POOR LITTLE JUDY!

Western Star, Issue 1547, 25 March 1891, Page 4

POOR LITTLE JUDY!

‘Marry you!’ exclaims Judy blankly, staring at her suitor in amazement. ' ‘ Whv should I marry you ? No—l don’t mean that exactly—you have last given me a reason only * Avhy ill the world should you want to marry me? ‘Because I love you ! answers Mr Callaghan, in a very solemn and impressive tone. Notwithstanding all her anxiety, Judy breaks into a merry laugh ; but checks it instantly as a heavy senwl darkens her companion’s face. Cer

tainly Mr Ca'laghan’s manner has never given her the impression of his being a man in love ; but, at the same time, it is kind of him, particularly in the circumstances, io suggest the one way which he sees out of her present dilemma and she feels some compunction for iter short-lived mirth. •' Oh, I beg your pardon !’ she says, pressm - her handkerchief to her lips •iii I vainly trying to conquer her feeling of amusement. ‘I did mean to laugh.’ 4 There is nothing to laugh at that I can see.’ remarks Mr Callaghan, whose face is now crimson ; when a man fall> in love with a beautiful girl like yon, and—and proposes, he scarcely expects to he ant with derision.’ ‘lt was very bad of mo,’ admils ,Tudv contritely. Mr Callaghan takes a mean advantage of the weakness of the girl’s an awer, and, before Judy is aware of bis intentions, slips one arm affectionately round her waist. ‘Sir!’cries Judy indignantly; and, hastily springing up from the couch, she walks over to I lie window, and gunds there like a little fury. ‘lt is very kind of you, Mr Callaghan, I know, and I am sure f ought to feed great!v honored and obliged ; but for all that yon are the very last person on earth whom I should ever dream of marrying,’ she explains excitedly. Mr Callaghan has also risen, and apparently the love he has professed for Judy has suddenly turned into the bitter hate. ‘Do vou realise what your refusal means V he asks, coming near, speaking in a low hissing voice. ‘Yes,’ the girl answers slowly. J must go and live with my father.’ ‘ How will you like associating with gamblers, drunkards, and thieves ?’ he persists impressively. ‘ If I have to do so, it will be my fate, nob my fault,’ Judy answers bravely. ‘Your own fault entirely !’ corrects Mr Callaghan. ‘ I offer you an honorable name, a happy home surrounded bv every refinement and luxury, and you deliberately choose to go and live in one of the worst slums in London. Is it right or just of you to disappoint your kind friend Miss Griffin in this way ‘1 It will break her heart.’ ‘Oh, no, no—not that!’ cries Judy, sinking down into a chair and hiding her face in her hands. ‘ In three days, or rather in two now, James Hogg will come to fetch you,’ pursues her tormentor ruthlessly. ‘ Oh, go away, please 1 I am sure things arc bad enough without enlarging on them !’ cries Judy impatiently, as she makes a gesture for him to leave her.

‘I shall not despair, Miss Judy,’ says Mr Callaghan, pausing a moment before making its exit. ‘ When you have had time to think the matter over, doubtless you will look at ray proposal iii a different light.’ ‘ Never, never : no, not if I were reduced to sweeping a crossing,’ declares Judy, springing once more to her feet, and ernphaising her speech with a stamp of her foot. ‘ Nevertheless, as I said just now, I will not despair,’ answers Mr Callaghan, in a cool and provoking tone, as he takes his departure. Five minutes later Miss Griffin enters the room, her cheeks wet with tears. ‘Oh Judy, Judy, my dear rash pot tvhat made you refuse Mr Call.a-o-han ? Such a splendid alliance for you ! Ho tells me his elder brother is not very strong, and -’ ‘ Oh auntie, auntie, what do I care about his brother ? 1 wouldn’t marry him if he were king of England,’ sighs Judv, nestling her aching head upon ti e kind old lady’s shoulder. ‘And he loves you so, Judy—he dotea on vou,’ continues Miss Griffin reproachfully. ‘He showed me such a magnificent set of diamonds, which, if you had accepted him, ho was going to get reset-.' 1 He can spare himself that expense anyway’-says Judy, laughing. ‘Besides, "auntie, I don’t care much for

diamonds.’ ‘ Qb. and, Judy. Judy, that terrible, mnn will surclv come and claim you!’ cries Miss (Trillin tearfully. ‘] feel perfectly distracted between one tiling and another.’ • And so do I,’ sighs Judy. ‘ Please, ma’am, hero is Mr "Wilde,’ announces Bird, suddenly throwing open the door and showing in the owner of Skylark Hall. Chapter YL Tom Wilde, hat in hand, steps into tbc room, bringing with him, as it seems t j Jndv. something of the freshness a- d healthiness of his native lulls something that had been strangely wanting in the artificial life they had been lending of late. Tom's face is bronzed ; his light gray suit fits him easily; bis serviceable hoots arc of honest leather, without that, aggressive lustre which so irritated Judy when her eyes have accident] rested upon the Hon. Alexander’s highiv-polished boots. Tom’s hands, too, when he pulls off his gloves, are honest, useful brown hands. Judy regards them with satisfaction, and compares them advantageously with those long white subtle fingers site, has seen so much of lately. Mr Callftffha.Ts hands have always reminded her of snakes and conjuring tricks. ! £ W' v Miss Griffin, what—what is j the matter V asks Tom in his. blunt, I Jiindlv manner, and with his eyes full '

of astonishment as he looks from one to the other. ‘Oh, Tom, Tom, we are in such trouble !’ murmurs Miss Griffin, giving the young, man her right hand while she hides her eyes with her left. 1 And oh, Tom, we arc glad to see you !’ echoes Judy with a laugh, which is half a sob. ‘ That is good news, anyhow,’ remarks Toni, turning towards Judy. ‘ Such a terrible 'thing has happened, Tom !’ pursues Miss Griffin, laying her hand upon the young man’s shoulder, and gazing up into his face as though for help. I Judy’s father has just' turned up, and lays claim to her.’ : '

‘ I always thought her father was in Africa,’ observes Tom, rather mystified. ‘ Oh, that was all a romance of dear auntie’s rinterposos J udy, with burning checks. ‘My parents were tramps, Tom—tramps ! They abandoned me years ago, as you know ; and now this wicked old father of mine wants to get piles of money out of Guardie and auntie, or else to make me go and live with him. OI), he is such a wretch” Tom shakes his head slowly. ‘ No, no, Judy,’ he says with a broad smile; ‘I can’t believe that of your father.-’ ‘Oh, but he is !’ declares Judy solemnly. ‘ And my name isn’t Judy at all; it is just Polly—Polly Hogg ! Did you ever hear of anything so awful?—and the girl burst into a fit of hysterical laughter. ‘I think Polly is rather a pretty name,’ says Tom consolingly. ‘ And, Tom, she—she insists t baf the man shall not be bribed,’ observes MisGriffin ; * and she actually says she will go with him when he comes to fetch her on Saturday. My It l art will hroa l • 1 know it will ;’ an i, let)ieg hoc Ima. •' rest upon Judy’s shoulder, Miss G. ffin

sobs quietly. ‘Look here —you mustn’t go, you know!’ says Tom. shaking his head s>t Judy, who has drawn Miss Griffin to the sofa and is seated beside hex*.

’‘ I call it very perverse of her,’ murmurs Miss Griffin. ‘ Yes, I do, Judy; it is of no use squeezing my band like that to keep me quiet, because I won’t keep quiet. Tom shall just hear what a naughty intractable girl you are.’ ‘ln what way ?’ questions Tom,

smiling at Judy. Well, Tom, you must know that since coming to town we have made the acquaintance of one of the handsomest, most fascinating clever, and aristocratic men that it has ever been my fate to meet. ? Oh—oh, have you ? falters Tom, a look of dismay on bis honest face. His eyes sharply seek Judy’s, bui that discreet young lady is gazing dtmfirely at the carpet, and only a pair of tell-tale dimples tell him that she is trying hard to repress a smile. ‘ Yes; a man in every ways qualified to win any woman’s heart.’ ‘ Oh, dear !’ groans Tom. ‘ Well,!.continues Miss Griffin, with a deep-drawn sigh, ‘this gentleman, the Honourable Alexander Callaghan, has laid his hand and heart at J udy’s feet, and she ’ ‘ Said, ‘Thank you, sir, but I would rather not,” interposes Judy suddenly breaking into the conversation.

‘Yes—was it not provoking of her? Of course, as Mr Callaghan observed, once married, her father could not claim her.’ ‘ Oh, of course not, agrees Tom, whose face now brightens wonderfully. ‘I don’t see why I should marry anybody if I don’t want to,’ says Judy, pouting. ‘ And that dreadful man is coming on Saturday,’ observes Miss Griffin hopelessly. ‘ Oh, Tom, Tom, can’t you think of something ? Can’t you help us PL - • (To he continued.)