The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-07-11

know, of course, how Charley and be.
came acquainted, so need not go into
that. Like a novel, wasn't it? He's a
dear boy, is Charley, and I've grown
quite fond of him. He's rather stupid at
times; but, then, think most men are
stupid. He's good-lOoking enough, and
his hairs always nicely brushed, and he
dresses becomingly. So 1t came about
somehow that we're engaged. / hardly
know how il happened; but Charley
seemed to wish it, and did not so much
object. And now you've called, SUD-
pose, Mr.. Cumberbach, to say Take her,
you dog; be happyI Bless you my child
rem, both !" just as they do on the stage"
And she laughed merrily and prettily.
Mr.. Cumberbatch was certainly sur
prised. Miss Mashiter was so different
from what he had expected her to be-
Charley should consider himself very
fortunate" he said, "that he was able to
serve you in any way, Miss Mashiter
II followed almost as matter of course
that he should love you. Where, in
deed" demanded Mr. Cumberbatch, with
some wonder at his own warmth
where, indeed, could he find one more
| worthy OF his love, more beautiful more
attractive altogether?"
Its very kind of you to say so, Mr..
Cumberbatch," observed Miss Mashiter,
calmly
But the prudence of the step he has
taken is more open to question. He's
very young; he's still but boy"
He does not look like boy" inter-
posed Miss Mashiter.
II can produce his certificate of birth
II necessary" By a wave of her hand
Miss Mashlter signified that such formal
| evidence was not required. "He is real
| ly not of age" resumed Mr.. Cumber-
batch; hes only learning his profession;
and he is entirely without means of his
own"
He counts, of course. upon your pro-
vldlng him with sufficient income"
He miscalculates. My money is in
vested in my business as a merchant.
Some assistance l may be able to render
him, for his pay as a subaltern of artill-
cry will be very small. But if he thinks
| can settle upon him any amount of i'm
portance, he Is much mistaken. He will
have what ! leave behind me at nv
death but until that event happens
"Please don't speak of it, Mr.. Cum
herbatch, and don't let us think of any,
hing so dreadful. It quite makes ME
thiver all over"
81 am very sorry, my dear Miss Mash
liter; but thought it best to speak plain
| ly. Like you, l wish to be understood.
am plain man of business"
81 am much Obliged to you, Mr.. Cum
berbatch. OF course should take care
that all my money was settled upon
myself"
THAT would be the proper course un-
der the circumstances
II would not give any man power to
spend my money. I'll keep that in my
own hands always"
Certainly"
"And of Course it's very much against
Charley that he is young, and, in point
OF TACT, so poor"
without doubt he is both young and
poor"
"But-yOu hav'nt told me of this, be-
cause you don't like the idea of nv be-
ing your daughter-in-law"
MY dear young lady, of what are you
thinking? l should be delighted to call
you daughter-in-law."
"Will you kiss me, Mr.. Cumberbatch,
as though really were your daughter
with the greatest pleasure"
lie was about to touch her forehead
gently and paternallY with his lips; hut
as she seemed to raise her mouth to-
wards him with an air of expecting to be
kissed there, why, he kissed her there.
Her eyes sparkled they unusually
sparkledl otherwise she was quite cool
| and calm and collected, AS for Mr..
| Cumherhatch, he fairly hlushed, the
crimson of his cheeks being intensified
by contrast withlthe witness of his1ocks.
"You see," she said meditatively, ga
woman in my situation really needs a
husband to help and advise her and COM
fort her. I'm really very friendless;
and thought it would be very nice to
have (thHrllW ALWAYS rna ho
have been some one to lean upon at any
| rate. You are not surprised at my wish
ing to marry him?"
mot at all. think it a very reasona-
BILE and natural sort of thing."'
THANK you so much And you'll
| come and see me again, won't you, dear
Mr.. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who We're SO
nearly being my papa? You'll come
again, and you'll come sonng'
my dear Miss Mashiter-"
"Call me Madeline, please"
"My dear Madeline, shall be delight
| ed To come again"
Thanks, papa dear. You may kiss
me again if you like"
1t so happened that he did like
After this he was frequent visitor in
Harley street.
III.
It was in the morning, and Sir Her
cules was sitting wrapped in an Oriental
looking robe dc ciGmbFe, slipping an early
cup OF tea-he break tasted at his club,
but he enjoyed the stimulus and support
of cup of tea during the pauses of his
toilet-When a visitor was announced
Mr.. Charles Cumberbatch.
"What brought you here, yOungster ?'
inquired the old gentleman.
Have your heard about the govern.
DRY" Charley asked eXcitedly.
"What's he gone and been and done 2"
"He talks of getting married again I"
"'fhe deuce he does! But / don't see
what business it is of mine, Charley Of
course | don't want any more grand
| children; but then l don't want any
great grandchildren either. Still, you're
going to get married, why shouldn't he
Live and let live, you know, Charley"
That's just it. l call it an internal
shame! You really ought to interfere,
sir. He won't let me get married. He
refuses his consent He won't make me
any ALLOWANCE. And he's going to marry
| the young lady was engaged tor
Well that does seem hard. What!
Miss -Smashiter-what's her
name! Has she consented to be your
step-mother instead of your wife ~
"She's thrown me over shamfully."
"Well, you know, Charley, when a
| WOAldH tnIOWS you ONer, al you can do
is to pick yourself up again and walk off
in an opposite direction"
''This is what she writes to me-" And
Charley produced a letter in a large, bold
hand, with gilded monogram in the
corner of the paper. He read aloud:
Dear Charley: So sorry, but it would
never do. You're a nice boy and I'm
really fond of you but you're very young
to think of marrying, and Pm afraid you
can't afford it. So there's an end of it;
and please don't say another word to me
about it: You can send back my letters
I've burnt yours. ! intend to keep the
| ring you gave me as a little memento of
YOU And we'll always be dear friends,
you know, Charley. What a charming
man your papa is! l like him very
much.
| Yours, MADELINE MAsHTTER."
"Well, there's no mistake about the
| letter, at any rate" observed Sir Her
cules, Il am bound to say Miss Mashit-
er expresses herself very clearly. But
can't see what l can do for you, Charley.
can't make Miss Mashiter marry YOU if
she don't want to. / am sorry for you,
of course. / think it's hard case, espe.
cially as she's got money. What more
can do?"
Couldn't Fou do anything to prevent
The governors making such fool of
| Il oalf 81