The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-02-05

There. Fraser!-Tell Tom to across to Uncle Mar
1orbanks with this note and hurry backIf he stops to
talk to Matilda Ann, I'll take his SCALP
But Lucy!-Lucy?-Lucy won't want to be married to
a pauper with mansion and park-but know what it
will be:-Nothing will change me-Rich or poor | am
yours, Lucy.-Dear old girl (writes)
My darling Lucy have just had an awful shock
Mrs Mcpherson writes say that old Fudge has left for
Australia and taken my little all with him. love you
and shall never love anyone but you in all my life but of
course you won't marry besgar (even with mansion
and park and dear you Free unless it is your
choice to wait until shall have recovered by hard work
my lost fortune AS for me, yours until death only
thought it right to let know and you give me
up, am, your devoted slave. Algemon."
But she won't give up-I know she won't-my little
Lucyold letter and addresses envelope rsing) Fraser
-(rings NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to door,
Here's letter from aunte and long letter from
uncle:
"Algernon-1 am, I may say, fatally wounded-(Good
heaVens-has he shot shot NOR
tally injured by member Of my family-The gun that
fired the shot is other than the letter have lust re-
ceiVed from you-no MartinHenry could have done it's
work better This morning while accommodating
petition in the village across Mrs Mcpherson AS
she was flying signals of Distress halted on my march
to question her and drew from her the information that
her husbands partner Fudge had absconded with your
funds-The blow so severe that was obliged to
abandon my position and retire upon the nearest public
house. which happened to be the Awyn Arms Here for
titled and entrenched myself and until the aft
ernoon that felt sufficiently strengthened to continue
the advance on Marengo House. You can imagine my
horror opening dispatch discover the reachery
OF one upon whose loyalty would have staked the cam
paign Had 1t not been for the reconnaissance this
ing should have been under the impression that still
amply endowed with the fortune your father bequeathed
to you and which you have reckessly squandered-
(squandered ?-reckessy !)-you required momentary
loan OF 1000 and with the motto of my house nobesse
oblige ever before my eyes, should have instantly
ped-I, old soldier would have marched unsuspect.
ngy into the ambush cunning had prepared for my
destruction enclose few lines from your heart broken
aunt. Marengo Majorbanks.
Late Major Her Majesty's Dragon Guards"
IN b need not say that it will be out of the ques-
ton for me or any member of my family to accept your
invitation to dinner this evening"
The old-the od-no, WON'T won't abuse him be-
hind his back, but when l see him I'll let him know!
(Sighs), (writes):
my Dear Doctor, and My Dear Old Frend-A calamity
has overtaken me--to be bref-Fudge has disappeared
with all my money! am, of course temporarily embar
raised. Remembering your many expressions of good
will and oft repeated request that should apply
10 you when In trouble do not hesitate to ask you
to aid me by giving bearer your cheque for OOO for
which enclose my o. III hope that in spite of my
misfortune you will not fail to dinner this even
ing and We'll uncork bottle of "a to drown our sorrow
Always your affectionate friend,
Algernon Alwyn"
All let's what Auntie Munich has to saw "OPENS let
ter reads)
my Dear Agernon-Your uncle has just with the
greatest deicacy and with all possible consideration for
my feeble condition. broken the fearful crash that
mas enVeoped our house in its awful pallTo think that
only few moments ago was happy watering
my beloved roses in sunt garden when out of clear
SKY the bolt fell and ravaged in instant like pack
OF cards. the beautiful placid which We were sail
ing so peacefully To think Algernon that you in whom
have always had such mistaken faith should have been
AVA will thaf
lions OF our confidence in humanity 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 i'm
possible for us to comply with your attempt to rob u.s.
by yielding up thousand pounds: We have your
cousin Robert to consider and it u.s. as you are aware
compromising felony to rob Peter to pay Paul. l am
with every expression of and horror your CON-
pletey collapsed aunt
Marjory Marjoribanks'
p. Sand oh, Agernon looking forward with
so much pleasure to first dinner this evening that
another sad blow!-P. S. P. S-you will have to dis
charge that expensive cook"
Ihs Is getting worse and worse-Why OH why
doesn't Tom come back with word from Lucy-then
wouldn't mind that abusive nonsense!-Six to dinner
three friends gone-No that's not fair to Bobbie-
Nwrites):
Dear Old Bobbie-I suppose you've heard by now of
my smash?all gone-nohing left but the house and the
park-Have you any dollars to spare? If So bring them
ooiiu az you Cal get WITHOUT TOW
Wen have one more good dinner and laugh and chaf
and drink brown sherry!never mind about the dollars if
you're hard up but come! From your old fag,
Algie"
(Tears letter open):
my Dear Sir '-Oh--formal-I think I'll sit
down (sts)-"My Dear Sir Algernon-Lucy being par
ticularly engaged-Mr. Robert Maroribanks is visiting
us this afternoon, damn Robert Marjorbanks-I am
taking it upon myself to answer your letter AS soon
as the dear child read what had to say she was great
'y distressed, AMI came to conhde in My Dear Sir