The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-02-19

her property, but hates me because she
feels sure of me. Yes she says, to her
confidante (chums no longer exist, they
have been massacred by confidantes and
bad French). Il suppose I'll have to
marry him, the practical wretch"
"Now, Arthur, you are not Just
neither are you kind to speak so of girl
you do not know, and have never seen,"
said Mrs. Delaney.
"By .jove, mother" cried Arthur,
bringing his open hand down on the
table with force sufficient to make the
china and his mother jump simultan-
eously, 81 have an idea."
"What is it, my sonp" asked the
lady.
II see by this letter." explained the
young physician, "that Miss Fairfax
lives in Metroville. Now, train leaves
here at eleven and reaches there at two.
Jack Merton, my college chum, lives in
Metroville, and I'll go there, see him,
and try to see Miss Fidelia Fairfax with
out being seen by her. If like her
looks I'll introduce myself, if not I'll
come home, bid farewell to the fortune
and settle down to bachelordom and
physic."
You forget that your cousin Uriah
comes to-day and may b. offended if you
are not here" urged the widow.
Mother" returned Arthur, mock
earnestly, " if anything could drive me
away from this comfortable home with
more speed than my curiosity to see
Miss Fairfax it would be the knowledge
| that that dry old book-worn, Cousin
Uriah, was coming here to bore me with
his learning and his praises of that blue
stocking, his idol Araminta, for whose
hand he is too bashful to propose. He's
a nice young fellow, but, oh, such a
bore. That decides me, go at eleven. :"
And in the smoking train that LETT
| Opoliston at eleven o'clock bound for
Metroville sat DR.. Arthur Delaney puff
ing cigar gravely.
Father" said Miss Fairfax, while
presiding over cunning little break
| fast table in q cosy little dinning-room
in the most comfortable little house in
the little city of Metroville, my mind
is made up. l cannot take the money
| cannot marry a man at the order of
another even if that other does offer me
one hundred thousand dollars to do So"
"Well, my dear Fidelia, "returned Mr..
Fairfax, Il do not feel competent to ad-
wise you further than bid you follow the
dictates of your own heart. Still, my
love, / would counsel you not to be
hasty, il your dear mother were alive
she could tell you in moment what to
do must say, though, Fidelia, that
one hundred thousand dollars is"
| Yes, pa, / know, one hundred thou
sand dollars is great deal of money,
but even that sum cannot tempt me to
marry man l do not love, have never
seen in fact. Was n girl ever placed in
such humiliating positionP / wish
the eccentric old Mr.. Tobias Queerby
had been content to keep his eccentricity
to himself. The ideal AS sif the friend
ship that existed between you and Mr..
Delaney and him gave him the right to
dispose of the hands and hearts of his
friends children"
But you needn't marry him, you
know, my DEAR" said Mr.. Fairfax. ''lf
| had not been so unfortunate the past
few years would say ut once give up
this fortune; but | cannot leave you
much, my love, and know what a COM
forting thing money is"
But l can't marry him, pa"
"Well, Mr.. Greenland Kent, the at
torney, says the condition is not legal" "
q" But oh, pa, Mr.: Queeroy relied on
out accepting the condition, and my
the law does not" said Miss Fairfax
decidedly.
"Time, my DEAR" replied the gentle
man; yet this l must say, Fidelia,
have often heard your poor dear mother
speak of Mr.. Delaney, and always in
terms of the highest praise, and, you
know that as a general rule sons are
like their fathers. have no doubt he
is most estimable young man."
- have no doubt he is. pa. / dare
say that he car interlard his conversa-
tion with yards of Latin that he don't
half understand, can write sonnets and
triolets in a lady's album, can tell the
best time of all the oarsmen and race
horses, can play polo, can tell what
kind of coat ought to be worn on each
day of the week, can say Very clevah
bal jove,' as if he were thorough man
of the world, can tell what new play is
going to be success, can flirt with
everybody and VOW all the girls are
breaking their poor hearts for him, car
tell college yarns all night and laugh
loudest at his own wit and, in short
prove himself an honor to society and
Harvard college. l can see him now
classmates pals and college slang mur
dered them long ago) and saying: 'Oh
bal Jupitah, old fellah, it's n dooceC
bore, ye know, but the poor little CIR
will break her heart if don't marry
her. and | suppose / will have to, ba
Jove, yaas,' while all the time he hate;
me like poison"
Now, now, now, Dealie, my love y
cried Mr.. Fairfax, +" this is not right
yet he could not refrain from laughing
"You are unjust, unkind-you should
not speak so of one you have neve
SEEN" "Oh, papa" exclaimed Fidelia
suddenly clasping her hands and shak
ing her black curls, merrily.
"What, my dear!" asked the father
81 have an idea. The lawyers lette
says Mr.. Fairfax lives in Opoliston
Now, Rena Lester lives there, and She
my schoolmate and she's been bcgein!
me to call on her. There's train leave
at eleven and I'll go to-day. I'll con
trive to see Mr.. Arthur Delaney with
out being seen, and I'll judge by hi
looks whether I'll ask to be introduced
If | don't like him I'll throw the for
tune to the hospitals and become an oil,
maid, and make tea forever for my dear
stupid, loving darling pa. So max
haste, pa, l must prepare for m
journey"
: but you are not going to-day, m
dear" complained Mr.. Fairfax, "yo
, forget that your cousin Aramint
: is coming to-day to stop with us, an
e she might be offended if you were nc
: here to receive her."
y " Pa, if anything could drive me fror
the mouse 1T would be the thought tha