The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-28

gie," says l, '.you're thinking Of some
ono, ant ye2 She bushed to her ears.
You've managed to get into good graccs in
that quarter, Tom4''
''Do-you think so2" said.
81 EaaoaU 80" said the old man. ''I
oughtnt to say so, you know, but Pm
frank"
I listened to hlm, then two voices whis-
perlng to me:
"You don't .ove her." said one. "You
| don't hate her." said the other. "You
don't want lame wife, said the first.
''You do want five thousand pounds" I"
said the other. 1t would make man of
you. You could so into business on your
own account. You'd cease to be slave
in this dingy otiice.'
'Five thousand pounds!" said to
myself. Then started to my feet.
"Mr. Glddings," said, "would you be
willing to give your niece to me as my
wlfe?"
His answer was frank
.'Tom Fisher, I'd give her to any decent
young man. A girl bothers me; I'm tired
of the charge. Every one don't want
same wife. If you like her, take her,
and on your wedding day, III hand the
five thousand pounds to you, and be rid of
the charge. She'll say Yes don't fear.
I'll tell her that you asked me tonight,
! and hurry on the wedding
thought heard the thump of crutch
in the church aisle as he spoke. thought
of the graceful step Of Marion More. l
turned faint, and sat down to my desk
but T.; went to old SimDn's house that
night, and saw Margaret. She looked as
fair and happy Us child. sat down by
her and took her hand.
care you going to say mo, N1aggie2" 1
| said, and she lifted her innocent lips to
mine, and kissed ne. sIll be good to
her, II said to myself "l'll be very, very
good TO her."
But there was no lovers warmth in my
heart; only kind of gentle pity for the
girl who was to bring NE five thousand
pounds.
We were engaged. Old Simon joked
us coaraely, and seemed to exult over the
affair. l might even have doubted of the
existence of the five thousand pounds, but
that Maggie told me of them herself.
''Unclc was keeping them for me to live
on, when was an old maid," she said.
''Hut you shall do what you choose with
the money when l belong to you. We'll
buy pretty house, shan't we dear, first of
all, and live there all our lives; somewhere
where we can have garden2"
So, after that, never doubted, but
clung to the idea as I could not if | had
loved the girl.
We were married in fortnight. Uncle
Simon and his old housc-kcepcr alone were
present II had touched me good deal
when Margaret had whispered that she
had rather not have wedding party.
'Fancy the bride limpng up the aisle
upon crutchl" she said. "Let me be
married with none to stare at me. You
love me 80 don't care about being lame
any more, but I'd drather not be stared at"
l took her in my arms and kissed her
then.
'Ill be good to her," I said, as the
clergyman uttered his prayer,-'very, very
good;" and I was saying it again when l
at with my wife in old Simon's parlor in
he twilight, and he coming IN, lit the gas,
aud stool twinkling his eyes at us malic-
lously.
$50 it'n over" he said, with his flendish
chuckle. "She's yours now for her five
thousand pounds. I'm going to hand it
OF er to night. IsEall sleep better"
l blushed with shame "Not yet 1
said; "don't talk os money yctl'
"No2"' said Simon. "But will though
I've got it here" And he unloclked a side
board which stood in the room, ;>ad brought
ont a small roll done up oddly enough in
brown paper. There it 49," said he,-
''there 1t Isl Look at it--count 1t. Five
thousand plump--count It,"
He fairly grinncd as he spoke. She
smiled.
l saw something in Ills laugh that mado
mo shudder. Without word more
walked to the table, opened the parcel and
spread out the notes. There were five
thousand pounds worth of them, reading the
value on their faces, but they were tho
notes of the Dlddleton and Bilkem Bank,
which had failed years ago
had been deceived. The girl I had
married was penniless
''Impostorl' yelled. Old Simon an
swercd with roar of laughter.
'sGood joke" he said. ave done what
Ipromised. You've gGt the i've thousand
didn't tell you what 1t was In. OF course
such money is of no use to you, but can't
help that. Ha! hal" -,
think should have given him blow,
but just then heard Margaret scream. I
looked at her. saw, as l had known
before, that she had no hand in the dccep-
tion. I saw IN awful look in her eyes, a
doubt Of my loye trembling on her lip.
I,n,. sd, l..