Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-22

exclaimed in vexation. "Confound it
wish I'd had nothing to do with the mat
ter but that witch of a Zed can always
twist me around her little finger"
He hastenei to his friends lodging, how
ever, explained the matter and begged him
to let the poor little girl down as easily
as he could.
"Why should let her down at all ?" in
ouired Paul coolly. Il do love her, and
should have told her 30 last year had it not
been that was in no position to marry.
To-day, however, l received letter in
forming me that grand. uncle, whose ex-
istence I have almost forgotten, had died
and left me 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
whist I'll explain by letter. FRED.
And it would have been call right"
if others besides Zaids 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 a servant,
had not innocently marred matters at the
supper-table.
"So you did get fooled after all, - she tit
tered, as she brought in relay of hot
watfles.
mo, indeed !" laughed Ills, to whom
she had addressed her remark.
"Oh, come now," demonstrated Mollie,
"you needn't pretend that you didn't.
was sitting On tie side-porch sewing, and
Zaida's window was open, so l heard every
word she aud the Lswton girls said. -
Zaida tried in vain to stop her tongue,
but Lilis insisted upon hearing all the de-
tails Of the conspiracy.
When Mollie had finished Lilis was pale
to the lips. She threw one glance at Zaida,
which, if glances could wither, would have
shriyelled her to the semblance of an
Egyptian mummy, and swept from the
room.
Zaida few at Mollie like an exasperated
hornet, and shook her till her hairpins 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 a table-mst
=" You must go and make peace with Lilif
right away"
Zaida would gladly have done so, bui
Lilis had bolted her door and would admit
no one.
When she came down to breakfast she
announced her intention OF taking the noon
train for her home.
Tears and entreaties could not dissuade
her from this resolution, but Zaida again
had recourse to the telegraph wires.
As the noon train from the West thun
dered into the station gentleman with q
linen duster sprang on the platform and in
teroepted closely vailed girl in gray trav'
eling-ulster, just as she was about to enter
q car.
You - she cried, shrinking from him
with pitiful gesture of humiliation.
"Yes, me-" he returned, hurrying heI
into the deserted waiting room and gently
removing her vail. "Did you suppose !
was going to wait idly and let my bonny
bird take flight? Lilis, as you now know,
did not write that letter, but love you
with all my heart, and I ask you now to
marry me. Tell nae you will, he pleaded,
"for my happiness depends upon your an.
swer."
She lifted her eyes to his and searched
them, as if she would discover whether
truth lay at the bottom Of those wells oi
brown light.
She appeared satisfied with the results ol
her scrutiny, and Paul Raynor bore the fu.
gitive in triumph to her distracted aunt and
cousin.
you'll forgive us, won't yeu?" pleaded
Flossie, Meg and Zsida, kneeling before
her in a moist-eyed penitent row.
And how could she withhold her pardon
from those three pretty faces who had, al
least, hastened the weaving in the web o.
her life of its golden central pattern