The Columbus journal., 1882-11-08

Is In nv care" And Fred thereupon
swore that Frank was a gentleman, and
q good fellow; well to do also. GAS
good a husband as any girl could have,
If he does lisp and blush," continued
Fred. "Don't trouble yourself, aunt;
nothing better could happen to Cousin
Abby than to marry Frank"
"Then he really means to offer?"
queried Miss Barclay.
go, he's Desperate" answered Fred.
And that night another letter was
written to Cousin Elizabeth, which con-
tanned this sentence:
Now, Cousin Lizzie, I am in q dilemma
Fred and Abby are no: smitten with each
other, but Fred has brought a frient OF his
here, a Mr.. Frank Oakley, who Is making love
to your girl. Give me my instructions. Fred
assures me he is an excellent match and a
good fellow, and I consider him most agreed
Bile. But an / to foster the affair or send him
packing? Abby is your daughter. l await
Instructions. now your temper, Eliza
beth. We QuaTreled once; don't let us do it
again.
The answer was brief as q telegram:
Any young man but that detestable Francis
Cholmondly. Foster it.
So the young people we're left to their
own devices; the house rang with
laughter, the orchard vas robbed, the
horses driven out for moonlight rides,
the boat wa forever on the river, and
the voice of the piano told all passers-bv
that 'sMiss Barclay had company"
There we're parties at the old house,
too, and ever old Isaac Barclay was
sufficiently interested to sit up until
nine O'Clock, and to tell q very long
story without any end about a visit he
had once made to Boston, where he had
his pocket picked.
The ~pleasantest days that had ever
been known at the Barclay were these,
and they had been prolonged two
months, and now Fred must 60 home
must indeed-nor could Frank linger
longer.
"And 1 must 60, too, aunt" said
Abby. 81 suppose l must, but I shall
never forget this happy time, and |
want you to kiss me tonight and tel:
me that you'll alwayslOv me,for you've
been kinder than ever ma was to me-"
Abby said this late at night, sitting
on a low stool at Miss Barclays feet,
and there were tears in her ewes But
next morning when the confiding old
lady arose, Sarah met her with an omi-
nous hook, and the declaration that
something must have happened.
"HOw you scare me, Sarah!" cried
Miss Barclay. "What IAN have hap
hened? Brother Isaac is well, isn't
he?"
"He's well enough" replied Sarah.
''But Miss Abby haint been abed all
night, and her trunk is gone, and here's
a note that laid on her piller."
Miss Barclay seized the missive and
opened it with shaking hands. 1t read
thus:
DEARE AUNTIE-DOn't be angry. Remem-
Der your promise to love me always. When
you read this l shall be married. I shall be
Mrs. Francis Oakley ~ChOlmondly. Fred Is
Franks best man, and little Lilly Jones, from
the village, my bridesmaid. You see 1t. don't
you? Fred was I'm the plot, and he introduced
Frank Oakley to you. You never que ,sed that
Oakley was only his middle name. w. hated
to deceive you. You were 50 good We all adore
YOU, bat ma was cruel, and Pm OF age since
forgive me l shall never forgive myself. Ma
will have to, after awhile.
Your affectionate niece, ABBY.
No. l must write 1t all
ABBY CHOLMoNDLY.
81 shall diet" screamed Miss Bar
clay. ard rather, than to face Eliza
beth"
But she did not; nobody did. Every
body is alive and well at this moment,
and v his prejudiced mother-in-law
has come to admit that Frank is not 80
bad q fellow, after all.-N 7. ledger