Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-12-09

4 Gha
which. to all appearances, he was
searching busily. son the day after
tomorrow evening, if convenient to
rol.-'
The sooner the BETTER Ny boy, 1
am quite ready to keep my word" As
he spoke. the merchant turned to his
desk and filed up a check, which he
handed to his companion. "There is
the welding present of which l spoke.
or course. you must get special IL
censs. My carriage will also be at
your service at whatever time and
place You choose to appoint. By the
way, what does the young lady think
of the China project? l hope your
marriage viii not affect your decision
with regard to it,
''She is anxious that l should do
whatever is most pleasing to you, sir"
"Ah, see she is Il sensible woman
| should like to call in the course of
the evening, after the ceremony is
over, and offer my congratulations if
you and Mrs. Wynn intend to remain
in London"
" Thank you, sir. l was going to ask
something Of the kind. We expect to
be at the Grosvenor hotel"
Should you like weeks holiday ?"
mot at present, thank you," an
swered Wynn. feeling guiltily that he
was extremely likely to be given a
much more prolonged holiday than he
desired.
Very well, my boy. l wish you
all manner of luck. Return in the
course of the morning and will give
you the letter ! promised to my friend
the clergyman"
About 3 o'clock p. NJ. on the day of
the marriage Mr.. Blair, adorned with
the unusual splendor of light kid gloves
and white necktie. and carrying an
enormous bouquet of roses and orange
blossoms, entered the Grosvenor hotel
and inquired for Mr.. and Mrs. Wynn.
Ia -uias told +l-t -4hr1-----i----
the lady.
"Then | will wait in their rooms |
until they arrive; it can't be long now, /
replied the merchant: and he was
shown into the pleasant. little sitting
room reserved for the pair whom the
astute clerk had already settled in his
own mind to be bride and groom.
Mr.. Blair had not long to wait,
though in his present state of good
humor he could very easily have borne !
a longer delay than the half hour
he passed in well-satisfied musing over
the good luck which lately seemed to
have attended his every movement.
He had received a letter from the
young man whom he hoped to call his
appointing day for his
visit to Richmond, and the prospect of
this marriage was above all a sourceof
self-congratulation with him.
Then, too. this evenings event af-
forded him indescribable amusement,
as he pictured to himself the wrath
and CONSERVATION of the man who, he
had firmly convinced himself, had in
jured him deeply when he discovered
that his only daughter had bestowed
herself upon an impecunious book
keeper. All alone to himself Mr.. Blair
chuckled with malicious enjoyment
over this most delightful of jokes, and
rejoiced in his own share in bringing
his enemy to confusion.
81 wonder how soon papa is to be
told of the happy event" he solilo-
quized. "Who knows? Perhaps it
will be family party tonight y
Later the merchant had taken out
his pocketbook and was deep in an
abstract calculation as to certain
weighty transactions which might be
undertaken when little of the wealth
of his prospective son-in-law had fiji
tered into the firm. when there was a
sound of voices and footsteps in the
hall. pausing at the door, and Mr..
Blair knew that the bridal party had
arrived.
Thrusting the book into his pocket
and seizing the bouquet he rose and
stood in readiness, when the door was
thrown open by the waiter, and, sure
enough, Wynn entered, having on his
arm lady closely veiled.
The merchant advanced, bowling low,
with outstretched hand, which was
rather hesitatingly taken by the book
keeper, who muttered only few half
incoherent words of thanks in reply
to the congratulations offered him.
Mr.. Blair scarcely noticed the young
mans evident confusion. SO occupied
was he in vainly trying to discover his
companions identity through the thick
veil which she had not as yet raised.
There seemed to him something oddly
familiar in her figure, though, much
to his chagrin, he saw instantly that