Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1896 — THE FAMILY STORY [ARTICLE]

THE FAMILY STORY

( ◄•FIVE * THOU*

Tk yr Y dear girt, you’ll have to, let ’ l\/l me °®’ I’ m aw Fully sorry- out .-*■ , -A. the Governor won’t give way. mtn really fond of j’ou, and I think you ••are of me, but " j **O! why didn't I want to marry a Mecent barrister, a doctor, or even a IjonrWnlist, instead of an Earl’s younger kou?“ said Miss Muriel Mallett, with *a frown on her pretty face, and a tear ier two in her large, limpid eyes—eyes prhlch made all the men think, wrongivy, that she was poetical and sentimenttal. “But, seriously, can you give me I The Hon. Bob Martindale looked at ■ter. She was Just his ideal—tall, wellIbullt. but with a saucy face in which |the big black eyes seemed out of place, tis fascinating. There was in her countenance the strangeness which, acpordgto Bacon, is necessary to great uty. She affected a tailor-made manti was always well groomed; though her dress was a trifle maniaish, in the brusque movements which lahowed that she was fidgety, glimpses ♦f gossamer stocking and fine Valenciennes revealed themselves, and showed that she had a conscience in costume that would have delighted the hero of XJXutier’s novel with the famous pre(face. • . “My dear girl. If it were a question 'of risking my life, or anything like Alia t, I wouldn’t hesitate; if it were even •one of those affairs of fellows who ‘for a few hours of—of— well, you know, iglodly die, I’d be there; but—but I can't %e a cad. They have brought me up •s a swell without any profession, and ‘l’m a bit of a fool, and I couldn't live on your earnings as actress, so there you are.’** ' Miss Muriel sighed. Bob was a handsome fellow and manly, and lie would *ave the title and estates some day if dwo obstacles were to disappear. "I did jike. you. Bob, and do, and you were always straight. I should like to have been your wife. If only we'd •ome money to run a theatrical company with!’’ < “Yes, if I hadn't been such a Juggins •s to blue the live thou, old Uncle Tom left me—l didn’t know you then.” “Yes, if we'd the five thou.!" she started a little. “You will marry me If ever I have £S.O[X)? O, you'd have to work, have to be my manager.” \ He nodded. “It’s a promise for two years?” “Yes.” “Honor bright?" “Yes. of course. If- ” 1 •'lf I run straight? - Well, look here, we’ve been engaged—honorably—and I you want to break it off.” . He lowered his head. 1 “Tpi young, only 24 even at Somor-V set House. I’d like to have married yoti, and I should have been a good wife, too. However, some day I may want to marry some one else.” The man shuddered. ' “A broken engagement isn't a certTdcate of good character; you must give me one. That’s fair.” She got up and wheeled to him a little round table, bn which was a croc-odile-skip writing-pad. with silver edges. She opened it. took out writing paper, and found him pen and ink. t “Now, then, write this—“My Dear Miss Mallett! It is my •pajuful duty to tell you that I have rinade fruitlessly a desperate effort to igxln my father’s consent to our marriage. He utterly refuses, saying that fce is so old-fashioned as to object to fiave an actress as daughter-in-law. ■Therefore, I am compelled to break off my engagement with a woman whom I still love and esteem.” The Hon. Bob signed the letter ly“Now, be off. I’ve to go to rehearsal. No. you mus'n’t drive me down. Once imbre, if within two years I have five l +lwu. as capital, you promise you will >V»rry me?” I “Yes, darling, on my word of honor!” With a swift movement she threw her arms around bis peck and kissed passionately. A minute later ho found himself in the street, sad and 4>ewildered. ! That evening there was rejoicing in the big mansion in Belgrave square, and the Earl of Hexham drank too much in honor of the return to respectability of the prodigal Bob. - “We’ll soou find you a wife, my boy,” Tie said, over the port, which he drank jiff honor of the Affair and in defiance of gout and doctor’s orders-. “None iof your rich American trash, but some oho of decent family and the sort of solid, reasonable dowry that a younger son deserves.”

Next morning at 12 o'clock, when ( ttin Earl was vainly trying to put on 4u> boots without swearing at the pain, tthe Hon. Bob entered the library with M ■ document in bis bsud. “I never thought she'd have done It, sir," he said. , “pone what?" “j/ook; the beastly thing says, 'The plaintiff claims damages for breach of .promise of marriage.” 1 faring me my slippers!" shouted the 'Karl; “damn the horse! send round the Off wwrtt to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, j-fou’d better settle." said Mr. I’oniler, the old family lawyer: “Bet tie I” be shouted, “settle! I’ll rta»w up the baggage, the —7! 11l put ♦very deteei+ve in London on the Job. r» not afraid of court, and when the jury bears what she realty Is " “But the scandal?" “Hon’tltoJk about scandal; enter nn •ppearance. and leave the rest to me." _“Mjr dear Governor," Interrupted IBob, wh« < had accompanied him, “be fair to the girl. I didn't think Muriel nroUld ha Ve* done Itj but she’s perfectly «tralght~l’d stake my life on it." “Nonwnso, Bob! You’re a fool, and you'd better ofay abroad till the affalr'a over, I'll attend to |t I'll show rlMmeZ “We'll’'’teach

cessful lawsuit about right-of-way—a success which added a new mortgage to the family collection. “It’s gll very well,” said Mv.Ponderj “but that was chancery, this Is common law. I’m sure we should make a mess of it. Oue of my articled clerks has set up in business in Bedford Row; he’s a smart fellow, and will fight hard, and just suit you,'”Bob went off to the. Riviera, and lost All the money his father gave him. During his absence the old gentleman employed a detective—a fellow with splendid imagination, but very poor powers .of observation—and the skirmishing was done- under- the Earl’s supervision. Bob was to have staid away till after the trial; however, an urgent letter from a club friend of his father brought him home in a hurry. He arrived in the evening, and, going to the Carlton, learned that the case was in the list for next day. When he reached Belgrave .Square and was shown into the library he found his father with Mr. Hicks, his Bodford Rowsolicitor. There was a row going on at a high pitch. “Pray tell your father he must settle,” said Mr. Hicks. “Settle be damned!” interrupted the did boy. “Settle, I say,” rejoined the solicitor. “You See, Mr. Martindale, Sir Edward says he won’t cross-examine the plaintiff, as to her character. He suggests that the material Is absurd, and he does not believe a word of the detective's story—he says he'd sooner return the brief.” "And the cheek?” gasped the Earl. “Yes, ahd the check. He says there’s no decent defense, and ho won't try to support the detective’s tissue of lies. Moreover, he insists that if he did he’d fail, and the damages and disgrace would be awful.” “What does it matter to me?” shouted the old gentleman. “It’s not my case, it's my son’s.” “That’s a bit. steep,” observed the son. “My retainer is from you, my lord,” urged Mr. Hicks. “O. I'll pay your confounded costs, but where will they get their damages from?” , Bob groaned. , “They’ve told me they’ll make him bankrupt,” replied Mr. Hicks, “and his discharge will be suspended for two years at least.” “What has that to do with me?” said the Earl grimly. Bob interposed: “Lord Salisbury has many claims on his patronage, and in iny bankruptcy he'd find a decent excuse for leaving me out in the, cold.” The Earl had no gout, but he managed without Its help to use very vigorous language'concerning sons, solicitors, advocates, and actresses. -“They will take £5,000 for damages, with a full apology and withdrawal in open court,” said Mr, Hicks, “and £SOO for costs.” "An apology! A withdrawal!" “A withdrawal of all the charges on the record.” Next day, to the Infinite disgust of the reporters and the crowded court. Sir Edward, in a graceful speech, made an. apology of the most ample Character, withdrew all imputations, and announced that £5,000 would be paid as compensation for the injury to the lady, together with her costs. The Morning Post, on the morrow, announced that the Earl of Hexam had gone to Buxton. When the honorable Robert, a day later, received a letter from Muriel, saying she was most anxious to see him, he took a cab to Brompton Crescent, and grew more and more perplexed every inch of the way. Miss Muriel, looking very neat, natty. handsome, and piquant, with a prodigious glow of life in her eyes, shook hands with him warmiy and made him sit down on the sofa by her side. For a quarter of an hour she stimulated his curiosity by talking about nothing in particular. At last his patience broke down. “Look here, Elka,” brusquely, “stow the cackle and. come to cues. I’m delighted to stie 1 you, and don’t bear malice; but what on earth put it into your pretty head to send for me?" She laughed loud, long, and heartily —so loud, long, and heartily that at last he laughed with her. "Well, you are a goose!" sh 6 said. “I know it.” he answered. “I dread Michaelmas.”

"I think your brain is developing; you're growing witty. O, you haven't got there yet!" • "Well, but —-” “Listen to pic. The Hon. Robert Talbot Hicsmes Clarence Martindale made a promise to Miss Muriel Mallett that , if within two years she had £5.000 to finance a theatrical company with he'd marry her." He gazed open-mouthed. She wheeled up the little round table to him. opened the crocodile-skin writing pad with silver edges, aud took-a bundle of crisp “flimsies” from the flap. “One, two, three, four,” she counted but up to fifty;/‘fifty’ brand new Bank of England notes, each for 100 beautiful, shining sovereigns. You I‘v» got the five thou.” He stared, mentally paralyzed. "The damages!" she shouted* hysterical with laughter. “The damages!" “Yes, and your promise.” “Yes. but ” . “There are no buts about it; you've promised, and you love me.” He nodded. “And I love you. iFt'he Earl hadn't played it so low down in the defense I might haveyhucked up the game. As It is, 1 hold you to your word as a man of honor. Will you marry' me?" She looked Into bis eyes. He really loved her. She took hold of his left hand, his right arm wandered round her w*t»t. ..J

“Will yon marry me?” she repeated, her lips an inch from his. He replied affirmatively without a word. There Is now one obstacle the less between the husband of the fascinating Muriel Mallettyind- the earldom of Hexham. for his’ lordship died suddenly from apoplexy on getting a telegram from an old club friend concerning his son’s marriage with the fascinating actress.—The Sketch.