The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-31
copyright 1905, by the National Press
N Agencs.)
Rlnnohe Rathurst bal Emily Holmes.)

JilN bN1.
blanche Bathurst to Emily Holmes.)
-. Yes, Emily, I'm really in for 1t
nowl have promised, dear. and been
kissed. But the hornets nest you
cant conceive. for they all mean me.
OF course, to be cast victim to that
old baldhead Lord Isambard so as to
connect the family with the aristoc-
racy, and the mere suspicion of this
makes them furious. Not that they
know vet of my solemn engagement,
but Edmond has suggested something
to papa, and from mama j have got
such piece OF dignity: while my'
brother Claude said this morning, after
breakfast. why, we don't really know
the fellow--his grandfather may have
been Moonlghter"; and little Looloo
cliimed in that ut was far-fetched for
n child like Blanche, hardly eighteen
and a half yet, to be thinking of such
things at all" Fancy that Infant put
ting in her oar!
How shall describe Edmond to you?
Tall, of course. and, in contrast with
my own oaten loveliness, olive-d dark;
age about twenty-six: moustache like
n negros dream. Perfection save for
one tle-disfigurement Ca rasp-
berry mark on his left middle finger!
and his manner, dearie, all dignity
taciturnity. reserves of strength. so
that I'm bit nervous of the being!
He looks as II he really meant people
to do the thing that he likes; and as
he happens to like me I'm rather afraid
that my lofty family will fail to stop
him, in spite of forty old Lord Isam-
bards. though it is quite true that we
hardly know him exhaustively. Papa
in his old judicial days was chums
with his lawyer father. and Edmond
himself is one of those lawyers who
have never practiced
IL
tEnlily Holmes to Blanch Bathurst)
I was beginning to be astounded at
your silence OF two weeks. Blanche,
and now at last / know all the gushing
reason, though, of course. don't take
are, you know, one or two matters in
this scheme of things that one really
should not treat freakishly. even at
eighteen land a-half," as your Looloo
truly remarks! Singular TO tell,
], too. have something big to give you
in the matter of news--a business quite
month old now, and l should have
overwhelmed you with the whole bud
get of details before but for the fact
that mama's illness kept me from
settling down to the recounting of
everything; and then my imgrained re-
1icence shrank from giving you to taste
of this strange fruit till it was we'll
ripe. Frankly, then. grille. 1 too-am
engaged! Digest that, and forgive me
Tor being overlong mum. since some
natural Shame at the fligltiness of my
age has restrained me from too soon
pratins. Now however. you shall have
il all launched into your ear in one
heat. though, first of ell, can't help
remarking upon the strangeness of the
iGct that your engagement and mine
at can call yours an engagement
should be marked by circumstances so
strikingly alike in point of time. Then
the good man who has so given me his
heart has not been too long known to
US, nor been long here at st. Arvens,
Just as your Mr.. Edmond (Mr. Edmond
what. by the way? Think of not men
tioningJ has not been long near you
at Ash Thomas This Ernest of mine
also is Irish, and pretends to a profess
n-medicine-which he has never
racticed-both moneyed loungers,
then. And now for the most marvellous
part OF all! for supposing that I. in
stead of you, had first written. then. in
describing my nibbler. 1 might have
used the very words In which you
sketch yours-to the very raspberry
mark
Twin brothers. one might almost
say, but then that can hardly be. since
so far have no notice of any brother
in the case.
The resemblance is only on the out
side, however, since my Ernest is hard
" blessed with that so naughty dig
nifty" those reserves of strength"
which YOU lsud in Mr.. Edmond-rather
q good job. perhaps. since in this union
your Emnie is certainly destined to be
the predominant partner darling.
Better So !.
I am for the moment all lovelorn,
for he left me without explanation
about three weeks ago-indeed he
seems great vagabond--but I expect
him back daily. BY the way, his last
note to me was dated from Ashton, so
that he was then quite close to Ash
Thomas and to you.
I'll write soon anew, and from you
meantime look for serious letter, per-
feet loyalty to your people and heart
tempered by some little sort of head.
III.
(Blanche Bathurst to Emily Holmes)
He wishes me to run away! The day