Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-01-13
A RUNAWAY MATCH,

Br HELEN MAXWELL.
"Hsllo, Barton hear you are going 10 te
married. Accept my felicita'lons, and all that
sor. Of thing"
"Thanks r drawlel Barton slowly removing
the ssgar from his mouth. "Bnt there Ia some
mistake. am not going to be married."
.Why. was told the knot was soon to be
tied that the gIi was awfally pretty. and aw-
fully rich. have been envying you, and ours
Ing my luck, ever since heard It,"
"No cause, Hexter, give you my word"
said Barton, continuing his promenade on the
deck of the Newport boat.
u see how It Is, old fellow She Tilted you,"
replied his friend.
"Who Tilted mel"
"Miss Bradfute."
sIhave not the houor Of Miss Bradfute'= ac-
quaintance."
Hexter stared.
"Come, that's good Not know girl who
last six months n
Sand where nave been ior the las, six
months, II you please?"
"ln Paris, amusing yourself you lucky dogg'
Exactly. havo been In Paris. returned
home In August Ny mother and her guest,
Miss Braafute, ATE In Virginia, ut the White
Sulphur Springs. My mother writes, and ask
me to Join them there. l don't like sulphur
water, sol don't 60. l have never seen Miss
Bradfute, and lam not going to marry h2r."
SHOW DO you suppose the report Of yous en-
gegement got afloat?"
"Cen't say" said Barton, with u slrug.-
ever"
"ceitaInly, my dear 10y Illsay It's con
founded lie !"
"Not necessary. Be kind enough 10 simply
state It's q great honor to me, but no such mar
riage q In contemplation, and that Miss Brad
fuie and have never met"
GAIL rightW said Hexter. u wish shed
have me, though. She is rolling in money, and
dsuced prettyl Speak good word for me when
,, you do meet. ] say, lei us go below, and see
what we can get for supper. I am us hungry
| as hunter.
They supped, and smoked, and ounged up
| and down the deck, listening to the band which
| crashed out an innumerable quantity OF gallops
and watzes. They discussed many mutual as-
l qualntances; but there was no further allusion
ads to Miss Bradfute. But Barton, thought
n~ about her, nevertheless and was extreme
much to find that he was reported rs en-
~ ama.s.. Just befores seaslng Paris he had
gagged TO her. IN his mother, hiatjng at hel
received letter fr,.. ''Duld marry he, Young
earnest wish that he ST..
guest, Miss Nora Bradfute. Child OF Il wld.
This young lady was the oni, nan Of fab.
owed father. Gen. Dradfute wasa iisposi.
ulous wealth but he was of rowing
tlon, and led life of wanderlngs,
Nora had spent her days ia travelling from
country to country, from town TO town; and
now, at nineteen or twenty, she had found a
temporary home with her mothers old friend,
Mrs. Barton.
Ofcourse, good Mrs. Baton had at once set
her brain to work to make match between
her son Philip. who was then abroad, and
Nora. She talked Of Philip, and Philips clever
ness, and Philips good heart, and Philips Ia
lents, till poor Nora felt that, II there was por-
son Oh earth who was destined to love her to
death, shat person was Philip Barton.
They were at The White Sulphur Springs
more for tho benefit of the mountain air. than
for any gayety. But Nora was bright, anus
Ing, esslly amused little tlung, and she soon
had lots Of now friends about her. Her pretty
foreign manner, and rich dress were enough to
attract attention anywhere; but, at the White
Sulphur, she entirely capivated tho hearts of
the susceptible Southern men; and, before she
had been there week, she had many devoted
admirsrs-
Poor Mrs. Barton was now seriously alarmed,
for fear that Nora should form some attach
msnt, and Philip lose his chance. She was real
ly fond Of the girl, and desired to have her for
daughtsr-in-law, as much for the sake Of her
| cheerful company and sweet disposition, as for
her wealth. She knew that Gen. Bradfnte
would refuse his daughter nothing, and would
sanction any marriage she might choose to make
SO Mrs. Barton again wrote to Philip, who, she
supposed, by that thine, would have landed in
| New York; TO hasten down to the White Sui
phur Springs, and secure the little heiress. In
reply, she received the following curt letter from
| her undutiful son,
| DEAR MoTHKR-I ain sorry cannot obllge
YOU by marrying Miss Bradfute. The Idea Is
extremely dlstasteful to me; and, as sulphur
GUS water and mountain air don't agree with
me, shall not join you IN Virginia, but dis
pose Of myself otherwise, for the rest of the
] summer. Address me at the club.
| Your affectlonats son,
"PHILIp."
Meantime Nora had beentairtlng In her inno-
cent way, dancing pnnumerable German cotil-
lions, taking innumerable romantic walks,
breaking innumerable Southern hearts, She
had quite put the unpleasant thought Of Philip
Barton and his probable advent out uf her mind,
when one day Mrs. Barton recalled him 10 her
memory, In anything but waJ which was ac-
ceptsble to the young lady.
''My dear" said her old friend, following her
into the long drawing room, where sha was 60
Ing with lot Of young people for an ilnpromp.
tn dance. "lfy dear Nora, ! have something
Of real importance TO say TO you. Would you
aIs ANYTHING the matter with papa" ,-hei
Nola, in sudden fright.
"No, dear child. II IL about yourself
! aWhat have | done nows' p"uted Nora
rather pettishly.
You have done nothing as yet but musl
warn you against the attention of those strange
mer. She bad drawn Nora away from hei
J companions, and they were now walking on the
gallery.
strangs,. salaths Little cosmopolitan. .,.