American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-08

"a Mr.. Charles Thrapstow. You know
of no such person, Bella?"
Il know of no Mr.. Charles but Charles
Tempest" said Isabel.
at is singular, too, that the initials o.
our friends should be the same. May
ask if you have given your portrait taker
by Blubore of Kensington"-
upon my word" said Mrs. Maidmon
rising, and sounding the bell, this i:
rather too much from a total stranger
We don't know your friend, and we dom
| know you. Susan, show this gentleman
| out"
"But a gentleman" cried, with blue
! eyes, and yellow beard and moustache
and turnedup nose
mo more!' cried Mrs Maidmont. cam
| | to repeat once more, we know nothing
about him?"
| What could l do under these circum
stances but take my leave? In Susan
however, found an unexpected ally. She
had heard my parting words of descrip
| ton, and she turned to me as we were de
scending the stairs, and said, "Miss
| Isabel's young man is exactly like that"
| Half crown and few Establishments,
which, under the circumstances, l think
even my worthy spouse would have con
| doned, put me into possession ofthe facts.
Miss Maidmont was really going to be
| married tomorrow morning at St Spike
nard's Church to n Mr.. Charles Tempest,
a very good looking young man, whom
| they had not known long, but who seemed
to be very well off. My description of
my friend tailed exactly with Susan's of
the bridegroom; but the coincidence
might be merely accidental.
"IIad Miss Maidmont a photograph of
her lover?'' l asked.
She had, in her own room, it seemed.
Susan couldn't get at it now without
suspicion; but she promised to secure it,
and bring it with her if would meet her
at nine O'Clock at the corner of the street.
l was punctual to my tryst; and at nine,
Susan made her appearance with mo-
roccO-case containing an excellent like
ness of my friend, Charles Thrapstow,
massive pin with topaz in it, and all
Now what was to be done? Should l
go to Mrs. Maidmont, and tell her how she
was deceived in her daughters lover !?
That would have been the way best adapt
ed to spare the feelings of the Maidmonts !;
but would it bring back the five thousand
poundss I thought not.
"Miss Maidmont," L soli1oquiZed, twill
find some way to warn her lover Even
robbing a bank may not embitter a girl
against her sweetheart, and no doubt she's
over head and ears in love with Charlie"
No; determined on different plan.
l rose early next morning, dressed my
self with care, put on pair of pale prim-
rose gloves, donned my newest beaver, and
took cab to St. Spikenard's Noting Hill.
The bells were jangling merrily as l
alighted at the church door; a small
crowd had already gathered on the pave
ment drawn together by that keen fore
sight of coming excitement characteristic
of the human species. Friend of the
bridegroom" l whispered to the verger
and l was forthwith shown into the vestry
The clergyman was there already, and
shook hands with me in a vague kind of
way.
Not the bridegroom" he said in a
mild interrogative manner. 1 told him
that l was only one of his friends, and we
stood looking at each other in comatOse
kind of way, till little confusion at the
vestry door broke the spell. "Here he
comes!' whispered some one; and next
moment there appeared in the vestry look
ing pale and agitated, but very handsome,
Mr.. Charles Thrapstow.
l had caught him by the arm and led
him into corner, before he recognized
who l was. When he saw me, l thought
he would have tainted. Don't betray
me-" he whispered.
l held out my hand with significant
gesture.
Give thousand," 1 whispered in his
ear
You shall have it in five minutes.H
'Your minutes are long ones, Master
Charles" said
With trembling fingers, he took out
pocket book, and handed me a roll of
notes.
II meant it for you, Tom," he said.
Perhaps he did, but we know the fate of
good intentions.
1t didn't take me long to count over
those notes; there were exactly five thou
sand pounds.
Now" said I, master Charlie, take
you promised he urged, mot to be-
tray me-
mo more l will, if you 60"
"She's got ten thousand of her own"
he whispered.
''Be off; or else"-
mo; l WON'T said Charlie, making
up his mind with desperate effort; ''I'll
make a clean breast of it,"
AT that moment there was bit of
stir, and general call for the bride
groom. The bride had just arrived, peo-
pie said. He pushed his way out to the
carriage, and whispered few words to
Isabel, who fell back in Il faint. There
was great fuss and hustle, and then
some one came and said that there was
an informality in the license, and that the
Wcuulnp COlnc OH llltl udS.
l didn't wait to see anything further,
but posted off to the bank, and got there
just as the board were assembling. l
suppose some of the directors had got
wind of Thrapstow's failure, for the first
thing heard when l got into the board
room was old Venables grumbling out:
"How about those Damascus bonds, Mr..
Manager?' | rode rough shod over old
Venables, and tyrannized considerably
over the board in general that day, but 1
couldn't help thinking how close thing
it was, ard how very near shipwreck l
had been.
AS for Thrapstow, presently heard that,
after all. he had arranged with his credi-
tors, and made it up with Miss Maidmont.
He had Il tongue that would wind round
if you only gave him time, and
l wasn't much surprised at hearing that
his wedding-day was fixed. He hasn't
sent me an invitation, and l don't sup
pose he will, and | certainly shall not
thrust myself forward a second time as
an unlimited guest. -Chambers's Journak.