The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-11-18

of introduction.
81 already have the pleasure Of your &C
q%uhintance, l think, Mrs Pontifex, y he said,
bowling awkwardly.
Considering tho news my daughter has
told me, l think l may venture to welcome
You in an old-fashioned manner, Capt,
Ogilvie," said the elderly lady.
The captain was too much confused TO I'M
derstand this speech, and before he could re-
cover himself Mrs. Pontifex had placed a
hand on each shoulder and kissed him affec-
~tionately on his whiskers. This touching
episode completed Capt. Ogilvie's discomfit-
ure, and he dropped unlimited into a chair
from sheer nervousness and dismhy.
eve come to speak about this engage
ment, he said, as he tugged viciously at his
glove.
"Ohl you have my full consent, Capt
Ogilvie,n returned the old lady, briskly.
II wanted to see you so as to get that over.
l hate formalities.n
You are very good, returned the cap
tain, evading Miss Maud's affectionate
glance. But the fact is IL wanted to
say"
Capt Ogilvie,n interrupted the old lady in
genuously. From all | hear l am sure 1
can safely conflde my daughters happiness
in your keeping"
Pardon me, but what / have to say does
not refer to my prospects. There has been a
"A slight mistake, a trifing misunderstood
ing. No consequence whatever, but | think
| had better mention IT,, said tie captain,
desperately. But for the life of him he could
not proceed, and looked the picture Of
misery.
"Ahl I see I am in the way remarked the
old lady, after an awkward pause, ms she
rose from her seat with a pleasant smile. mo
doubt you desire a tete-a-tete with Maud,
aud | have nay household duties TO attend
to-
"Pray, don't leave" cried Capt. Ogilvie,
jumping up in genuine alarm at the prospect
of being left alone with the young lady in his
present unsettled and startled frame Of mind.
IL amt stay, pom my word. shall be late
fOr my parade as it is.n
"oh, Charlie, must You go alreadyP ex-
claimed Maud, rcproachfully.
"Must, indeed. IN call again this after
noon-or at all events, l will write" said the
captain, backing toward the door in a deter-
mined manner, under the influence OF a veri-
table panic,
He beat a hasty retreat, evading the neccs
sity for n formal leave taking by muttering
something about calling again in an hour or
two. The fact was he felt completely over
whelmed by the awkwardness Of the situation,
and could not summon up the fortitude to
make his confession. The calm, matter
of-fact manner of old Mrs. PontifeK and
Maud's frank and innocent demeanor had com
pletely disconnected him. 1t was evident
that neither of them entertained the remotest
suspicion of his guilty secret, and that both
regarded the engagement as q settled thing.
Under these circumstance he found himself
quite unequal to tho task of abruptly unde-
ceiving them, and, mistrusting the effect of
Miss Mnud's blue eyes upOn him in his melt
ing mood, he had preferred TO seek safety III
flight.
OF course, he was very angry with himself
afterward, and felt more perplexed and en-
bnrrnssed than ever. He was afraid to trust
himself 10 call again, and no was equally
averse to putting pen to paper. Consequently,
after mature elaboration, he resolved TO take
a middle course, and to do nothing. 1t was
impossible, he reflected, that Maud and her
mother could nave failed to remark his cold
ness and If he neglected to keep his appoint
ment and studiously refraiDed from going near
them, they must necessarily realize that there
had been u misunderstanding. He was quite
conscious of the weakness and unmanliness of
this plan, not to speak of the want of cour-
tesy and consideration for the young lady
which it involved. But he was in such a state
OF almost ludicrous distress that he selfishly
thought of nothing but his own embarrass-
ment.
For three days, therefore, Capt. Ogilvie
hardly stirred from his rooms, and tremu-
lousy looked for the result of his unworthy
He fully expected that Maud
and her mother would call upon him, under
the natural impression that he had been sud
denly taken i'll, and he therefore gave strict
orders that he was not at home to visitors.
They did not disturb him, however, and 1t
was not until he had begun to breathe more
freely that he received a letter from Maud,
asking for an explanation of his conduct. He
opened 1t with considerable trepidation, not
u~nrcasonably anticipating that it might for
mally release him from his engagement. But,
TO his great disappointment and increased dis
may, it did nothing of the kind. On the con-
trury, the reproaches it contained were very
lightcompared with the expressions of %unalter.
able affection, and IL ended with the follow
ing significant sentence;
"You must come without fail tomorrow,
dearest, for mamma has asked n few near rel
atives and old friends TO make your acquaint
ance. am overwhelmed with kind congrat
u~lations on our engagement, and | long to
see to you, IL only to be able to answer the
numerous questions that are asked mo about
the probable date of our marriage"
"Good heavensl' calculated Capt. Ogilvie,
fairly horror-stricken "The foolish girl has
been announcing the engagement all over the
place, | must put a stop to it at all hazards, -
After taking a few ngitated strides across
the room, he opened his desk for the purpose
of writing "A letter, which would, at least,
prevent further mischief. He found this no
easy task, however. especially as he saw the
necessity OF expressing himself in most
guarded language. He wrote draft after
draft and tore up "A quire of paper in his
frantic cndcavors to be at once explicit and
diplomatic. Finally, having worked himself
into n state OF frenziel desperation, he threw
prudence to the winds, and did not attempt
to deny the engagement. His reply expressed
regret that Miss PJntifex should nave taken
his TESTING rcmarSs seriously, and stated in
the plainest terms that a marriage was out
OF the question.
he waited with co Considerable anxiety to see
how the young lady would take this dis
olaimer. hat she would be highly indignant
and offended was, of course, to be expected,
and he felt that he deserved to be assailed
with bitter reproaches. But what he feared
was that sue might prove vindictive, and ex.
pose his conduct among mutual friends. This
would naturally be exceedingly awkward for
him 1t never. however, crossed his mind
that even u worse misfortune might result
from his ~imprudence, The following letter,
therefore, which reached him a day or two
later, completely took his breath away.
BEDFORD Row, LONDON.
"SRi-I am instructed by my client, Miss
Maud FontifeN, 70 np action
against YOU for damages for breach of prom
Use Of marriage. Win you be good enough
TO give me the name Of your solicitor, who
win accept service OF writ Yours obedi-
entity, J.. S. MERRIDEw.p
PART H..
Capt ogilvie, In his dire perplexity, deter.
mined 10 call upon Mr.. Merridew, the solici.