The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-04-03

Now he got up with sort OF groan
hot entirely cause by disappointed
love, for he had the rheumatism.
"Farewell, false one," said he, feeling
for his hat without looking for it, 81
leave you forever"
He strobe away, banging the door
after him.
The widow cried and then laughed,
and then cried again.
In fact, she had a genuine fit of what
the maiden aunt called "stericks," and
the chambermaid "highstrikes," before
she was brought to, and prevailed to
take glass of wine and something hot
and comforting in the edible line.
After which the thought of her fancee
consoled her.
Days passed on,
Bachelor Bunting did not drown him.
self or sup cold poison.
The wedding day was fixed.
The housemaid informed her friend
that Mrs. Hunter "kept steady COM
pany."
The maiden aunt, who had no income
of her own, curried favor by being al
most always in a state of apparent
coma.
The widow was in the seventh heaven
of bliss, and all went merry as mar
riage bell, until one evening, as the be-
trothed pair sat before the fire in the
polished CRATE, there came a ring at the
bell, and as the girl who answered it
soon looked into the parlor to announce
the fact that little girl in the hall
would come in.
sOh, let her in,' said Mrs Hunter,
''Tm so fond of the dear children in the
neighborhood. It's one Of them, | pre-
sume|
But while she was speaking, small,
but very old looking little girl in short
frock, with tambourlne in her hand,
bounced into the room, and throwing
herself into the professors arms, with a
strong French accent, screamed
Darling papa, have I then found
youl How glad mamma will be- We
thought you dead
81 am not your papa" said the French
man, turning pale. care you crazy, my
dear little girlF'
mo, no, no; you are my papa y cried
the child ''Do not deny your Estelle.
Does she not know you All, my heart,
it tells meitrue Dear mamma and have
almost starved, but she has never pledg-
ed her wedding ring, never. She plays
the organ, the tambourine. We have
suffered, but now papa will return to us.
All, heaven :"
"My gracious the morals of furri-
ners. He'd have married missus I" cried
the girl at the door.
"She tells one black lie. Never be-
fore have seen her belief me, madam ~
screamed the poor Frenchman. "Ah,
mon Dieu, am | dreaming
ooh, Alphonse" cried the widow
But there, l will be firm. My best
friends warned me of you. Take your
hat-go; never enter my presence again
Go with your unfortunate child-your
poor, hslf-starved little girl. Go lone
to your deserted wife. Co..
''Ah, madame, zese is falsehoods y
cried the unfortunate Frenchman, losing
his temper in his excitement. Belief"
"Out of my house :" cried the widow.
peggy, open the door Go. What an
escape have had ~
The Professor departed.
Mrs, Hunter threw herself into her
chair and burst into tears
After awhile she grew more calm, and
taking letter from drawer, she pc
rused it.
"Ah me what deceivers those men
are p she said, as she pensively lay back
on the cushions. "Only to think he
could write a letter full Of love, and
prove such villain; but am warned
in time"
And she tore tore the letter into frag
ments.
The maiden aunt, who had not heard
word, demanded an explanation.
Biddy howlcd it through her ear trum-
pet in these words:
"The scoundrel has ever so many
wives and families already, playing tam
bourines for their bread-the rascal y
And in the midst the door bell rang,
and Mr. Bunting walked in, with a
polite bow.