New-York tribune., 1910-07-31

William Mistress Green begins, glancing
over occasionally to note the effect of her
words on the younger man. "Oh, you men
that talk SO meekly and all the while know
your power over u.s.. Who would think
you had a marriageable daughter? Let
me see. your daughters twenty, Come,
you were at least twenty when you mar
ried, and that makes you forty!'
Throwing his shoulders back and looking
very gay and cunning, old F'ondfove con-
fesses to all the feelings of a boy. And a
bit of a ladykller, too! Now, that ring
on his finger-it could tell story.
Pray, let us hear it. dear Sir William!'
exclaims the widow, they draw their
chairs further from Waller. 'Ah, l fear
you are a rogue!
The baronet babbles his ancient love tale,
and in the midst of it the unheeded. un-
needing Waller unceremoniously walks out
A little later the widow happens to look up
What Master Waller sone"'
II say she had a heart" babbles on the
baronet.
"a plague upon your mistress, say ~
shouts the widow. starting up
so she's jealous, eh?" reflects the old
boy. Il knew she would break out at last
if l kept up that strain
Here, take your ring" fairly yes the
widow. ut has ruined me, Sir William
Fondlove. you have undone me, sir. Cot
"A mere chit of child, madam-a little
slut | gave rattle to and pestered me Tor
! gingerbread and Comfits. Fie. fel mere
| child of ten-a perfect child-to make you
| jealous
Sir William Fondlove," answers the
widow, choking with rage, IF you won't
permit me to be mistress in my own house
/ TI,,
| infatuated baronet presently departs under
| the delusion that he has driven the Widow
Green quite mad with jealousy. AS for
the widow that distracted lady addresses
brief note TO Waller. telling the true
state Of her feelings, and bids Lydia take
| 1t posthaste TO the home of the gallant.
In those days the streets of London We're
infested with bands OF footpads and ruff
fans who made no scruple of seizing an
unprotected wayfarer. Lydia, bound to her
lovers house on this final service before
quitting her mistreSss employ, luck
! less enough 20 fall into the clutches of ole
OF these gangs Just at the moment that
she became their prisoner, strong blows
| were struck in her defence, she tainted, and
| she awakened presently to find herself In
Walters house ana looking into his eyes.
! The sirl equal to the situation. She
defied her lover to detain her against her
WILL her liberty, and he, melted by
! her display of love and virtue got her CON
SEM Ia delay her flight from London one
| hour till he should perfect his plans and
| make honorable proposal to her by letter.
That letter somehow was delivered into
Mistress Green's hands. and was mistaken
by the languishing widow for her own
! Next day-bright and early-the widow
was accordingly in a fever OF preparations
for the bridal. man servant stuck his
head through the door and bawlod:
Madam, the hridegroom's here
You could have knocked down the Wig
orous Widow Green with feather Call
ing for q renewed supply of smelling salts
anG putting the last touches to her atti,..,
she elidsd into the splendid drawing room
which she had chosen is the scene Of the
nurtials.
NJ gentle bride" spoke an oddly worn,
! haif-falset;o voice The widow looked up
T. see-not Waller, but the Lincolnshire
5aronet. arrayed IN wedding clothes
Sir William FondloVe. you re d fool!''
ejaculated the relict % Alderman Green.
| Why conic YOU lither?''
why come | hither?" he repeated after
! her. TO marry. Of course. Were you not
! quite gone with love and jealousy yester-
| day? I sent YOU WORD I'd wed YOU, and
| though you sent the letters back have you
not been getting ready all the while for
! the bridal? 4 fool eh?''
THE man is mad, stark mad" said the
widow, savagely Look you. Sir William
| Fondlove, / am bat forty. and you are
sixty to d day. l marry you. When did a
woman wed her grandfather"
| ba he uri,I a{e,It l.v raiJ
! or done nobody knows, for Master Waller
attended by his bridal procession. appeared
II the door. Mistress Green rushed to
greet him. But if the old gallant was hot
as fire, the newly arrived young blade was
| cold as ice. Rapidly he explained that he
came to wed the maid, and not the mis-