The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-06-03
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Jack Phillimore, speeding homeward,
| has ample leisure to reflect upon the
heavy clouds that have gathered over his
love affair. Naturally one of the gayest
and lightest hearted officers in Her Ma
| jesty's fleet. two or three acquaintances
he had on board could not at all under
stand him in his present somber mood
But Jack was terribly earnest in his love
for his cousin. That Beatrice had thrown
| him over for mere wealth he could not
and would not believe. and Mrs. Lyme
| Wregis's letter supported him in his in
credulty. However, one thing was quite
cear-the first thing he had TO do on
| tablishing himself in London was to go
straight to the Victoria road.
Lord Lexington is not at home, but
the ladies are in the drawing -oom," said
the man servant in response to his knock.
Glad to see you back, Mr.. Philimore."
continued Jackson, as he preceded the
visitor up the stairs, for the young naval
officer was very popular with all the do
mestics.
Mrs. Lyme Wregis was ensconced in
| her favorite seat in the window. She
had seen the arrival of the mail steamer
| in the morning papers, and had been ex-
| pecting Jack for the last hour. She well
coined him cordially. of course said moth
| ing about Beatrice's abrupt disappear
aEce, and, upon second thoughts, came
TO the conclusion that perhaps it was for
| the best. 1t would give her few min
utes in which to tell her story, while the
| girl might we'll require a little time to
prepare herself for a meeting with her
old lover.
Jack Phillimore was soon In possession
| os all that Mrs. Lyme Wregis had to tell
| him. which, after all, was very little
more than she had already marde him
acquainted with by letter. He certainly
learned that not only was the marriage
most definitely settled, but that the very
| day fo- it was fixed. He was further in
| formed that his successful rival was a
Mr.. Robert Pegram. the son of a gentle
man Of considerable property in Wales
| that the young couple were TO commence
| life upon an income of four thousand a
year; that Lord Lexington and Beatrice
were both most lavish regarding the
| trousscau and lastly. that she. Mrs.
Lyme Wregis, felt perfectly sure-and in
| spite of what her granddaughter might
say to the contrary-that Beatrice was
going to the altar under some sort of COM
pulsion, and that her feeling for her be-
trothed was rather that of repugnance
| than mere indifference.
Having told her story which, as Jack
Phillimore remarked. contained not the
| slightest allusion TO the ViscOunt's
wealthy prospects, Jack came to the con-
clusicn that as yet he was a very long
way from unraveling the tangled skein of
| his love.
But where is Trixie? Surely she will
see me? She must feel bound to- il it
is only" he concluded, with somewhat
bitter smile, ITO receive my congratula-
tons on her wedding"
"Of course she will see YOU" replied
the old lady. Ring the bell. and will
send for her. Jackson" continued the
old lady, as that servant made his appear
ance in answer to the summons, "tell one
of the maids to let Miss Beatrice know
that Mr.. Phillimore is here, and anxious
to see her"
A few minutes delay, and then smart
lady's maid entered the room.
Miss Beatrice's love, sir. and she is
very glad that you are back again: but
she is so much engaged just now that
it is impossible for her to come down"
"It is useless, you see," said Jack Phil
| limore, as the girl left the room; 'she
won't even see me"
He had hardly got down the stairs. the
| sound of his feet had scarce died away
| in the hall, when the drawing room door
was dashed open, and in rushed Beatrice,
| flushed and almost breathless with ex-
| element.
what did he say, grandmamma? He
must look upon me as the meanest and
| most despicable girl he not only ever
met, but ever heard of. 1t was unkind of
you, grandmamma, TO bring him home till
all was over. But what did he say?"
| Like other people, he wants an ex-
PLANTATION of your mysterious engagement,
and declares he will see you before the
wedding day.
THAT he snail never do" replied the
GIRL and even IS she spoke the door of
the drawing room quietly opened, and
her cousin stood before her.
Jack Phillimore owed his noiseless APP
pearance to a little bit of romance on
the part of woman. | have before said
l
the house were all in Jack Phillimore's
favor, and they were as indignant in their
way as Mrs. Lyme Wregis at Beatrice's
breach of faith. So sympathetic was the
| lady's maid that she volunteered to let
Jack Phillimore out. and having done 50
stood at the open door watching him as
he walked slowly away, when putting
his hands in his pockets for his gloves,
Phillimore discovered that they were miss
ing. He was quite sure he had them
when he called, so it was evident he must
have left them in Mrs. Lyme Wregis'
drawing ROOM He turned and went back
for them, and as the girl was still stand
ing at the open door, there was of course
no necessity for knocking, so his re-en-
| trance was noiseless.
"Beatrice" he exclaimed.
Her eyes flashed, and an angry flush
crossed her face as she exclaimed:
IF this is little comedy of yours and
grandmammas, allow me to observe that
consider it in very bad taste. To per-
sist on seeing me against my will is I'M
generous, unmanly."
Jack Phillimore was, in the main, by
no means a hot-tempered fellow. but this
| was rather more than he could stand He
conceived, as l think most men in his
situation would have done, that an ex-
PLANTATION, under the circumstances, was
most certainly due to him, and that he
certainly did not merit being overwhelm-
ed with reproaches for what was the
veriest accident.
II have simply come back for this pair
of gloves ON the table, he rejoined in
hard, constrained voice, land had no
intention of forcing an interview upon
you. / most certainly hold that you owe
me some explanation Of the sudden change
in YOUR feelings. When you throw over
the man that you were virtually engaged
,, three months ago, 1 think you should
at all events, explain TO him why you do
if. The most heartless firts let their
adorers down easier than You. We are
not family noted for any great virtues
but a PhillimOre's word has been gener-