The Portland daily press., 1881-04-18
Somebody's Portmanteau.
CONCLUDED FROM SATURDAY.

CONCLUDED FROM SATURDAY.
So we talked on joyfully, planning un-
heard of happiness for the future, and
throwing care to the winds. However, "the
best laid schemes of mice and men," etc.
Never was the truth of this dreary aphor-
ism proved more completely by any of the
luckless sons of men than by myself, Robert
Thornton, when l presented myself next
day at Elm house. waited with some trep-
idation in pretty drawing-room, and felt in
no way relieved when the redoubtable Sun
cle'' made his appearance. He was tall,
shrewd-looking Scotchman, with keen gray
eyes and an unpleasant habit of COMPRISING
his thin lips at any important part of my
share in the dialogue.
"Mr. Robert Thornton?'
That is my name, SIR" Here came to
dead pause as the carefully prepared
speech which had cost me many wakefuI
hours on the preceding night, oozed with
my courage from my finger-ends.
You asked for me, believe. PRAY take
a seat, sir.n
YES, Mr. Mcdonald, did. 1 hardly
know how to begin my story"
hesitated, feeling the color mount to the
very roots OF my hair, aud conscious of the
surprised look that the gentleman fixed upon
me at my seeming embarrassment.
Chance" continued desperately.
threw me in the path of your lovely niece
and L have come to ask you to sanction our
future knowledge of each other. can prove
to you my responsibility; but l am not
rich.'
Here l entered into detailed account of
my family and position, during which Mr..
Mcdonald preserved an immovable express
sion OF countenance, and most discourage
ing silence. At the conclusion of nv adj
dress, he said
Am Ito understand, Mr.. Thornton. that
you have never held any communication
with my niece-that, in fact, you are now
simply wishing to make her acquaintance?''
The question was put in calm, bust
ness-ilke tone; but felt unable to answer it
without bringing undeserved blame upon
nv innocent little Isabel. However. eva
sion was out of the question, and there
fore replied:
Il have spoken to her."
''Frequently?''
The inquiry was made in hard, dry
tone; but the cold, gray eyes of the Scotch
man told nothing.
Yes, frequently. must apologize for
what seems deception"
Ny hasty remark was cut short by Mr..
McDonald's rising and ringing the bell
once" was the order given when the SER
want appeared.
Almost Instantly Bell obeyed the sum-
mons. She came forward neither meekly
nor shyly, but decidedly, and with ewes
trimming with anxious hope. She paused
between us, listening, with her little brown
hands clasped together, as was her wont.
while her uncle said:
Bell?' A'o"'
Bell gave me look half perplexed, half
mischievous, and wholly comforting, as she
answered:
Never mind how our friendship came
about, uncle, guess it growedp'
Not muscle of the mans face relaxed as
he turned to me.
Sir, you have at any rate, and on your
own confession, met my niece clandestineIy.
Ii you can ever gain an introduction TO her
ana me by means of common friend, we
shall be happy to make your acquaintance.
Until then, Mr.: Thornton, good byw
IL Is impossible to describe the sneering
tone OF those few words, or the insult con-
veyed by his glance, which said unmistak
ably, "Adventurerw
"Oh, uncle, unclep' cried Bell, implor-
ingly, bursting into tears
my dear niece" blandly replied Nc
Donald, 'if this gentleman be really''-em-
phasizing the word-''such, and in any way
fit to address you, he can have no difficulty
IN meeting my suggestion. Come, my
lover'
BY this time the servant had opened the
door, and was abruptly bowed out by Mr..
Mcdonald, who, taking his niece by the
arm, disappeared into an inner room.
beat hasty retreat to my hotel, and,
taking pen and paper, wrote the following
moving epistle:
SIR-ln our interview of this morning you
suggested that should obtain an Introduction
to you through the medium of a common
friend. This, sir, is utterly impossible, for the
simple reason that rama perfect stranger
here-an Englishman without even letters of
presentation to anyone. But 1 entreat you to
review your decision, and to believe me when
state that l am gentleman--not rich. it is
true, but am able to increase my small in
comeMwhlch, frankly confess, is at present
but E3O0 per annum-by writing for the press
Your fair niece and love each other very
truly; but do not ask you to sanction any en-
gagement between us until you know more of
me. Begging you to consider the matter dis
yours obedientiy, ROBERT Tn o ~ 10
This despatched, waited for consoling
tidings, which in due time arrived in the
following form:
"SR-Granting, for convenience sake, that
your statements are true, you will permit me
to inform you that, the fact alone of your ut
terly inadequate income would compel me to
decline any sort of understanding between nv
niece and yourself. must request you to con-
slider the matter as settled. Ny niece will not
be OF age for four years; and she is, am glad
TO say, on the eve to return home. 1 have the
honor to be, yours obediently,
ALEX. MCDONALD"
Very pleasant and comfortingw said
to myself.
L watched continually the windows of Elm
house, but saw nothing of my darling, who
was evidently kept pretty closely under in
spectlon. Ascend letter received no reply;
and one week after my luckless call saw
Bell hurried into carriage to return no
more.
did not know the name of her guardian.
nor in what part of Prince Edward island he
resided. However, traversed the whole of
that muddy, rainy, tiresome fragment of
chaos; but in vain. l could not discover the
slightest clue to my lost Isabel
1t was again autumn; heart-sick and
weary, felt that my love was hopeless, and
that it wonld be wiser to return to England.
and amid home scenes and friendships to
try at least to stifie the pain which never
left my breast.
How different were the feelings with
which l again entered the Halifax hotel
from those with which left it, not mucu
more than year before! The steamer in
which 1 was to sail was not yet due; and |
had two days in which to prowl over the
wooden pavements and visit the hooks and
corners of that hospitable half-English cap
ital of the Blue Noses.
When the City of Dublin was fairly off,
and sentiment was partly stunned by her
excruclating screw, and had had time to
become friendly with her amiable captain
and officers, l felt better. The certainty