The Iola register., 1879-04-11

But here he stopped in amazement,
for Mrs. Montgomery Montague had
risen from her seat and drawn her small
figure to its fullest height. Sir, do
not insult me-" she said, with trembling
lips.
spripping to his feet" insult you, my
dear little woman! never dreamed of
such a thing"
"But you offered me--money," she
stammered.
"And was about offering you my
hand and heart-that's the way they put
it in the love stories, don't they? Will
YOU marry me, Lilianp and then, if you
choose, we'n 90 together for the boy"
"Generous mani" said the widow, q
tear stealing down her pretty cheek.
"But don't you see''--aud . smile sue
ceeded the tear" that that would never
do? l could never plead for my child
as the wife of Captain Hottop. 1t must
be as the widow of Montgomery Mon
tague."
"Blessed if you amt right" ex-
claimed the Captain, looking at her ad-
miringly. Swell, promise to marry me
when you return. DO, Lillian. No one
could love you better than l."
"When return?"
"Yes, for surely my promised wife
can accept part of the fortune that will
be all hers when she is really my wife,
without any body Darn il! nobody
need know. Will you, LilianP"
ssT will - shp said
"Will what, my preciousP" he asked,
smiling.
"Every thing" she answered; and
turned and fed like bashful girl, sitter
he had clasped her in his arms and given
her kiss in true sailor fashion.
And by the very next steamer Mrs.
Montgomery Montague started for Eng
land, with q valuable solitaire diamond
engagement ring glittering on her pretty
hand, check for five hundred dollars
in her silver portemonnaie, and many
useful and ornamental farewell gifts
from the ladies of the Spooner house
hold. The ladies felt all their old in
terests in her revive, now that she had
gone away indeed, as Mrs. Dusenberry
informed the 80-year- old grandfather Of
the youth who famed her on the after
noon of Mrs. Montague's arrival. "She
was much too lovely, and made me quite
Jealous of you, you false man."
And Miss Isabella Spooner hung the
picture of young Montgomery "that
babelet fair" in the parlor, and wreath.
ed it with daisies.- Heaven grant that
we may see the darling himself soon!"
she said, with pious emphasis.
But they never did. For, couple oi
weeks after the widows departure, Vel.
lington Octoper burst in among them
all as they were playing croquet on the
lawn, scattering the balls in every di'
rection.
"Sold, by gracious!" shouted he.
"What?" asked Miss Spooner, drop
ping her mallet.
"a million tierces of lard and twice
as many pigs, I suppose" murmuret
Mrs. Dusenberry, leaning in an uncon
scious manner against the shoulder o1
her partner.
"She's q fraud! Yes-s," continued
the pork-merchant.
"Who?" they all cried this time.
"The widow, Mrs. Montgomery
Montague, that is, Mrs. Maria j. Thomp
son. Yes-s."
"Maria J.-Jane, I suppose. A
sueet name," said Mrs. Dusenberry.
"A fraud, sir! What do you near
sir-what do you meanp" beloved Cap
tain Hottop, as though through q speak
ing trumpet, flush overspreading hi
weather-beaten face.
"Just what say, Captain. Yes-s.
answered the pork-merchant. 81
ought to be the 1st of April-it ought
for, by jingo, there never a0as such I
sell! The only truth she told was wher
she said she was widow So she is
Yes-s. The widow of Jack Thompson
celebrated mince and pumpkin-pi max
er in Chicago. l met his brother on th'
street to-day. He's q pork-merchant
And she never had any children"
"Not blue-eyed boy?" grasped th'
Captain.
"Not even a blue-eyed boy. Yes-s?
said Wellington Octoper.-Harper'
Weekly.