The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-05-04

see, to a dairymaid in Devonshire-
and that you have two children
twins; it'll make sound so much
more convincing"
ooh, rot" he. broke in. I'm per-
fectly ready to go and tell the old
lady that I haven't the faintest in
tention of marrying you and that it's
utterly absurd of her to disinherit
you just because I don't want to give
in to her crazy whim."
"That's awfully good of you,
Monty"
mot at all. II that's your only
trouble I'll soon get you out of it,"
And when will you go? Go to-
morrow. Remember the agony Of
suspense I shall be in till
Gall right; I'll go Tomorrow"
"Oh, thanks, ever so much. And
now we've settled that I a devote
myself to the meringues and talk
about the theatres"
Faithful to his promise, Mr.. Full
ton took an early train the following
morning to Lady Delamere's seat in
Kent. He had given the matter in
hand a fair amount of thought in the
interval and had quite mapped out
the plans of his peculiar mission.
But after the interchange of a few
remarks with Lady Delamere, a
grande dame with a stateliness of
the mid-Victorian pattern, he came
to the conclusion that the question
was rather more serious than he had
anticipated.
I'm really extremely obliged to
you, Lady Delamere; it's the greatest
compliment I've ever had paid to- me
in my life. Your confidence in me
moves newell, no., not exactly to
tears; but you surely are not going
to commit such an act of injustice to
| Gra-to Miss Dyke
"You will pardon me, Mr.. Fulton,
but I believe I am the best judge of
the justice or injustice Of my ac-
tons"
ooh, certainly" Fulton fastened
to assure her.
"And besides, it seems to me that
the onus of unfaiIness rests on youI
It is in your power to relieve both
Miss Dyke and myself of the predica-
ment which has arisen"
(Which, if you will permit me to
say so, Lady Delamere, you have
created"
"That may be. All, me! there's
no doubt of it that the days of chiv-
airy are dead. When I was a girl
such q thing would have been IN
heard Of. Nobody who called him
self a mar would have dreamed OF
putting such an insult on a lady"
"Insult?" said Fulton quickly.
"That's what it comes to, sir. You
don't hesitate to outrage Miss Dykes
feelings by telling her almost In so
many words that you don't think her
good enough to become your wife.
And apart from the charge of ungen-
tlemanliness which I have already
made against you, you compel me to
make another"
"And what is that, Lady Della
mere?" asked Fulton with forced
calmness.
THAT of fickleness. You made it
clear enough all during last summer
that my niece had produced a dis
tinct impression on your heart. And
then after trifing most unconscion-
ably with her Affections
1.-The little mink" muttered Full
ton, biting his lip.
~ beg your pardon?" asked Lady
Delamere.
81 was about to say that a man
may be occasionally mistaken in his
feelings and that it is not only hon
orable but advantageous to the par
ties concerned"
Thank you, that will do, Mr.. Full
ton," replied the old lady with a
grand sweep Of her arm. 1--WE have
finished. I can only say that I am
more than thankful to have had this
opportunity of correcting the error
of judgment I had made in your char
acter. I think Miss Dyke is most
Fortunate"
Then, If I may ask the question,
you-you waive the condition on
which you propose to make her your
h%eiress?"
"Oh, no; my decision remains
firm. If J. have been so disappointed
in you I am not likely to find any
body else to come up to my expecta-
tons. My money goes to charities.
1 shall settle on Miss Dyke three hun
dred a year. Mr.. Fulton, sir, I wish
you good morning"
Mr.. Montague Phipps-Fulton strobe
out of the room not knowing exactly
where in the world he was. He was
half way down the %shrubbery walk
and he still did not know. Then he
found he would have to make up his
mind about it, for he suddenly saw
Miss Dyke bearing down on him.
"Well, Is it all right" she asked
anxiously.
mo, it's all wrong. She's castiron.
It's three hundred a year and a du-
emma. Hang it all, Gracie," he con-
tinued, sooner than reduce you to
beggary I'll marry you"
The answer came presently amid