Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-04-22

rather delicate theme"
Of symptoms of some violent, unsus-
pected maiady.
"Amadeo means my dowry," ex-
planned Blanche, with some impa-
tience at is the custom, you know,
on the Continent"
Not on any part of the Continent
| ever struck. And I've been pretty
much all over it from Frisco to Que
bee. It's new one on me-"
I'm Europe" said Blanche, tapping
her foot, and gazing apologetically at
her handsome husband, 'it is custom
ary-as / thought everybody knew
for girls to bring their husbands q
marriage portion. How much are you
going to settle on me?"
"How much what? Money. You've
always had your $4,000 year allow
ance, and I've never kicked when you
overdrew it. But now you're married,
l suppose your husband"
"But, Mr.. Conover,' broke in the
prince, with more eagerness than
Caleb had ever before seen on his
placid exterior, 81 think you fail to
understand. I've"
What are you driving at?" snapped
Conover. do you mean you can't
support your wife?"
"Papa!" cried Blanche, in distress,
"for once in your life try not to be
coarse. 1t isn't question of support.
1t is the custom"
For father to pay man to mar
ry his girl? l can't see it myself,
though now you speak about it.
seem to have read or heard something
of the sort. Well, if it's the custom,
l suppose it goes. How much?'
The prince shivered, very gently.
very daintily.
IF it affects you that way" growled
Caleb, II wouldn't "a brought up the
subject if / was you. Say, Blanche, IL
you're too timid to make a suggestion,
how'll this strike you? I'll double
your present allowance $4,000
year, eh?"
'Impossible!" gasped d'Antri.
mot on your life." retorted Caleb.
AT could double that and never feel it.
Don't you worry about me not being
able"
"But | cannot consent to-"
"Whos asked you to? It's to be her
cash, amt it? Not yours. | don't
think you come in on this scene at
all, Prince. 1t seems to be up to me
and Blanche. And"
I. "Oh, you'll never understand
cried Blanche in despair. "Fer the
daughter of man of your means, and
the social position I am to occupy as
Princess d'Antri, my dot should be at
least"
"Hold on" interposed Caleb. II
think begin to see. l."
"You don't See, contradicted his
daughter, pettishly; "Tll have to ex-
plain. It"
mo, you won't. If I couldn't under
stand things without waiting to have
'em explained, I'd still be braking at
$50 month AS / take it, this prince
party meets you in Yurrup, hears your
father is the Caleb Conover-an old
fool of an American with a pretty
daughter to place on the nobility mar
ket- and you make your bid. You
marry him and he's so sure Of his
ground he don't even hold out for an
ante-weddding bonus. He chases over
here with you, and when he don't find
the dowry, or whatever else you call
it, waiting for him at the dock, he
makes bold to ring the cash register.
The prince was on his feet.
81 cannot consent, sir, to listen to
such
"Oh, yes, you can. I've heard OF
your sort. But l somehow thought
they were all counts. | didn't know
exactly how a prince stood; but
supposed the job carried an income
with it. 1t seems you're just in the
count class, after all. The kind OF
man that loafs about Yurrup living on
the name of some ancestor who got
his title by acting as hired man to
his king or emperor or whoever ruled
his two-for-a-q quarter country. The
sort of man that does nothing well
enough to keep him in pocket money.
Then some lookout makes the high
sign. Heiress in sight, and"
(To BE CONTINUED