Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-10-22

punctually, and that she must como up
and speak 10 him II she saw him first.
The next morning Crofton, having
undergone that dread ordeal called
collections" having been bullied
alternately 10y the principal, the dean
and the senior tutor, hurried oil to the
station and just managed TO catch the
midday express TO town. On his ar
rival, leaving his traps ut hotel, he
rushed of to Westminster Bridge land
ing pier and arrived there within n
minute or two Of the appointed time.
There were but few people on il when
he arrived, and certainly no one re-
sembling in the slightest degree the
photograph of Mr. Methven's cousin.
lie looked up and down, but no--there
was only one young lady there, and she
wasn't in the least like the photograph.
She was standing close to the ticket
Office, holding the hand of q little hoy
of ten or so-and she seemed to watch
Crofton with an amused smile as he inn
patiently walked up and down, looking
now ut her watch and now ut the Parlia-
ment clock tower The little boy get
ting tired of waiting, had slipped away
under the protecting chains around the
side and began TO play with little dog
that was vaguely roaming about. The
Young lady did not miss him, and when
Crofton happened TO turn he saw the
child, in trying TO avoid sudden bound
of the dog, stumble and fall over the
pier into the river. The child yelled,
the girl shricked, and the dog barked
for sympathy, but Crofton, who FORUM
atcly had plenty of presence of mind
and was good strong swimmer, dived
quietly into the water, caught up the
child in n couple of strokes, and in a
very short time had restored his drip
ping burden TO the young lady. She
was of course most grateful TO him for
having saved the life of her little
brother (for so the child turned out to
bc), and rs Crofton put them into a
cab, she asked him to call on them at
home and give her parents an oppor-
tunity of personally thanking him.
Crofton at first pooh-poohed the idea
of being thus made hero of, but there
was pleasing look in her pretty eyes
which quite oyercame his scruples;
and, having ascertained that her father
was Mr.. West, and lived Mt No. 1876
Cavendsh Square, he promised to call
there the following afternoon. And,
as there was still no sign of Miss Ber-
nard, and as he was dripping wet, he
hailed n passing cab and returned to his
hotel.
The next day according to his prom
! Use, he called at No. l36 Cavendish
square, and was received most kindly
by Miss West, his acquaintance of yes
| terday, and her mother, an old lady,
who thanked him most volubly for hay
ing saved dear Bertic's life, who, she
! added, was none the worse for the
ducking, and was ut that moment in
bed, with mustard plaster on his
chest and a basin of cruel by his side,
probably thinking the drowning would
have been infinitely preferable TO the
doctoring.
OF course Crofton was invited TO stay
TO dinner, so as to meet Mr.. West, who
did not return from business till after
six. About that time he arrived, and q
fine CHEEKY fellow he was, and right
heartily did he welcome his new ac-
quaintance. After dinner, rs he and
Harry were discussing, a bottle of '3l
port, Mr.. West found out from the
supplemented fellow that he was n
native of Australia, and that, though
he was happy enough during term
time with his college chums, he found
it very dull during vacation, having
but few relations and friends in the old
country; and so Mr.. West, liking the
honest, manly lad, and feeling, OF
course, intensely grateful 20 him for
having saved his child from
drowning, invited him to spend
u month with him ut his shoot
ing-lodgc i'm Scotland. Crofton, being
passionately devoted TO sport, snapped
at tho offer; and go it was arrsnged
that he should 90 up to Mr. Vests
shooting lodge, in Cromarty. on the
18th of August. To this day he Swcars
that the month he spent ut Balbriggan
Lodge was the happicst time of his life
good sport, nice men in the house,
and, ali! far be of all, the society OF
Lillian West. At first il struck him
that she looked upon him for some rca,
son or other rs rather II puppy, which
considerably surprised him, for what
ever his faults might be, conce;t was
certainly not one OF them. But rs time
went on, and she had plenty of oppor-
tunity OF seeing what modest sterling
fellow he was (besidcs being the bcsl
shot of the party the feeling seemed tc
pass away. and soon gave place t. q
sincere regard. Sunday afternoon
rambles through the heather, coy chat,
in the cleaning after dinner, lessons in
The mysteries of ''gobang' and chess,
have brought together less susceptible
hearts than those of Harry Crofton ant
Lillian West, and the day before he wa:
returning TO England he pluckcd up
covrage. proposed, and to his delight
was accepted. The next morning, how
ever, just before starting home, Liliar
came up TO him and said:
Harry dear, before you 90 / wan
you to forgive me for the silly JOKE
PLAYED you about that advertisement
Advertisement" said he. "what adj
vertisemcntp'
"Why the one, of course, you put in
the Morning AdUertiSer."
} Crofton looked very mystiiied, anC
again shook his head.
"Oh, come now, Harry replied
Lillian, "it is not n bit of use your try
ing to deceive me; do you mean to say
you didn't put the advertisement in thu
Morning Advertiser" and SO saying
she drew from her card-case small
newspaper cutting and handed it t.
Crofton. IL ran rs follows:
WANTED A wIFE.-The advertiser, who i
strikingly handsome, very accomplished, an'
extremely rich, wishes to meet with u youn,
lady with view to matrimony. She must b
good looking, amiablc and accomplished. Ap
picants must forward their photograph AM
addrcss.-H. c., l5l st. Giles, oxford.
"Never saw it before in my lie,
said Croston.
"And you never wrote thisg' con
tinued Miss West, handing the last let
ter from H. G. to Miss l.. Bernard, ap
pointing the place and time of meeting
Most certainly not, it's not hi
like my handwriting. Couldn't writ
so well il tried for month"
"Wcll, Harry, you must at least owl
that this your photograph"
| pEnnI svraeiptIa NnG'' raplia1 Irnf