The Brookhaven leader., 1883-08-02

anything about Fay? Who knew that
he had not wife already Miss Car
son agreed with Mr.. Hall as matter OF
course. She was severe with her niece
for the first time.
What do you know against Arthur
Fayp' asked the girl.
"Well, nothing definite, but Mr.. Hall
| does not like him, and
Flo's eyes flashed. Mr.. Halls med
| ding was uncalled for, she said, and
when his advice was needed, she would
let him know.
After this she snubbed her elderly
adorer numerically. If he ventured a
remark she answered so CURLY that his
breath was almost taken away.
Mr.. Hall became wretched. He re.
! solved to lay the whole case before Miss
Carson. With her aid he might yet win
the hayward girl, who perhaps after all
was only flirting with Fay. He found
his landlady seated at the dining-room
window pensivcly darning a stocking.
Miss Carson" he said, drawing a
chair to her side, Il want to speak to
YOU about something that has laid on
my heart for the last four months"
Miss Carson hands trembled so much
that she could scarcely hold her darn
ing-needle.
"You are shrewd woman,J he re-
sumed. "You can not be blind as to
the object of my attentions to your
niece"
She tried to speak, but the words
died in her throat She made an effort
to thread her needle. Anxious to en-
gage her whole attention, Mr.. Hall
took her hand and uttered sharp ex-
clamation as the needle pierced his
thumb.
"Flo suspected this" whispered Miss
Carson.
"Ha! She did? What did she say?"
"Oh, she liked you very much then,
but lately
"Oh, know l have been fool, but
with your consent | shall yet be the hap
piest man in Chicago"
And am the happiest woman she
murmured. "Oh, Mr.. Hall, or Jacob,
| suppose | ought to call you now.
shall do all in my power to be a good
wife,
In her agitation she covered her face
with the stocking she had been darning
and wept. There was an awful silence.
Mr.. Halls tongue was paralyzed. Was
this an awful dream? Or was he going
mad?
"You must excuse me-" said Miss
Carson, wiping her eyes. But the
news of Flo's engagement and every
thing connected with it rather upset me
to begin with, and this coming, too,
was too much"
"Flo's engagement" said Mr.. Hall.
in avoice so hollow that it startled him.
Eyes, they have been engaged ever
since the night you saw them in the
parlor, but Flo would not tell me be-
cause she says was unjust to Mr. Fay.
There has been quite a change in MIR.
Fay's affairs. He was quite poor and
was obliged to send part of what
money he made to support his widowed
mother. The same day that he pro-
posed to Flo he had received letter
stating that a fortune had been left him
by an uncle in Philadelphia.
Mr.. Hall waited to hear no more.
He seized his hat and rushed from the
house. His tenant was waiting at the
office to see him. You intimated that
YOU wanted the house, Mr.. Hall, but
l called for a definite answer before
81 don't want the house. lam going
to leave Chicago. II make out lease
for five years if you like. Call this
afternoon"
Left alone he buried his face in his
hands and reflected deeply. Whether
he wished it or not, he was engaged to
Miss Carson. He tried to remember
just what he had said, but could not re-
call his words Possibly in his confu-
sion he had proposed. Well, she was
good woman, and might make better
wife than her niece. He remembered
how kindly she had nursed him through
the rheumatism two years ago. Yes, it
was all for the best. He went to one
of the large stores on State street and
bought handsome piece of velvet for
dress. "She shall have a pair of
diamonds to wear with it," he sad,
with a chuckle. His tenant called in
the afternoon. Mr. Hall told him that
he had again changed his mind. The
tenant left, deeply disguised.
elizabeth, | really meant what l
said this morning" he said, as he laid
his presents in her lap.
"Do you suppose doubted it,
Jacob?'
mo, no; of course not. Here comes
Flo. Give kiss to your uncle that is
to be, and forgive me for meddling with
your affairs. You see l was so devoted
to your aunt that | -"
81 understand, replied Flo, with
roguish smile Chicago Tribune.