The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-08-17


she had read it.
If she should have answered the
forged proposal in the inailirmativc!
The thought was too horrible To con-
template.
Perhaps the letter might be recovered
from the pOst-oflice.
But even as she caught mt this hope
with rapture, Lilis entered the room,
saying glccfully:
IL was barely in time with my letter,
auntie."
"Was your letter from Paul Raynor?
and did he propose? and did you accept
him?" cnquired ZaiIa hurricdly.
III see that Mr.. Raynor has been con-
iiding in Fred and that Fed has shared
the confidence with his liancco. laugh
ed Lilis. "Ycs. tn all your questions,
you impctuou, Zed!'
AS soon rs Zaida swallowed II few
mouthfuls of dinner, she hurried tn the
telegraph-oilice and sent a message To
Fred, informing him oil the present criS-
is. and begging him by fair means or
foul, to prevent Paul Raynor from read
ing Lilis's letter.
But it Glanced that Fred. an impccuni-
Gus young lawyer. like his friend Paul
Raynor, becoming tired OF watching the
evOlutiOns of 4 blucbottlc in his Office
window and ScribblinT Iaida's name
over endless sheets of lcgal-cap, had
started on long country walk, SO the
telegram was laid on his desk by the Of
flee boy. where Fed found il on his re-
turn late in the aftrrnoone
al - Al. l., h.. Ia In
exclaimed in veXation. '.Coniound IT!
| wish Td had nothing to do with the
matter; but that witch of Il Zcd can al
ways twist me around her little fin
ger"
He fastened to his friends LODGING.
however, explained the matter, and
begged him 10 lie. the poor little girl
down rs easily rs he could"
.'Whv should let her down at ALP"
enquired Paul coolly. II do love her,
and should have told her so last year
had it not been that WAS in no posi-
ton to marry. To-day. however, | re-
ceived a letter informing me that II
grand-unclc. whose existence have al
most forgotten. had died and left me Il
considerable legacy. So my affairs wear
new aspect, you see.
Fred joyfully telegraphed TO Zaida;
paul got the letter, but it's all right. Keep
""'''' . p'''' FIRED"
And it would have been ..all right
if others besides Zaida had ''kept whist
if Molly. the "bonny wee lass, who
.helped with the housewOrk," but who
would have bounced out of the house in
dudgeon if she had been called Il SER
want, had not innoccntly married mat
tiers at the suppcr-table.
$50 YOU did get fooled after all, she
Uttered. as she brought in relay of
hot waillcs.
"No, indced!' laughed LiliS, to whom
she had addressed her remark.
''Oh, come nOw," demonstrated Mol
lie. 'you needn't pretend that you
didn't. was sitting on the side-porch,
sewing and Zaida's window was open,
So heard every word she and the Law
ton girls said"
Zaida tried in vain to stop her tongue,
for Lilis insisted upon hearing all the
details of the conspiracy.
When MOllic had finished, Lilas was
pale to the lips. She threw one glance
at Zaida which, if chances could with
err, would have shrivclled her to the SEM
blance of an Egyptian mummy, and
swept from the room.
Zaida flew at Mollie like an exaspcr-
ated hornet, and shook her till her hair
pins flew out and her teeth ratified.
YOU'RE the one that ought to be
shaken, Zaida." said Mrs. Lawton,
aghaSt, as she famed herself with Ia
BILE mat. you must 90 and make peace
with Lilis right away"
Zaida would gladly have done so, but
Lilis had bolted her door and would adj
nit no one.
When she came down to breakfast,
she announced her intention of taking
the noon train for her home.
Tears and entrcaties could not dis
suade her from this resolution but Iaida
again had recourse to the telegraph
| wires.
AS the noon train from the West
Numbered into the station, Il gentleman
in linen buster sprang on the platform
| and intercepted Il closcl Unveiled girl in
| q grey neutrality-suspicious., just rs she was
about To enter a car.
your she cried. shrinking troln
him with pitiful gesture of numilia-
ton.
YES me-" he returned, hurrying her
into the deserted waiting-room and
gently removing her veil. '.Did you
suppose was going to wait idly and let
my bOnny bird take flight? Lilis, as you
now know, l did not write that letter,
but love you with all my heart, and l
| ask you now to marry me. Tell me yOu
will,' he pleaded. ''for my happiness
depends upon your answer.
She lifted her eyes to his and searched
them, us # she would discover whether
truth lay at the bottom OF those wells OF
brown light.
She appeared satisfied with The results
of her scrutiny, and Paul Raynor bore
the fugitive in triumph TO her distracted
aunt and cousin.
you'll forgive us, wont you? y
pleaded Flossie, Meg. and Iaida, knccl-
lug before her in Il moist-cyed, pcnitent
row.
And how could she withhold her par
don from those three pretty fatcS, who
had, at least, FASTENED the weaving in
the web of her life OF its golden central