Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-08-06
CHAPTER VII.

"Sir Denis is perhaps an old sweet
heart of yours ?" said Mrs. Mcqueen
next morning at breakfast.
"Oh, people in Ianthe's exalted station
don't have such vulgar things as sweet
hearts!" said her father sarcastically. as
he watched the blush sweep over Ianthe's
face at her step mothers words.
Well what you call a fancy" said
the simple woman, who was incapable OF
understanding sarcasm.
That would mean that she was en-
gagged to him." answered Mr.. Mcqueen,
who appeared to have begun the day in
a very bad temper, Il don't fancy
Ianthe's charms are quite sufficient TO
attract young and wealthy baronet; |
don't imagine that yesterdays proceed
ings included a wild declaration of love.
Did they, Ianthe?'
His eyes rested on her for a moment
with the smile lanthe had grown to hate.
Her face flushed crimson and she made
no reply,
II thought not he sneered. and then
something in lanthe's expression made
him suddenly change his tone.
"Or did he, and are we to greet you
some day in the near future as my
lady? Can't you answer" he added
irritably.
There is nothing to answer" said the
girl i'll confusion.
Indeed there is everything to answer"
responded her father. now determined TO
sift the matter to the bottom. 81 don't
approve of girls having secrets from
their fathers Did Sir Denis ever make
love to you. Ianthe "a
you said yourself that such thing
was unlikely" answered the girl. Il
don't know why you have suddenly
changed your mind"
'Impertinence is no answer" said her
father sharply Tell me at once, yes
or no-did Sir Denis ever make you an
offeE Of marriage Z" -
Yes" said the girl, her cheeks Grim
son. "He did"
"oh, Anthy, my dearl" cried Mrs.
Mcqueen. ITO think you kept that to
yourself! My dear, I'm Just as glad as
| can be, for this sort of life doesn't
suit you. All the same, / can hardly
fancy you as my lady Just think,
John, Anthy being my lady," and the
enthusiastic creature put her arms round
Ianthe and gave her boisterous kiss.
"You need not try to fancy me any
such thing" replied Ianthe, as soon as
she had disengaged herself. ut is true
that Denis asked me to marry him, but
refused him"
you what?" shouted her father,
springing to his feet.
81 refused him. answered Ianthe, rails
ing her eyes bravely to his distorted
face.
ooh, you refused hint" Mr.. Mcqueen
said with an unpleasant laugh. ut
wasn't good enough offer. Ell? Nothing
but a royal duke for you, | suppose7''
He eyed her for a moment, and then
the storm burst. Ianthe sat still and
silent till the flood of his speech was
over. She could not have told what her
father said. 1t seemed to her that he
said everything that man could say
to insult and humiliate He stormed
and raved as she had not imagined a
man in his senses could storm and rave.
John, John!" demonstrated the wife
cts not fair to speak to the lassie like
that. If she's wrong to refuse him, that
can easily he put right"
Eyes, it will be put right" he an
swered docs she imagine we can af-
ford to let pass any one chance of get
ing on in the world Refuse bar
onet, forsooth! You'll Just get pen and
paper this minute and write to him that
you made q mistake.
4 will do nothing of the kind" said
Ianthe She had not tved flcm her
seat or shown sign of feeling except
that her face had pdled. Her eyes met
his calmly and determinedly.
You will do as | tell you or | shall
know the reason why!"
He advanced towards her and took her
wrists in painful grip.
do You understand me?"
81 suppose So" said the girl, making
no movement of any sort, "but | will not
write to Denis and tell him ] have
changed my mind!"