The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-12-06

no joke to find oneself suddenly preclptated
from the pinnacle of millonaireship.
"Well, after all, there's one comfort" he
said, returning to his soliliquy Gertrude
Mowbray won't want ME now, so I'll give
her warning. Dora will take me, rich OF
poor, and I hope Pm not such miserable
coward as to shrk the labor Of man"
His meditations brought him in front oI
the MUwbray mansion.
Five minutes after he was sitting in the
'daintiest Of boudors, Gertrude before him in
the most recherche of French morning
robes.
"You look dreadfully tired, Con. Have
you been walking very far ?"
"Not particularly far, but have had bad
news, and, as a general thing, that is more
harassing than the mere effort of walking"
"Why, what news have you had? Moth
ing very serious, hope"
. "Oh, not at all; only that I've lost every
penny of the fortune my uncle left me-"
He noticed, with great satisfaction, that
her face grew very white, and that she in
stantly put on an ndescribable expression oil
withdrawal.
"Lost, Ell? Oh, mol how ?"
"Oh, in romantic way, of course. 1t
seems that my supposed bachelor uncle was,
in reality Benedict, but, as his marriage
was in secret, and the girl was a country
lass, nobody knew any thing about it; so he
told her the ceremony was false, and left
her. She died heartbroken, but left an
heir or heIrtss, don't know which. This
child takes the silver spoon out ofmy mouth
aud / as you see, am ruined. Of course,
Gerte, l came to you first to release you, il
you wished, from our engagement. Reared
as you haye been, could not expect you to
marry a roor man, and, indeed, | fear that
in my changed circumstances could be no
fit husband for you"
Then Miss Moybray showed that. girl as
she was equal to the occasion.
al can readily perceive, Mr.. Creighton that
it is your wish that our engagement should
end, and, knowing that, should be the last
one TO oppose your inclinations. AS regards
your loss, sympathize with you sincerely
bat cannot fail to rejoice that it happened
before awoke to the fate of an unloved
wife"
So, for the last time, Con went down the
steps, saying to himself:
"At any rate, | still have $4,000 and
Dora !"
He walked along, feeling his spirits con-
siderably lighter, his troubled conscience
comparatively at rest
But Just as he reached his mothers resi-.
dence, Gray once more encountered HIM.
"Ah Here you are again; the very fellow
| want. Your cousin has arrived and il
anxious to see you. Could you go to her al
once? She 10 with some relatives al the
hotel"
Con TURNED on him, sulky expression
wrcathing his handsome face.
"Look here, Gray isn't it enough for {
fellow to be left penniless, without making
him play ackey to the girl that's got hi
money! AS you're so desperately interested
you can tell my cousin that am very muct
engaged to day, and can't go to her. If sh'
wishes 10 see my mother, presume she cal
find her."
Arthur Gray turned his buck Upon his lat
client.
He was a young NAH and still unmarried
so it may be presumed he did not feel ver!
badly as he returned to pay his deyoirs
the heiress.
But Con did feel badly as he passe,
through his mothers door, and strobe i'm
patiently down the halls that were theirs n
longer
Ho was ascending the stairs when the ser
want called;
81 forgot to give you this note, Mr.. Creigh
ton. 1t was left here about five minute
ago"
Con took It UP and glanced carelessly at il
a dainty little envelope whose delicate ad
dress he did not recognize, broke the sea
and read.
"Mss Creighton's compliments to Mi
Creighton, aud desires his immediate pres
ence."
"By Jove She'll offer me the post of foot
mau next, presume butI1l gn IN her nov
aud let her see her mistake"
So. in anything but an amable humol
he wcnded his way to her "immedat
presence"
"Miss Creighton is engaged at present, bu
will be down in five minutes" the waite
said and, after he had disappeared, Con be
gan to mutter something very contemptuou
about country charms" etc.
Then. finding he had to wait, he resigne
hiHself to a comfortable armchair, until
light step sounded in the hall, until sligh
figure, with clouds of golden hair aud dia
phanous robes of ieecy gauze, came float
ing into the room, until a sweet voice erie
out;
"oh, Con, sm so glad TO see your
Then, while he was staring and wonder
ing, Dora's two white hands were laid i
his.
Dnras sweet face was upturned ta him.
Dora's violet eyes rested upon him, III
trnderi love-light lurking in their nysti
depths.
"Dora, my larling my own little Dora
what does this mean?
Nv y, you silly fellow, it means that
am your oou-in, Dora Creighton. an thai
sm glad, oh. 81 glad, Com that didn't tat
vouf ma1eyj never t1 return itj aud | 81
more glad sill GhGl We met before they ruad