The Hickman courier., 1872-09-28

NY sue lOItg, II Suo a Gay
and III wsger my diamond shiri
studs that her teeth are false"
Very possibly; but only thinl
! of her bank stock and railroa
shares | tell you Ia 60 in for tn
prize quick enough. ii it wasn't al
ready mortgaged to Mrs Melford
bless her dear little heart. Your
p the best looking fellow here. VIII
don't you think the matter over ?''
~ Bruce Gaynor did tbini, the mat
ter over, and made up his mind il
very short order.
Good evening, Mr. Wylie," sal,
he, IN honeyed accents, half an houl
or.so Later, as he encountered Ross
mere.
Mr. Wyfe inclined his head frig
idly
Il understand Miss Montressor is
cousin, and L nave resolved to ask at
your hands the privilege of an intro
duction."
e" 1 shall be happy to oblige you
Mr. Gaynor," said Rossmere, With
the slightest perceptible shrug of his
shoulders, "and presume my cous-
in Emily Will be gratified with your
acquaintance.
SO Mr. Gaynor was formally Pre-
sented in the lists as n candidate
for the smiles of Miss Emily Mon
trsssor.
Sc certainly was not handsome.
! Her hair was thin and rusty brown,
her eyes didn't both look in the sam e
dir c ion, and she undoubtedly wore
false teeth. But then Bruce renem.
bered her money, and looked at ber
through deceptive golden haze that
made her very lovely.
don't really know what to do
about Katy Talbot" thought Mr.
Gaynor to himself, uneasily twisti g
up the pink envelope chat had en-
wrapped her last glowing, impulsiYe
loving little epistle. q was a grea
fool to allow myself to get so en-
tangled, but it isn't too late yet to
back out gracefully. I guess 1 won't
answer her letter; women ara gene
ally pretty quick to take hint OF
that sort Katy's very pretty, and
very much in earnest; but then
Katy hasn't the cash, ard it really IS
every mans duty to look oua for
mum Der one"
Thus cogitating. Bruce Gayno
lighted his cigar with the pink en-
velope; while poor Kate Talbot,
looking out through the ametyst
glow Of the August twilight won
dercd and wondered, and grew
heart sick at her lovers strange ST.
lence
And Rossmere Wylie watched
the curious development OF the little
life drama that was being enacted
under his eyes with cOntemptuous
Indignation.
"a heartIess scoundrei - he
thought. "Kate Will be rid of him.
And yet, poor girl, she did believe
in him. Well, this is a strange
world we live in. If man steals a
five dollar bill, he is sent to prison;
if he steals a woman's heart, to fling
it away when he is tired of the play
thing, he's hero and preuc cheUa-
he,'t Bon UoyGge, Mr.. Bruce Gaynor.
l shall certainly not interfere in
any of your nice little arrange
ments."
Yet R 0ssmere Wylie felt a certain
thrill of delight as he thought OF
Kate TIA bot free, and disenchanted
once more from the glamour thai
had ilan5 around her life.
Aul 1st was gone and over; the
golden orb of the full September
moon was looking calmly into the
curtained recess Of the huge bay
window where Mr.. Bruce Gaynor
had gone gracefully down on his
knees to Miss Emily Montressor, af
ter the most romantic fashion.
"My Emily! my hearts own
peerless treasure :!
"Do you really love me ?" lisped
the middle-aged charmer, with an
attempt to be arch.
"Ah, Emily, have felt of late
how utterly impossible it will be for
me to be happy away from your
smiles. You will marry me, dearest?
You will give me the right to call
you my own z"
"But, Bruce" faItered the fair
one, az am so much older than
you
GA year or so, perhaps, darling
but what does that signify to hearts
that are congenial %
And then my niece will think it
so ridiculous, she has always oppOs
ed the idea of my marrying"
"My Emily should not sacrifice
the happiness of her lifetime to the
interested motives of others. You
will be mine, Emily ?"
"Ah, Bruce, you are so winning
1 don't know what answer to give
you"
"Say yes, darling"
And Miss Emily Montressor said
" Yes"
But 1 really am afraid to let
my niece know, I'm sure she will
oppose it."
"My love, we will spare her the
opportunity; we will go quietly to.
the church to morrow and be mar
ried."
"Oh. Brucel''
Emily, darling, am aware that
this is not a common proceeding,
but then you know that our love is
not a common love-"
"I-I know it, Bruce faltered
Miss Mentressor, turning huge en-
,eraId ring round and round on her
dumpy little finger, " and if you in
s.st upon il"
Mr.. Gaynor's handsome eyes
flashed in triumph; he was sure OF
his prize at last. Poor, forgotten
Kate!
The sudden wedding of the mid
dle-aged Miss Montressor with the
chief exquisite of the season made
nine days sensation at Saratoga.
Kate Talbot heard of it in due time,
and cried a day and night before
she began to realize that she had
made a fortunate escape. And Ross
mere Wylie came back from Sara
toga lust in time to catch her heart
in tha rebound.
While Mr.. WylIe and Miss Kate
Talbot were gathering grapes and
4, 80 q Il - lif