The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-06-04
But the fortune-what becomes of it if
you refuse to marry Horace2'
'He will have all'

| snug little sum, and II were you. Horace
Leigh shouldn't enjoy it alone. When did
you see him ast?'
Not since Uncle John died. We we're
the best friends then But he went to col.
lege soon afterward, then to Germany, and
has been travelling most of the time since
| Has he ever written to your
oh, yes, / used to answer his letters
until l found out about the will. Then /
stopped
Silly girlp
You wouldn't ike it any better thar /.
Why, knowing what he does, he is actually
forced to make love to me whether he likes
it or not, if he is a bit gallant.
No such thing. Let him sacrifice the
fortune
There it is. How can he ever make dis
interested wooer? | do wish he had stay ed
in france. Mamma and Mrs. Leigh are
even worse than Uncle John. They are
determined to marry us in spite of our
selves
But. couldn't you arrange it so as to di-
vide the fortune, and each be independent of
each othel?'
NO; Uncle John forbid that expressly
We'll, Fanny, you'll have TO accept your
fate and husband, too
Not l. Haven't you ever found out that
l had a will of my own?'
Mabel laughed, aud replied emphatically,
4 should think had.'
yyh Jp in iaho pcr
rue when tell you l won't marry Horace
Leigh? won't go to the party given in his
honor either. You can wear the peach
blossom silk if you like; | shan't.'
ran out OF the room, slammng the door
to vigorously.
My indignation subsided little when
was combing my hair. Its quieting to the
nerves, probably Having finished the ol-
Grafton, and fastened on my curls, securely
this time, | looked at myself in the glass
complacently. Not that am vain, but then
it's pleasant to have bright eyes,a clear COM
plexion, and gold brown hair even if the
latter isn't natures gift. If my hero of the
curs' could have seen me now he'd be n
|
afterward. l sighed little at thought oi
him, and wished that we'd meet under more
favorable circumstances.
But hadn't much time for reflection be.
fore the supper bell rang, and such clang
and clatter as it made was enough to drive
me crazy. l ran down stairs, stopping up
, my ears,
Brother Joe was standing in the hall
> with the bell in his hand, and just
as | expected, swinging it back and forth
with all his might (He is 10 years old, and
as full of mischief as he can be.)
: Did you hear it, Fanny said he Il mean
you should
l snatched it out of his hand, carried i
table.
Heard the news, Fanny said mamma
OF course | knew what she meant, but
pretended | didn't.
NO. What is it? Louis Napoleon re
: called?'
Not exactly and papa laughed. 'Pu
Horace Leigh in place of Louis Napoleon
: then yo1 have it.
Yes, dear, he arrived this morning
: Mamma smiled in an ecstatic way.
'Who7 Louis Napoleon%
i That is good one!' shouted Joe.' 'Yo
i are an ignoramus, Fanny. know what tn
e word means; the teacher told me yesterday
Do you?,
Hush, Joe, said mamma, sharply. Far
ny is not so dull as she pretends, and know
. we'll enough that l referred to Horac
= Leigh
u Then they all began to talk about him il
- eulogizing strain-papa, mamma, cousi
u Mabel, even Joe. was heartily sick of tn
! subject when rose from the table.
The more l heard of Horace Leigh tn
greater was my reluctance to see him, tn
stronger my aversion to the marriage Uncl
John had planned But mamma was
81 woman of will, and the whole household VIZ
arrayed against me, and should have
/. treat him civilly, of course, and there W,
no telling what might happen afterward.
That night resolved on my own cours
!, of action. Let events develop what it was
u / went down stairs the next mornin
ie dressed in travelling suit of gray linen.
Mamma stared little; so did Mabel.
10 Il am going to Yonkers by the mornir
Ie train,' said |, slipping the coffee MANN
e handed. Shall be back tomorrow nigh
v What fb! 1t cost me pang, for Pm o
fashioned enough to speak the truth gene
ally.)
" Without so much as saying, by yo
+ leave,' burst out mamma, Indignantly.
But you told me could go any day II
week.
H. 'WhenP
u Last Saturday. Millie Hunt asked yc
IT, The roses are all in bloom now; strawb'
ns ries are plenty; it is just the time to make
country visit. / promised her | wor
I'D come, too
MT well, then, you can co. said she, ratl
ungraciously, and be sure that you col
d back to morrow night
'ed Yes, mamma and hurried out of
room, wondering whether she would thi
ing me crazy if she knew what a wild proiec
,w, had formed.
gh Five minutes afterwards l stood in
hall all ready for the journey. Papa 9
ace the carriage were at the door
Jump in, Fanny said he.
ist" And look out for your hair whispe
me, Mabel. But had already done so t
fastened securely to my head.
It if We reached the station in good season
axe Papa couldn't find me seat at first;
Ugh, finally gentleman rose and offered me
rry; He had been occupying two, so there
nothing particularly unselfish in the ac
don't remember whether took the tro
We a to thank him or not. Papa did for his u