Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-07-23
you have given your portrait, taken by Blu

y
bore, of Kensington-"
upon my word" said Mrs. Maidmont,
rising and sounding the bell, this is rather
your friend and we don't know you. Susan,
show this gentleman out"
"But gentleman" l cried, "with blue
eyes, and yellow beard and moustache, and
turned up nose"
"No more." cried Mrs. Maidmont. Gam
to repeat once more, we know nothing about
him p
What could l do under these circumstances
but take my leave? In Susan, however, l
found an unexpected ally. She had heard my
parting words of desert ption, and she turned
to me as we were descending the stairs, and
said, "Miss Isabel's young man is exactly like
that"
Halfa crown and few Establishments,
which, under other circumstances, [ think
even my worthy spouse would have condoned,
put me in possession Of the facts.
Miss Maidmont was really going to be
married tomorrow morning at St. Spikenard's
Church to Mr.. Charles Tempest, very
good looking young man, whom they had not
known long, but who seemed to be very we'll
off, My description of my friend tailed ex-
actly with Susans Of the bridegroom but the
coincidence might me merely accidental.
"Had Miss Maidmont photograph OF her
lover?" 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.
was punctual to my tryst !; and at nine
Susan made her appearance with morocco
case containing an excellent likeness Of my
friend, Charles Thrapstow, massive pin with
topaz in it, and all.
Now what was to be done? Should l 60 to
Mrs. Maidmont and tell her how she was de.
ceived in her daughters lover? That would
have been the way best adapted to spare the
feelings of the Maidmonts but would 1t
bring back the five thousand pounds? l
thought not.
"Miss Maidmont," solloquised, ''will find
some way to warn her lover. Even robblng
bank may not embitter girl against her
sweetheart, and no doubt she's over head and
ears in love with Charlie" No; | determined
on a different plan. =,
I arose early next morning, dressed myself
with care, put on pair of pale primrose
gloves, donned my newest beaver, and took
cab to St. Spikenard's, Noting Hill.
The bells were jinglng merrly as | alight-
ed at the church door; small crowd had al
ready gathered on the pavement drawn to-
gether by the keen foresight of coming ex-
citement characteristic Of the human species
"Friend of the bridegroom" I whispered to
the verger, and 1 was forthwith shown into
the vestry The clergyman was there already,
and shook hands with me in vague kind OF
way. -,
mot the bridegroom" he said, in mild,
interrogative manner.
told him that was only one of his friends,
and we stood looking at each other in coma
tose kind of way, till little confusion at the
vestry door broke the spell.
"Here he comes!' whispered some one and
the next mcment there appeared in the vestry,
looking pale and agitated, but very handsome,
Mr.. Charles Thrapstow.
I had caught him by the arm and led him
into corner before he recognized who | was.
When he saw me thought he would have
tainted.
Don't betray me-" he whispered.
1 held out my hand with a significant ges-
ture.
Give thousand !" whispered in his ear
"You shall have it in five minutes"
"Your minutes are long ones, Master
Charles" said.
With trembling fingers he took out a pock-
et-book, and handed me 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 thousand
pounds.
"Now," said I, "Master Charlie, take your,
self off,"
"You promised" he urged, "not to betray
me-"
"No more will, if you CO."
"She's got ten thousand of her own" he
whispered.
"Be off; or else"
"No I won't said Charlie, making up his
mind with desperate effort; "Ill not. I'll
make clean breast of it"
At that moment there was bit of a stir,
and general call for the bridegroom. The
bride had just arrived, people said. He
pushed his way out to the carriage and whls-
pered few words to Isabel, who fell back in
faint. There was a great fuss and hustle,
and then some one came and said there was
an informality in the license, and that the
wedding couldn't come off that day.
I din't wait to see anything further, but
posted off to the bank, and got there just as
the board was assembling. I suppose some
of the directors had got wind of Thrapstow's
failure, for the first thing I heard when got
into the board room was old Venables grum-
bling out:
"How about those Damascus bonds, Mr..
Manager?"
1 rode rough shod over old Venables, and
tyrannized considerably over the board in
general that day, but l couldn't help think
ing how close thing it was, and how very
near shipwreck had been.
AS for Thrapstow, Ipresently heard that,
after all, he had arranged with his creditors,
and made it up with Miss Maidmont He
had a tongue that would wind around any
thing, if you only gave him time, and was
not much surprised at hearing that his we'd
ding day was fixed. He hasn't sent me an
invitation, and don't suppose he will, and l
certainly shall not thrust myself forward a
second time as an unlimited guest.
NOTED ENGLISH WITs-Whilst Lord Nor
bury was arguing point with the counsel,
and talking very loudly, an ass brayed from
the street adjoining the court house, to the
constant interruption of the chief justice.
"What noise is that" exclaimed his Lordship.
"Oh my lord," retorted Curran, "it is merely
H. xc 4l,o nn,rt