The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-25


the next day there was to be q general
exodus of the Happy Valley boarders
t' their homes. Cora felt that the de-
cisive moment had arrived and it had.
The hitherto pent-up devotion of Mont
gomery Smythe found vent at last in a
declaration and a proposition. He
vowed his love in perfectly princely
style, and having been accepted with a
good many bushes and tears, Just as is
the case in all well written novels, he
informed her that letters Just received
from bis confidential agent in Europe
compelled him to start immediately for
Paris, and urged her to marry him at
once, without waiting to go through the
form of asking the permission of her
grandsire or consulting her friends.
Was he not Montgomery Smythe and
who could possibly object to such an
alliance?
It is very possible that Cora might
have consented, so infatuated was she
with her prince; but she had read that
the regular thing was to demand time
for consideration, SO she postponed her
decision, which really was already made,
until evening.
AS they reached the piazza, he lazily
tapping his glossy boot with his bam-
boo, and she very tremulous and very
happy, a thick-set, pock-marked indi-
vidual, with black, heavy whiskers and
a glazed cap, came down the steps, and,
nodding to Smythe, said:
"Pd like to say a private word to
you, young man"
Montgomery Smythe suddenly stop.
ped tapping his boot, and, turning
pale, looked sharply at the stranger. A
slight vibration OF that persons eyelid
made him turn still paler, and, without
a word, he walked several steps away
from the Pavilion. The stout man then
slowly drew a large pocketbook from
his breast, favored Smythe with view
of certain documents therein contained,
Immediately after which he said aloud |:
You're my prisoner, sir, in the
name of the law
Cora felt like fainting, but her curl
osity was more than match for her
weakness.
Smythe looked toward her, laughed a
little gasping laugh, and tried to say
that the ridiculous mistake could be
easily explained.
"Let this person explain it, then,
said Cora, trembling all over.
"Why, you see, Miss" said the
stout man, "I'm detective officer,
and I've been laying for this young
gentleman some time. i have his
photograph here, Miss, If you'd like to
see it. ;"
And he produced e.de-visite,
the very twir of one Cora had but that
moment slowed away among her treas
ures.
"There amt any mistake about him,
is there A" said. the detective, grimly.
"But for what-for what is he-is-
is he-arrested faltered the poor
girl.
Why, Miss, you see he left Califor-
MIA too suddenly, with all the spare
cash of the proprietor of the Pacific
Hotel-S30, 000-and matter of So. 900
more in jewelry belonging to the board
ers of the house."
"But, Mr.. Smythe-"
"Smythe That amt his name,
Miss. He's plain Bill Higgins, fancy
Duf-htepeT Ol tne ThCiuc. III very
sorry for you, Miss. / don't suppose
you had any idea who you were with.
Good morning."
She looked at Montgomery Smythe,
but he did not raise his eyes nor open
his mouth. Plainly the detective had
told the truth. She turned to the hotel.
Happily the whole affair had escaped
notice.
Montgomery Smythe was already on
his way to the depot, arm in arm with
the stout man, and as they turned a
bend in the road, Cora took last sad
farewell look at her prince. The shock
made her seriously i'll, and when she
recovered the nonsense was pretty
thoroughly washed ont of.
Arthur Bayne was not the man to
triumph over the fall of any one. On
the contrary, he was too generous, and
when people began TO make remarks
about this unfortunate episode in Cora's
existence, he married her himself to
shut their mouths.