Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13

now to ask you to aid me by giving
bearer your check for a thousand pounds.
for which l inclose my I. o. L. l hope
that in spite of my misfortune you will
not fail to come to dinner this evening
and we'll uncork bottle Of Ito drown
our sorrow.
Always your affectionate friend.
tALGERNON ALWYN.''
0ncloses letter-addresses envelope
rises-rings bell-Goes to door. Fraser,
as soon as Tom returns send him to the
vicarage with this note and tell him to
wait for an aswer. If the doctor is out
tell him to wait. Oh. Fraser. we'll only
be six to dinner. (Goes back to seat at
desk)-only six to dinner-Qights his
pipe)-Ah, let's see what Auntie Munich
has to say "opens letter, reads):
X x
MY Dear Algernon-Your Uncle has
just. with the greatest delicacy and with
all possible consideration for my feeble
condition, broken to me the fearful crash
that has enveloped our house in its awful
pall!-To think that only a few moments
ago 1 was a happy woman watering my
beloved roses in a Sunlit garden, when
out of a clear sky the bolt fell and raw
aged In an instant, like a pack of cards,
the beautiful placid sea on which We We're
sailing so peacefully. To think, Alger-
non, that you, in whom I have always
had such mistaken faith, should have
been the serpent to gnaw away with one
blow the foundations of our confidence in
humanity!-Your poor Uncle says that by
your act you have placed yourself within
the power of the police and without the
pale of society. You will know, of
course. why it would have been impossible
for us to comply with your attempt to
rob US by yielding up a thousand pounds:
We have your Cousin Robert to consider!
and 1T is, as you are aware, compromising
felony to rob Peter to pay Paul! l am
=
ror, your completely collapsed aunt
MARJORY MARJORIBANkS.'
"P. Sand oh. Algernon, was looking
forward with so much pleasure to our
sad blow! P. s. p S.-You will have to
discharge that expensive cook!"
This is getting worse and worse! Why
oh. why. doesn't Tom come back with
a word from Lucy-then I wouldn't mind
that abusive nonsense! Six to dinner
three friends gone. No, that's not fair,
to Bohbie-he's got to do as Nunkey says
-Bobbie Is thorough good fellow-just
the chap to go to when you are down in
your luck. BY Jove-Tll write to him
Pen and Ink may be out and it's just as
Well to have two strings to your bow
(writes):
Dear Old Bobbie-I suppose you've
heard by now of my smash ?-all gone
nothing left but the house and the park.
Have you any dollars to spare? If so,
bring them around at dinner time. If you
can get out without a row. Well have
one more good dinner and laugh and
chah and drink brown sherry!-never
mind about the dollars If you're hard up,
'0' COME '0'' YOUR o'o Tag *ALG1E."
Cad. tagged for Bobbie, 1 did-he
sort all the same. Here, Fraser. send
somebody with this note to Master Rob-
ert-By Jove-Fraser must think I've
turned myself into post onace-what's
fro MIS- ueake yei fetch
shuts door quickly. No. 1t isn't-it's
from Lady Newman-Lucy must have
been out-I hope she didn't-she didn't
read my letter-she's so different to Lucy
-(tears letter OPEN:
MY Dear Sir Algernon" -Oh-formal-
I think I'll sit down (sits)-"My Dear Sir
Algernon-Lucy being particularly en-
gaged-Mr. Robert Marjoribanks is Wis
iting us this afternoon''-damn Robert
MARJORIE anks-"I am taking i upon my
self to answer your letter. AS soon as the
dear child read what you had to say she
was greatly distressed. and came to con-
fide in me- My Dear Sir Algernon, / am
forced to admire your honesty in at once
apprising my poor girl of your changed
position and the correct and sensible view
you take of the situation. To marry upon
nothing year would be absurd and it
would take you years to retrieve your
fortune. My daughter quite agrees with
me in believing that when poverty walks
in at the door love flies out at the win
dow. You must not imagine from this
that Lucy is not deeply moved and dread
heartfelt sympathy. She would write to
you herself but she is on the very verge
Of a breakdown and the necessity to en-
terrain her guests forces her to present
70 hn 0r1d Gil hn
engagement has to be broken off it is bet
ter to do it now and at once. rather than
to prolong the suffering by senseless
shilly -shallying. Judging by your own
most sensible letter, / have every reason
to believe that you will coincide with me
in this. With sincere regard from us both
and every expression of good will and
sympathy, believe me to be. dear Sir AL
ANITA TuRN1vAL NEWMAN"
"P 81 think it would be better for
us not to come to your dinner this even
ing. SO will you please accept our thanks
and regrets?
up. ST. suppose you will now go into
the army or the church? What a pity
that there is no living attached to Alwyn.
Will you rent Alwyn? If So I think
know of some one who would be glad to-
take it,
Lucy-to throw me over like that! Lucy
a heartless woman of the world? Lucy to
love-to pretend to love me for my in
come. No, I'll not believe it! If my faith in
her is lost there is indeed nothing left.
know I'm only an ordinary, commonplace.
EVERYDAY bit of humanity and there
are shekels Of the same kind sprinkled
all over the English dOminions. But
she!-she elected to love me and 1 won't
RESIGN her. no not for all the Lady New
mans in Europe! I'll see her!-Tll have
it from her own lips-where's my coat?
Fraser! Knock at door) Letters. ell?
Bring me my coat. Fraser-not my dinner
iacket-my dress coat-and Fraser, we'll
6e four to d'nner-tcomes- down with
letter, Oh, from Bobbie-(opens letter.:
lawfully sorry old chappie. it's
damned shame! Wish I could help you!
Was lust coming over to ask you for
pony. I'm stony broke. Can't come to
dinner-wish / could! Governor stormy!
Swore like a trooper! Says he disowns
YOU. The Newmans have corralled me
for dinner. If you want to get rid OF
your nags I think I can make trade.
Keen your hair on--yOu're not the first
codger that has come to grief Specula-
tion's the devil. but l never thought you
were a plunger. Here's how!
Speculation. Plunger! Very soon they'll
accuse me Of robbing bank! And
shortly they'll have me arrested for
murder! What was that game we used
to play? You place lot of people in
line and you say something innocent
tn tho marty at one end and by the time