Middletown transcript., 1908-08-01
FcorHsuED FROM LAST WEEK J


that girl if she'll take me.
Bm! grunted Jack. Any par
ticular girl?
Why, Miss Holbrook' OF course
Who else? said Langham in sur
prise.
What? shouted Jack. My SIS
ter's companion? And what Will
your mother, the Countess, say!
I don't know, said Langham
nervously, and then bravely, And
I don't care! Can't say anything
when she sees how lovely girl IS
Jove! might have been born roy
atty bred to fingertips. What
think of my chances, old chap,eh?
Well, pondered Goring, won't
it be a little difficult to explain
your masquerade? You see,
these wage earners have a pride
of their own, and while Miss Hol-
brook might look kindly on Mr.
Langham, she may regard Lord
Netherwood as a different prop
osition.
Langham looked unhappy; but
said presently, Will chance it
anyhow.
Goring looked at him with a
twinkle and said, Well, old man,
I wish you luck! Let's toddle up.
So they went to their rooms.
They had no more confidential
talk in several days; then one
night again in the smoking room
Langham rushed in, to find Cor
ing alone. His usual mildness
was replaced by an air of alert
joyousness. He slapped Goring
ON the shoulder as he said:
It's all right, old man, she loves
me! Happiest beggar in the
world! Girl in million!
Goring looked him over for a
menent, then asked, What does
she say to being q Countess?
Langham stirred uneasily. All
-um! he stammered. I've
that's-was so much to talk about
1OEset bO tsA her. say, Goring,
hs added nsrvously, don't think
she'll turn rusty at title, do you?
Can't tell, comforted Goring.
Suppose she told you the story
of her life all right?
Well, no, admitted Langham.
Said she'd tell me all that to-
morrow, and some jolly rot about
my not wanting her when [ heard.
AS if anything mattered, except
that 1 love her and she loves me!
Cot it bad, old man, haven't
you? laughed Goring. Well, when
she tells you, you can tell her, he
added my seriously. Good night.
The next morning Mrs. Hard
ing encountered her brother.
Jack, she whispered, I think it
has happened!
Kate, responded Goring, ii has.
Oh, tell me about it! urged Mrs.
Harding. I only know Marion
came to my room late last night,
embraced me violently, exclaimed
Oh, Kate, you are such darling!
and few out again.
Well, said her brother teasingly
that seems a clear, detailed sort
of confession.
Don't tease, Jack dear, pleaded
his sister tell me all you know.
Cheer up, Kate. he said ; the
worst is yet to come. He has
proposed, and she has accepted
him; but they each omitted, in
the rush of the moment, 10 con-
fide to the other who and what
he or she was engaging himself
or herself to. They are to have
a heart to heart talk this morn
ing-and the Lord have mercy
on their souls!
Oh, ,Jacky! cried Mrs. Harding,
as old Annie says, I'm that her-
viky! What do you suppose will
happen?
Goodness knows, he replied.
She can't blame him for doing
exactly what she has done.
Oh, can't she? said Mrs. Hard
ing. Jack, dear, you don't know
women.
Well, in any case they both
deserve whatever they get. With
whieh ambiguous ultimatum Cor
ing went his way.
About this same time on a
bench in a shaded corner of the
cid garden two people who want
I'd TO be lsved for themselves
alone were about to decide the
fate of nations. Marion was speak.
ing. She was a dream of beauty
ia her dainty morning costume
fit companion for the stately
hollyhocks which stood guard
hard by, and sweet as the fra.
grant honaySuckla which hnnp