The Meeker herald., 1914-04-18

y0u 1VDVt H1o ~ uSNSPAhB az 49, NC
gives another w0man."
II consider myself FREQ" ! replied.
ITO accept all the attention offered me
tiil married. After that I shall be
bound to decline any to which my bus
hand shall object"
That's an American idea. fancy.
but admit Il II the correct one. dur
men over here would not consent to be
70 tied mp to q wife,"
There u Z lot Of chIcAnery going on
In the world. especially In society. !
didn't pretend to know or understand
why this man was devoted to that
woman. who were Jealous or what In
oddities were practiced. These things
were all varnlshed over 20 smoothly
that they WERE not apparent. ! did not
know why Roger Battersea chose to
show me attention. but 1t seemed prob
able that he was preparing to pay his
cousin In her own coin. l found Bat
tersea 20 agreeable that was quite
willing to spend with him the time he
chose to spend with me. couldn't I'M
derstand how man Of apparently
such force Of character could be In love
with a woman Of as little depth a.
Lady Constance. and I told Ralph 40.
He said that intellectual men seldom
mated with intellectual women: they
almost always married the doll kind.
The situation In time became some
what unpleasant to me. My lance was
devoting himself to another woman.
though when with me be was an de-
monstratjvely affectionate as before.
Roger Battersea's attentions to me be-
came 30 constant that they were begin
ming to BE- remarked. One dny asked
Ralph how long a time would be re-
quired to bring the matter he had on
hand to head. He said he was trying
to get Lady Constance down In writ
ing. II be went to Roger with story
that she preferred to marry lord
Roger would not believe him: II be
showed Roger q note to that effect
there would be nothing further to do
In the premises. Somehow. although
Ralph's object in saving his cousin
from misalliance was worthy one.
It seemed to me that his way Of doing
II was unwarranted.
One evening when Roger and were
together be began to talk to me In
roundabout way. He said nothing d.
rectly about his cousin or Lady Con-
stance, but knew well that be was
speaking Of the situation In which tho
four OF us were interested. But Roger
and gradually threw Oh the mask
and agreed that matters were not 60
ing to suit ~. A remark Of Rogers ar
rested my attention. He said that one
feature attending bis cousins engage
ment to me had surprised him. He
could not understand how Ralph would
b. willing to marry. o. the family
would consent that ~ should marry,
woman without 4 fortune. '~rhsy nesd
money. b s6dad sAnd cansf ut -
without IT,.
For the erst Hnss It oecurred to ne
that Ralph might know Of TIE prop
erty that II all probability would soon
be mine. l straightway began series
Of investigations, probing here and
there among those Intimate with these
two young men, which resulted In
discovsry that my lance had learned
through agents In America Of my ex-
pected fortune. From this starting
point did lot Of tbsorizing. did
mot believe his story about Lady Con-
stances unfortunate marriage. Then
hit upon the information that she had
q fortune in her own right Of 100000.
This opened my eyes still further. and
began to SEQ my nance's scheme.
He was balanced between fortune
Of half million dollars In the hand
and two millions in the bush. Unfor-
tunateiy for him, the smaller amount
was contingent upon his supplanting
his cousin.
I was tempted to break with him at
once. but refrainsd, desiring to let the
comedy play itself out. Mother and 1
went to Paris to do some shopping
and were gone month. When ne
turned to England my fiance received
me with a more demonstrative affec-
ton than ever before.
Thank heaven" he exclaimed. i've
got rid Of that bothersome. meddie-
some affair Of Rogers. 1t has not been
to my taste at all and has kept me
away from you
"Have you saved hlmf' asked.
mot that know: simply decided
to have nothing more to do with such
an understand business. told my aunt
that II Roger wished to- make an ass
Of himself would not aid him."
I was at loss to account for this
change in Ralph. but was disposed to
think that he had noticed change In
me and was fearful Of losing me and
my millions. Or perhaps he had learn
ed that he could not win Lady Con-
stance. But was not ready to show
my hand. and. enduring his caresses ar
best could. I said not word to en-
able him to judge Of my suspicious.
The very next day after he made his
announcement received letter from
America announcing the sudden death
Of my uncle, and. since was left his
sole heir. was advised to return at
once.
ssYhst acronutr FIR n - 7 said tn nv.