Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-02-23

wearing chiffon trimmed with jet.
MY dear Betty" said she. subsidinf
into large armchair. II want to have
a serious talk with you"
It would have been stupid pretend
ing not to understand. SO just looked
at her and waited.
~ dare say you can guess what It's
about?" she went on.
81 suppose so." said. II am very
sorry about everything. But cam
help not being In love with Mr.. Parker
can ~
81 should have thought" said Mrs
Ess Kay. that your mothers daughter
would have attached very little impor'
tance to being In love. Apparently
she hasn't been rs successful with you
as with Lady Victoria. Believe me
Betty. there's nothing in it-nothing
at ALL"
"In what?
'In what you call being in love- A
girl fancies q man for his eyes, or his
dancing, or because he is strong. and
she thinks she's In love with him. but
It's only fancy which passes before
she's been his wife for twelve months,
and she wonders what she ever saw in
him then. A year after you have been
married to my brother, you will De
very fond Of him, and you will be One
Of the most important young womcD
In America as well as in Europe. Oh
my dear. you will have to take him
Your mother will never forgive you Il
you don't. 1t was quite an underS, cod
thing between us when she lent you
10 me that If possible there was to b.
a match. Your beauty and name. and
Potters money. He's really yer.
good fellow-a temper. perhaps. but |
wouldn't give much for man with
out one, and, like most Americans
he'll make splendid husband"
"For some one" I murmured.
"For you. Betty. assure you. J
daren't tell the duchess you've definite
ly refused Potter. You must be per
suaded Be engaged to him. Let hin
follow you to England"
IF did that | should find myseli
being married off to him before !
knew"
"WelI. and II you did? 1t would be-
because you'd had the chance T."
change your mind"
shcok my head. II must go home
to England" said. but Mr.. Parkc'
mustn't follow me-"
Mrs. Ess Kay's face hardened.
I'm afraid If you go home after
refusing Potter you'll have very
poor welcome, my child. The duchess
has been kind enough to take ME II
little into her confidence. don't think
she would have sent you over with
me II she hadn't known something
about Potter. and your sisters affairs
lren't arranged yet. Oh. you needn't
blush and look SO indignant. The
duchess didn't mind putting her diff
culties in letter when | wrote her
you weren't behaving quite satisfac-
torily. and you may take 1t from me
that at present things stand like this
you must 80 back an engaged girl or
else stay away until Lady Victoria is
II mother were different should
have hoped Mrs Ess Kay was exag-
gerating, but as it was believed her,
though did my best to be high eye
browed and increduous till she re-
marked that could see the duchess
letter II I liked. though It might he
.ather embarrassing.
was sure it would be and preferred
to take its contents on faith, but ]
was so miserable that | had to keep
my eyes staring wide open to prevent
the tears dropping down. | was tired
and forlorn and homesick-for Vie and
Stan and the dear dogs and everything
except mother-and | telt such hur-
rible weakness creeping over me that
] could even imagine myself by and 10y
doing what they meant me 10 do. !
thought the best thing was 10 gain
respite lest Mrs. Ess Kay should drag
some kind Of Il concession from NE
which would have to live up to after
ward.
~ can't talk any more about 1t now,
said. Il believe what you say, but
It only makes 1t worse for me 10 think
that mother should have made what
amounts to kind Of bargain with
you. Maybe by tomorrow everything
won't seem so dreadful"
She got up with relieved air. Per
haps even she hadn't been enjoying
the conversation.
"Of course It won't" said she. "lt
won't seem dreadful at all. You've no
idea how happy were all going to be
Now, just you sleep well and dream
sweet dreams and you'll wake up feel
ing a different girl. Maybe poor Pot
ter hasn't been rs tactful as he might
be. That's because he's too much In
love to be clever. But he has love
" surprise for you tomorrow. Some
thing connected with certain finger
Of your left hand. promise you that
you'll like It, And now I'm going to
leave you In peace for the night"
l can't tell what savage deed might
not have been capable Of doing If she
had had the idea OF kissing me. but
she hadn't. She merely patted me on
the shoulder and went out, leaving
me TO stare aimlessly Mt the door after
she had softly closed 1t.
.
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