The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-01-09

TO get OUT Oh AGs
Last winter, In . liush Of enthusiasm,
he had rewarded Mics Mowbgay's seraphiC
smiles by an offer Of bic hand and Sortnnes
and she had accepted the prize with show
Of tenderness that was perfect in its way.
The marriage. In All human probable
tiles. would have been consumated, had
not the grim hand Of Fate beckoned the
unfortunate Con up 60 little village on
fishing excursion ostensibly, but In reality.
TO fall in love with pretty little Dora Blair.
He met her nc n village gathering and it
being flxed principle OF his to attach HIM
self 20 the prettsest girl In the room, he adj
hered 70 his purpose with rigi1ity which
would hare been extremely amusing. had
&c not 90 soon become serious, for, after
two OF three meetings. Master Con was
fairly infatuated.
For week the dream was bright and
undlsturbed.
Then Con began to feel uncomfortable.
With the prospect Of being married to
one girl in month he was hardly disbon-
Orable enough to propose the same course
with another.
But being neither very clever nor origi-
nal, he couldn't see the slightest loophole |;
80 he fingered on nc DOFa's side. and she,
poor child was happy. even in the un-
certainty.
OF course people talked as they always
do talk, and some more daring than the
rest encompasse6 Con. and looked unutter
able things rs they spoke of Dora's parent
age.
''Lives with her father and mother.
Oh, yes; but then they don't happen to be
her father and mOtiser-well, we don't
know, and the BIairs take care to give rs
no information
Then Con was angry.
He was just young enough to be Quixot-
ic, antTof course, he wanted to marry her !;
TO take his little star-Eaced angel to him
self; TO transplant his little field daisy to
q more luxuriant soil.
He went up to see her with letter from
Miss Mowbray In his pocket and an om,n-
ously guilty feeling about his heart.
Pretty Dora, sat with her white face up
raised, and her wondrOns hair falling
around her like glorious golden cloud.
''T Thought yon would come ~ she said,
slyly the color family flushing her fair
cheeks. and then. though Nature hadn't
made him 50. Con felt more utterly foolish
than ever.
'tAs If could stay away" he answered,
half reproachfully. ''At least until have
to Tor am going away in day OF two"
''0h are you?'' very faint and trem-
uIogps.
''Yes, but I'll cOme back again il any
one wants me-"
She stole one quick glance at him from
under her downcast lids.
do yOu want me, Dora? VIII come
back to yoa? ?''
No answer came from tile parted lips.
but think he knew she wanted, for lean
ing over the garden gate he answered her
silence by saying:
Every well. dear. I'll be back in q very
little willie. and you'll be waiting for me,
won't you ?''
It was not very definite. to say the least
Of It.
Con went home that night, ecstaticaIly
but guiltiIy happy
And when he reached home he found
letter awaiting him.
A letter from his mother. the d0wager
Mrs. Creighton, demanding his instant
return.
Gertrude Is very Ill., she said, ''and
certainly your place should be beside the
lady who In four weeks will become your
wife. have heard but totally jisbelieve,
a runlor of some girl whose pretty face has
attracted your attentions. Il might have
troubled me. had not known that could
trust your dignity as being member Of
the Creighton family. and your honor as
being engaged to Gertrude Mowbray."
Con crushed the letter in his hand, and
tried TO stare circumstances In the face,
but circumstances bafled him. and In
state ot sesni-sOrtsire. he retired to his
dream disturbed couch.
Tie next morning he returned to Lon
don.
Miss Mowbray was mucI, better when Ee
reached home.
Mrs. Creighton greeted him with digni-
fed pleasure. and poor Con felt rs utterly
mean and dishonorable IS his most invefer-
ate enemy couA have desired.
''Bfr. Creighton. would like TO speak
with you for moment, please.''
Con was walking down the strand con-
sldering how ne should break OF his en-
gagement, when the words struck bis ear.
Con turned with . start, and encountered
his lawyer. Arthur Gray.
s-CeTtainiy. Mr.. Gray! What's the
business now ?''
''Rather an unpleasant business, ! am
sorry 20 say. sir. But Won win step into
my once where can fully explain
So Con followed him In, and waited 10
hear what the unpleasant business might
be.
'.YOss are aware cir. that your late uncle.
from whom you inherited your fortune.
died intestate. or should say. was thought
to have died intestate, wfereon ycn were
bic heir at-law. A few days since, how
ever we made what must prove painful
discovery. s1a annatw fl1a ssaxksanaAm - H,sn