Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-04-04

Here" Numbered the Captain.
"Here? ?" cried Mrs. Clifton.
"Yes, here" went on the incurable
Joe, without a glance at Marks i'm
ploring face. "Your niece, suppose,
Mrs. Clifton. She is Mr.. Hatfeld's
model"
"Why, not my niece Honoria, sis
ter? That is stranger
But Mrs. Clifton, with that skillful
hand of hers, quietly vanished the
matter over, and whispered to Joe:
"Pray don't mind him. He is a
strange creature, but, for all that, an
angel. He is immensely rich, and
poor Bel is his heiress."
poor Bel" thought Joe, and then
he looked back at his discounted
friend, from whom the clustering cap
tain was pumping every drop of infor-
HluIlOH Hc Tcquircu'
Mark Hatfield went home that
night, honestly believing himself n
ruined man and that his model would
never again make her appearance, but
at the appointed hour on the following
day she swept in. She took her seat
in the chair, as usual, and sat back
without murmur, and Joe Dayton
peeped through the curtain until the
sitting was over. Then he came out
and with almost objectionable bold
ness, begged leave to see her to a
stage.
She accepted the kindness, as she
did everything, with perfect compos-
ure, and they walked away.
1T is tedious work for you, is it
not?" he asked when they were in the
street.
81 do not like il"
"Why do you accept his offer? ?"
Because l am poor" she answered
frankly.
He was trsading on delicate ground,
so he called her attention to u hand
some carriage whirling up street, and
asked her if she liked driving.
Every much. But | haven't en-
joyed the luxury Of drive for a long
time"
Tomorrow ! shall be at your door
with my carriage. Will you drive
with me ?'
She looked down at the plain black
dress and shawl, then looked up at
him with shadow on her brave face.
"If you will not be ashamed of
me-"
miss Clifton, you are hasty in your
Judgment"
81 am not sure that | can with pro-
priety accept your invitation"
81 shall come" he said smiling, and
she rode up town in the close stage
with wondrous happiness in her
beautiful eyes.
He did call and she came down, on
the arm of the sun-bronzed captain,
who placed her in the light buggy,
saying;
81 hope you will enjoy your after
noon ride. There's a regular nor
easter brewing, and | am going to
just sit and enjoy it."
He pointed backward and laughed,
and Joe caught glimpse of Mamma
Clifton and Isabel looking wrathfully
from the parlor window, and then
they rode away in the bright sunlight,
as happy pair as ever lived.
This was the first ride, but it was
not last. Never again did she walk
alone from the studio, for Joe was al
ways there to escort her, and, as of
course, you will naturally infer, he
asked her in good time to be his wife.
Even though she had held since
her fathers death, the position of gov
erness and nurse to her little cousins
for her board and an occasional present,
and been treated in every respect as a
mental, yet in her happiness she went
to her aunt and cousins and told them
of her engagement.
They had been in excellent humor
all the afternoon, and when Honoria
had completed her story, she looked
up blushingly for their approval.
Isabel was white as death with sup
pressed rage, but the anger of her
mother knew no bounds, and SPRING
ing to her feet she pointed to the open
door, and cried with n voice thick
with passion:
"Do you see that door, you UNI
grateful wretch! Leave this room,
gather up your effects and leave this
house at once; you arc an artfuf
hussy! You have tried your best to
ALLEVIATE the affections of your uncle
from Isabel, whom he adores, and
now you have caught Joe Dayton.
Not that | care for the act itself, but
the miserable spirit you have shown.
Go into the street. | never want to
see your face again! !"
Honoria stood up, nervously work.