The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-04-20

pfIVaUo couVerSdutou, you AAo",n 6ooA
Mrs. Cary"
Widow Cory grinned and nodded her
head, and then waddled off into an adj
joining room.
Felix DAILY now approached Nelly. and
with bow and smile, said:
81 wrote you letter yesterday, Miss
Nelly. May ask if you received it?"
ooh, yes, Mr.. DAILY" answered the
girl, IT did receive your letter, but l did
not read it."
"Not read it?"
"No, for I cast it into the fire I'M
opened"
Felix Daily frowned as he stepped back
pace or two. :.
SIT contained proposal of marriage, 7"
he said, with forced calmness. "You are
a heartless girl, Miss Nelly, to thus re-
ward my devotion. have asked you
again and again to become my wife, and
each time you have refused. But l will
not despair. You may yet consent to
become Mrs. DAILY"
Nelly Gary arose to her feet and
pointed toward the door.
"Pray leave me, Mr.. DAILY, and never
speak to me of marriage again" she
cried. "My answer is final, as have
told you before, and your visits here
must cease.
The frown on Felix Days face grew
darker and darker, and his black eyes
glittered with fierce light. There was
a moments silence. The man was striv-
ing hard to restrain his angry feelings,
and at last he succeeded.
CT love you better than my life, Miss
Nelly" he exclaimed, in a husky, trem-
bling voice, "and you know it-you
must know it. If you marry me you will
never regret it. 1 will make lady Of
you. 1 will take you to Dublin, and
your life will be perfect round of gay
ETY. and pleasure. Don't drive me to de-
spair, but smile upon me and say you'll
be miner
"I will hear no MORE" said Nelly
Cary, sternly. 81 bid you go, Mr..
DAILY, and never again address me on
this subject. Now go!'
Felix DAILY looked at the girl, with
set lips and glittering eyes, and sneer-
ing, mocking smile was on his pale face.
II see how it is. Miss Nelly" and the
man spoke in o bitter tone as he began
to button up his great-coat. "You are
devoted to that miserable scamp, Con
Desmond-a wretched cur who robbed a
helpless old man on the Wicklow road,
and who is now in Jail awaiting trial. So
be is your choice, and you remain faith
full to him. You prefer highwayman
for lover instead of q gentleman.
''It is false!" she exclaimed. "Con
Desmond is not guilty. do love him,
and am proud to say he loves me. L
would rather be his wife and live the
balance of my days IN a howell stepped in
poverty than wed you, though your
wealth was boundless and you rode in a
coach of solid gold"
The man uttered a low, sneering
laugh, and looked down at the floor as he
said:
"Your love for Desmond is too pow
erful to last, Miss Nelly, am afraid.
The fellow will certainly be transported
for a number of years, and then your love
for him will cool down and finally die
out altogether. Women are tickle, you
know"
"But am not, SIR" said Nelly. 81
will always believe Con to be an inno-
cent man, and my love for him will re-
main the same till the hand OF death is
laid upon my brow"
Felix DAILY walked to the door with
bowed head and quivering lips.
Soon will not be made to suffer for
crime he never committed" added the
girl. "The light of justice will fall upon
his case. His secret enemy will be I'M
earthed. l feel sure Of it."
The man turned, with his hand upon
the door latch and glanced at Nelly with
q startled expression on his face.
"Who is his secret enemy, may ask?'
"Heaven knows" was Nelly's reply,
and her voice trembled. But retribu-
ton will fall upon him, whoever he may
be, as surely as God reigns above"
Without o word Felix DAILY turned and
hurried from the cabin.
At that moment the widow bounced
out of her room, and stood glaring at her
step daughter and shaking her fist high
above her head. And Nelly trembled as
she looked at her step-mother.
"Oh, We name hussyl" she howled and
she shook her fist at Nelly. "Oh.
We bad-mannered, impudint, insultin'
crsyture! I heard yer, miss, an it's
blushin' am to think that I'm step
mother to SIGH low, ill-mannered thing
- you are. Thank the lord was borna
lady, an sorry l am to think that yen
niver be like me. Oh, wurra, wurra, to
think that ye had the face to insult Mr..
DAILY an order him niver to visit here
agin." Widow Cary clasped her hands
together and uttered loud cry. WHO
am I, anyhow? Am nobody? Are me
grand frinds like dear Mr.. Calix DAILY to
K l. -As~ k1.ox, honop ma