The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-14
lTinsey's Magazine.l
The Outfitter OutWitted.
BY MRS. ADOLPHE SMITH.
[CoNcLupEp.l

i
say; you must tell me about it some other
time. Dinner is ready, and / came in myself
to tell you, because l wanted to see If Harry
were getting on well with you all.'
While Mrs. Latimer was explaining to
Onslow how it was that they still maintained
the old-fashioned custom of dining at one
O'Clock, how it suited Mr.. Latimer to come
home from the city 10 tea, and nine or ten
O'Clock light supper, the girls we're putting
away their books and neede-work, and were
having a little laugh to themselves as they
put their heads together.
81 am so glad you punished him, Peg"
whispered one. "You mustn't be too hard
on him, Peg" said another; and Peg laughed
and nodded, saying
himself.
The fun over the dinner-table was cousid-
cradle; the young people were in irrepressible
good spirits; and Mrs. Latimerf was on her
side extremely pleased that they should en-
JOY themselves; so she laughed heartily with
them, and watched the wordy warfare be-
tween Onslow and Peg with the utmost
amusement.
Onslow passed all the afternoon with the
girls; aud when Mr.. La.imer reached home
at half past five he found his wife's nephew
exceedingly at home in his household. Tea
was rapidly got over. because it was declared
that Willie Ashford and some of his familiars
were coming to have little croquet on the
lawn in the cool of the evening; and when,
accordingly the young men arrived, and en-.
gagged in vehement discussion as to "sides''
casting deprecatory glances now and then at
Onslow who was absorbing Peg. Onslow said
al last to that young lady:
Peg, girl of your mind can't want to
play croquet. Walk round the garden with
me will you? want to speak to you seri-
ously." Peg hesitated moment; but Ons-
low insisted. II am not joking now,I assure
you. have something serious to say to
you."
Peg looked up at him, saw that he seemed
IN earnest; and the couple turned down one
ofthe many narrow paths that skirted the
lawn.
"Gerty," whispered Emily to her sister,
did you ever know anyone to hrt SO out
rageously as Peep"
NO.. whispered Gerty back. "unless it be
"My DEAR" said Mr.. Latimer to Mrs. Lati-
mer as they sat in their garden-chairs watch
ing the pleasant scene, Mr.. Latimer smoking,
Mrs. Latimer with her hands folded in her
lap-"my dear, it seems to me that your
nephew is making himself very much at
home with Peg.''
There is some joke among them" replied
Mrs. Latimer lazily. They have been very
lively all the afternoon; it's a good thing for
In the meantime Onslow and Peg had not
said much. Onslow did not know how to
begin that which he really wished to say
and Peg felt nameess sort of embarrass.
ment when she found herself alone with this
young man whom she had been attacking
and teasing and criticising all the afternoon.
The woman in such cases, however, is always
began
II am beginning to think, do you know,
that you are not so amusing as Willie Ash
ford after ALL"
"The truth u.s." said Onslow with laugh,
that don't know exactl how TO say what
want to say"
''Say it straight out, said Peg; never mind
arranging sentences and fine phrases'
upon my word and honor,'' exclaimed
Onslow, that decides me; and [ will speak
out. The fact is, that although have only
known you for one day, am deuced-
ly far gone; that is to say, 1 EN-
you excessively, and I can't help hoping that
perhaps you think me tolerably good fellow
although have been trife boisterous-'
81 would rather have a fool to make me merry
Than experience to make me sad,''
interrupted Peg, oracularly.
gan Onslow,
s'Its Shakespeare" put in Peg,
but what you said sounded remarkably
like calling me foor' continued Onslow
almost angrily, and not needing the indica-
ton as to the poet that she had thrown in. |
Peg laughed so heartily at him that he |
could not help laughing himself at last: aud
in moment he began again:
sBut the truth is that want to know il
marry me?
Peg glanced at him curiously, and he said
quite seriously:
i am not joking now I am as serions as
ever was In my life.''
'But do you mean to say that Won think
you have learned to love me in one day we'll |
enough to want nae to be with yon all your
life9' asked Peg, who was growing quite |
alarmed.
81 agreed to tell you the truth" said Ons-
slow, land l must confess that l don't love |
you tonight half as well as shall love you |
in two or three days, if you will only let me
stop here for a week and try to make you
IKE me. There's something special that
felt like firework in my heart the moment
saw your pretty head"
"What were your feelings the moment YOU
heard my pretty name?" insinuated Peg.
"And knew that no woman had ever in
spired me with the same feelings before, and
that you had some particular attraction for
me-" Onslow continued, without heed ng
her interruption.
-"But then,- ielt NO freworks,n said Peg
quietly. II felt very hungry because it was |
near dinner time, that's all; 50 the attrac-
ton was not mutual"
ooh, Peg, don't laugh" cried OnsIow
Selling one of her hands. sPm in deuce of |
fix. and this is what it is: have been ap. |
pointed to capital and safe berth in India |
am bound to sail in less than three weeks, |
and am bound to take wife with me- |
have only known of the appointment ten days
and have been the rounds of my friends I
homes In the hope of finding some one |
liked. came down here this morning, and I
the moment you lifted your head from over
your sewing, and l saw your face, I made up !
my mind to try for you."
"You are certainly one of the frankest
men of whom l have ever heard" said .
Peg. 81 like you all the better for your /
plain statement of the case, but"
snow, don't say but" pleaded Onslow, /
don't reject me decidedly at once. l am /
sure my amt will have me here for week,
and we can see how we get on together. 1
VIII tell them tonight all about my affairs.
And you will try to like me, will YOU not?
It's an awful chance. you will say, but
marriage is always chance. A long en-
gagement does not make things inevitably
smooth for husband and wife, It's always
lottery, and | think we have as good a pros
pect of happiness as the generality of people.
l. uuu Wdut W lOICO ~ al vi you ike This |
SO suddenly, but what can man do when
he is pressed so for timer"
"You know that am not your COUSIN"
said Peg, shat Pm your uncle's ward, an
orphan without penny"
Eyes, yes: my aunt told me the story this
afternoon" said Onslow; "if you have not
very expensive tastes have plenty of money
for US both, and shall have more and more as
the time goes on. If you found after year
or two in India that you were sorry that you
had married me, well, I wouldn't be unrea-
sonable, and 1 would come to some arrange
ment with you enabling you to come back to
England and forget me. But think should
be sorry to lose you, Peg" he added simply,
taking her hand again in his own, and look
ing eagerly In her face.
10 his surprise, Peg put her other hand in
his, aud said quickly
know shall like you because you are
80 truthful, because you say SO plainly what
you mean, and aeW marry you,-that is, 1