Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

have misgivings"
@sir,7 says she in a blaze, ~look on me. Have not
beauty?7
"By the Lord and the altar, yes!" said l. humoring
her; for she not to my taste, though of
doubted handsomeness. "You're ravishing, rip me!
in that gown, and"
She smiled and put up hand "'Tis necessary you
should know something; for you sworn to me for
three hours, she says. Il ward to Sir Edward,
having little property, and this Jack that is you
is his nephew It's two years since he was here, and
his uncle and he parted in quarrel. Twas over me-
Her face hardened. "Sir Edward bent upon a
match, and his nephew denied him. There some
wench-"
"Sdeath!" said I. ale had infamous bad taste
She bit her lip. "'Twas of no matter to me; but my
guardians wishes deserved respect. 1t to rrp-
ture. l Indifferent, but would do as Sir Edward
wished. At last it broke out-he must either marry
lose his fortune and come to barren title He had
two years in which think it over and the two ended
tonight at eight of the clock
whisted "Why,' said I, then am to play Jacks
part for Jack, am l, and save the comedy?'
She looked at me through lowered eyelids. "You
have guessed very well, Sir she said.
sat still with my hands in my pockets for a moment
thinking. was come to pretty pass as you may be-
leve; for l what this mink designed and cannot
deny that l admired her for it. She would take the
game in her hands, and make gross bid for victory.
Moreover, plain she desired to be my lady, and
to own wide acres and gold guineas. When looked
up she regarding me closely.
man, and, rip me! I'll be a better man than Master
lack and his doldrunls."
"Yes" she said, and then quickly again, ayes, will
trust you. You shall go through with it. You dare
not refuse!" and she gazed at me fiercely.
II will GO through all that is involved behind those
fine eyes," said l. Il will go through all knife
through butter-rp me if prove false!'
Before she could to that there the voice
of the old pronged parsnp at the door, procang that
all was ready, and the chaplain come and says he:
faac &c faith Tacl, md nal eat
and drink to yourself and your BRIDE egad!'
7 WOULD ha drunk and eaten to anything just then.
being sharp set from my long ride and should have
liked the wedding supper best this side of the ceremony
rather than tother. But that, as you see was impos
sibe. So l kissed hands to the bride that Lydia,
and accepted draft of wine from mine uncle that
Sir Edward and followed of him. laughing at my strange
case, but resolved to keep all eyes wide.
I had been in odd places before and doubted not
that should be again; but this one confess, tickled
vastly. To think that here Dick Ryder to walk
under the yoke with lady of high degree and heress
to boot, and none the wiser of it two alone!
Here jest between us, thought, and how
shall laugh at old hunks my uncle when It's all
And that fell thinking in a wonder how far this
business would go by my leave without it. If were
married to the girl, there question but could
claim her property willy nlly, and she was bound to
silence by her conspiracy Yet what of tother the real
Jack? There the knot and riddle of the case.
Well, the present time served best, and dis
missed all further questionings and threw myself into
the diversion pleasantly enough.
Lord save you! when look back upon that it
tickles me even Mistress Lydia serious
parson and the parson serious as himself; Sir Ed
ward ovial and exclaimed on any pretense as if
this play and he part of it, and the rest of
the company, being servtors and dependents of the
house, divided between giggles and gaping.
But when twas over and had took my buss of the
girl there something that went fortnight my
gizzard Was l in faith married? BY then, with the