Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-11-05
tn\TlNtt.D.
CHAPTER, Y.

II must 20 to the city Tomorrow, said
! Scrihblcon, one morning at breakfast some
| two weeks after Ills marriage. Il left hur-
ric,l!y, and manufacturing 50 long an absence
my affairs are in some confusion
'.lour visit couldn't be better timed, an
swcrcd Mrs. Podgcrs, ''for have been think
ing Of inviting niece of mine who lives in
the city to spend few weeks with me, and
you can be the bearer of the invitation, and
when YOU return bring her back with YOU.
! ''Does she know you are married." asked
Scribbleton, feeling called upon to say some
| thing.
"No: l haven't written to her for some
| time, and don't mean to let her know it till
she arrives, for want to witness her surprise
al such unexpected intelligence. Won't it be
nice to announce you rs my husband after
she has travelled with yon believing you only
friend::'
"No doubt it will surprise her greatly.
have got the plot of new story in my head;
would you like to hear it,
''Oh, l should be delighted: was Mrs.
rodgers Joy1ul answer.
! Now this was a stratagcm of Scribblet0n to
effect a change of subject; for lie did not at all
relish the idea of a visit from young, un-
married lady. as he presumed the niece in
question to be. lie was not sufficiently proud
| of his peculiar situation as 4 married man to
desire such close and protractcd scrutiny of
his domestic relations as he felt must result
from the presence in the house of third per-
son, and this third person, too, proSo''lv
young and frOlcsomc damsel. But he knew
better than to interpose an objection, or dis
cuss the matter; and therefore sought to di-
vert his wifc's thoughts from her project for
the time being, resolved to depart sooner than
he intended, and in such manner that in the
hurry and hustle of preparation there would
be good chance of her forgetting to say
anything more about it, Arrived in the city
he knew that he might easily manage not to
receive her letters, and could thus return at
his leisure with an excellent excuse for not
cooperating in her plans. This was good
deal to flash through ones mind in moment;
but the reader will not wonder at it since the
mind is Scribbleton's. The plot of the new
story worked admirably, Mrs. Podgers be-
coming so deeply interested that when she
finally arose from the table it was without so
much as remembering that she had niece in
existence.
The train would leave in about two hours ;
so waiting until about thirty minutes of the
time remained, Scribblcton suddenly announc-
ed that he had concluded to take his immedi-
ate departure. MY packing must be done
with expedition, he added, ''or shall miss
the train.
Mrs Podgers was thrown quite off her bal
ancc by this unexpected change of program
me, and Scribbleton managed to keep her in
thorough state of excitement up to the last
moment. He got somewhat excited himself,
too, and almost repented the stratagem when
he saw his choicest shirts in the hurry of
packing, crowded and jammend into the
trunk by Mrs. Podgers' profane hands in q
way that utterly ruined the beautiful starch
ing and ironing of his skilled laundress.
At last he was fairly in the carriage, and
the dreaded niece had not been thought Of
He was safe now, even though his wife
should remember her.
s'Good bye!' he shouted for the last .ime as
the carriage wheels began to revolve.
"Good by" answered Mrs. Podgers from
the door. "Mercy! Stop! VIC forgot some
thing My niece
"Oh, to be sure!' said Scribbleton, with
perfect self-possessien. ''How lucky you
thought of it! Have you the letter of inv!-
tation ready? No! That's unfortunate, for
haven't a moment to spare. Butnever mind,
you can mail it to me, which will do as
WE'LL
This was satisfactory, and with gracious
smile Mrs. Podgers waved HIM last adieu
Scribbleton had good deal to think OF as,
seated in the train, he was borne rapidly to-
ward the city. The events of the past few
days, so strange and unlooked-for, formed no
inconsiderable portion of the subjects of bis
meditations: but it was the future that gave
him greatest concern and kept his wits busi-
est. He would soon be in the vicinity of his
darling Jennie, but how should he obtain &C.
cess to her? He must win her love; but was
it po.sible? She must be kept in ignorance
of his changed circumstances, but could It be