
a thousand pounds, which ever you like. I"
"H'm!" commented Franklin dryly.
Then ! should say you had better keep
them as near a hundred as you can And
| really believe, If she were consulted.
she would rather spend the money on a
fiddle than on a Court train"
Very probably returned Helen; "but
in this life one cannot always act exact
ly as one prefers We all owe some
thing to the society which you profess so
heartily to despise"
And that debt, nowadays seems to
be the sole one that women are ever
very anxious TO pay However. keep
the ridiculous business within reasonable
limits, and | will say no more"
II am glad to hear it. because in
Beryl's case this is quite necessary. Do
you know what people are saying?"
Something utterly absurd. no doubt
What is it?'
THAT Beryl has been a professional
yiolinist on the continent. They declare
teur"
Franklin laughed aloud.
"Whose spite is responsible for this
nice little canard?"
you viii modify your words when
tell you"
81 am not so sure that / shall. even If
you name your dear, silly little self
s'0h, my words carry no weight. This
is the opinion Of Irene, Dlchess Of
Staffa"
Then why should pick my words -
Franklin asked colby
Because you used to have a tender
ness for Irene who, by the way, is
wealthy widow"
Her widowhood and her wealth are
nOIi1DE 10 me.
els that so!' cried Helen. Perhaps
then, my dear brother, you would like the
presentation deferred until we can an
nounce Mrs. Franklin Cover, Ga her
marriage'!"
Lady Beauchamp, laughing, then took
refuge in flight
After lunch, as Cover was smoking on
the terrace, Beryl, in a state of unusual
perturbation, appeared, and, slipping her
hand through his arm, paced up and
down the smooth. wide walk in step with
him. He would have felt better pleased
had she treated him with greater de-
gree Of maidenly reserve, Her familiar
ity was that of a child towards parent.
what is all this nonsense about nv
going TO court z" she asked, with q pout
of her pretty lips.
Rank heresy, not to say high treason,
Beryl!" replied her guardian srnilngly
Why, TO quote my sister. TO be pre-
scented at court is the aim Of every right
minded girls ambition"
Then / am not a right minded girl"
exclaimed Beryl. i would much rather