The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1880-02-20


some one she could not find. At last,
apparently overcome y ith emotion or
fatigue, she flung herself upon bench
and hastily threw up her veil. revealing
the pretty, agitated face of Constance
Brown.
Ernest sprahg toward her.
Constance he whispered, "yot
here; and in tiiis disguise! What does
it meane"
Constance burst into tears, and sobbed
out that she didn't know.
81 know" he said, severely; you
have an engagement with that infamous
Potter"
Infamous, indeed" said Constance;
land he has gone off with somebody
else"
At this moment man in livery ap-
preached and to1cied his hat to Ernest.
1t was his own coachman, an old and
faithful servant, who had been coach
man to Ernest'A father.
Beg your pardon, Mr.. Ernest, for
coming up here without leave, but have
you seen the mistress, sirpn
"No. What do you meanpn
Well, sir. she drove to the station
after you left. sir, and she seemed SO
wild like and unaccountable that /
made bold to follow her, for fear she
might come to harm; and / followed
her here, sir, when she changed her
dress for widows weeds, and got into
the Brighton train, sir, with Captain
Potter"
Ernest turned pale faint.
II
effort.
IL know" lie cried. "I sent her off
to Brighton, and have Just seen her off.
How dare you follow your mistress,
sirp'
The man turned away in blank dis
may.
Ernest" said Constance, we have
both been deceived"
"Stuff!n said Ernest. at was a trick
we played on you, that's all. We found
out the plot, and contemplated to save
you."
But still there was terrible doubt at
his heart. What could il all means
"Come into the waiting room, Con-
stance" he cried, 'sand let us talk.
All. what misery!" he muttered to him
self.
They turned into the waiting room,
and Ernest threw himself upon seat,
leaned his arm upon the table and
groaned-
"What do you mean to do, Ernestp"
said Constance, clutching him by the
arm. ut is all very well to tell your
servants such stories. | admire you for
it, Ernest; but | know better 1t is
deliberately planned. We are both de-
ceiveds'
ut is impossible" said Ernest.
"How blind you are, said Constance,
always mistrusted Theresa; she was
nv early friend, you remember, and |
believe that Potter used to come to our
house on purpose to see her, using me as
blind. Oh, Ernest, what shall we
dop"
=" shall call special train and follow
them,'' said Ernest.
Then / shall go with you,' cried
Constance
Ernest rose and staggered to the plat
form once more.
{ Ernest!n said a decisive. feminine
voice at his elbow.
He turned and beheld his wife and
Captain Potter.
Hullo" cried Potter. Ernest, my
boy; how are youP Cad, I've got into
pretty mess with ali this mbuscading;
wrong party after all, jolly row, pull
the string, stop the train Chaplain
junction, guard in an awful rage. Give
us into custody. ehP Ha, ha! Here we
are again, back first train. / say, old
fellow, I'll just change widows with
you.n
'tCome into the waiting room, cried
Black. land tell me what it all means.
Potter, consider you an unprincipled
fellow to inveigle this young lady into
such a trap. You know you only want
to waste her fortune as you've wasted
your own"
Gently, old fellow" said Potter,
all mistake. My uncle died last
week and left me SO. 600 year."
"Then why do you make off in this
clandestine wayPn
g It's all right, Black, | assure you
I've got a special license in my pocket,
parson waiting at Brighton. We're
both of age, you know"
I" Then why all this disguiseP"
On. that was my doing" sobbed
Constance. II was SO dreadfully afraid
ofpapa;
9 And how did you get the widows
things, ConstanceP"
"F-from--your-Aunt Blake. 1t
wasn't very wicked, was ftp"
g | think" said Theresa, who had re-
covered her equanimity and her usual
aspect of proud serenity. Il think,
Constance, you had better come back
to Shrublands with me and be married
in respectable, orderly way"
And they settled that so it should be.
They all went back to Shrublands, and
Constance was married the next week,
not in the widow weeds, but in a full
bridal costume with several brides.
maids.
Ernest, " said Theresa, afectionately,
when it was all over, I'M never be
jealous again-but for all that, I'm glad
that artful mink is safely disposed of.
She shall never enter my doors again,
never"
Potter always speaks of his friend
Black with affectionate commiseration,
and says That the worst five minutes he
ever spent in his life were passed in the
Brighton express in company with
Mroo fThoYara