The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-05-10

horses, apparently in waiting.
she said at the old mill gate" she
esitated-''but this isn't so very far
off. Is it all rightp"
"All right,'' a low, muffled voice
from a figure beside the
coachman. "Open the door, Joe."
And the next minute Miss Rivers
was rolling swiftly along the mysterious
darkness of the country roads. Half
an.hour afterwards, Mr.. Paulus Pep
perel, the valiant suitor to the rich
mans niece and ,heiress, jumped from
the box of a second carriage, pausing
close to the old mill gate itself.
miranda, - he uttered, in low hur-
ried voice, "are you hereS My own love,
how shall 1 ever reward you for this
infinite condescensionp" And he clasped
In his arms the shadowy figure which
at that minute issued from group of
frs which overhung the ruins of the
old mill.
Well, L don't know as you'll find
any great difficulty, Mr.. Pepperel," a
nasal voice replied.
''Oh, take care-you'ye cracked my
best pair of pebble spectaclesr'
"Who are youP" almost shouted the
disappointed lover.
''I'm Miss Lois Rivers" was the
dryly-spoken reply; "and if you want
any eloping, I'm ready to go along with
you. But it's settled thing that you
can't have Miranda"
"And why noUP"
"Now, don't get excited; don't" 3"
purred Aunt Lois, readjusting the row
of little false curls, which the loving
embrace had somewhat unsettled.
miranda herself will tell you why not
after she has been introduced to Ellen
Larkspur." :"
"Who the-mischief is Ellen Lark
spurp" demanded MIR. Pepperel, quail
ing little, in spite Of himself.
''She's the girl you've been engaged
to for the last five years-the girl who
wears your engagement ring yet--the
girl you have ejllted in cold blood for the
niece of my wealthy brother.
''That's who she is, Mr.. Pepperel,' y
dauntlessly rejolned Aunt Lois. "And
now you can stay here if you like, but
shall go in. Night air and neuralgis
almost Away hunt in couples-and al
my age, 1 find myself compelled tc
be CAREFUL
And that was the finale of Mr.
Paulus Pepperel's long, and carefully
planned elopement. AS for little Mir,
anda, she leaned back in the corner Of
her carriage, much marvellng why
Paulus preferred the coachman's box
to the comfortable cushions at her side.
Perhaps, however, it was necessary tC
the success Of their flight: and Just as
she was beginning to get little ner.
vous and hysterical, the carriage stop
ped at little semi-Italian villa on the
outskirts of the city. Silently the car
riage door was opened; silently the dark
figure from the box assisted her tC
alight, and led her into the cheerily.
lighted hall of the house.
''Paulus," she falteIed.
''Not Paulus, my DEAR" said fami
liar voice, as the cloak was thrown
back, and Uncle Rivers stood disclosed.
snow don't cry nor faint. It's al
right. Just you wait here fifteen
minutes, and then, if yon want Paulus
III give you away myself to him at the
altar, with the greatest pleasure il
life."
With a kindly kiss and pressure o.
the hand, he led her forward into {
tastefully-furnished little drawing
room, where a tall, beautiful girl stood
with face as pale as marble.
Are you Miranda Riversp" she ask
ed-''the girl who is to marry Paulu
Pepperel?"
81 am Miranda Rivers-but who ar
youp" she answered, wondering great
iy.
''Did he never speak to you of Ellel
Larkspur2"
"NeYerI''
THAT is strange OMISSION" sh
answered, with shrug of the should
ers, "beeause he is engaged to me, Of
was, before he conceived the idea O
jilting me for a richer prize. There i
his photograph on the wall-this is hi
engagement ring on my finger-here i
packet of his letters, which, perhaps
you would like to read"
With low cry, Miranda Rivers
caught at the latter. "Yes. it wa
Paulus's own writing-there could b
no possible mistake; sweet words
honeyed adjectives to another than hel
self-he who had vowed that she wa
his first love, and should be his last.
miranda Rivers" piteously erie
out poor Ellen Larkspur, "you al
,, rich, courted, sought after. You hav
! all the world can give. have nothin
but his love. Be just. Give it bac
l to me.
3 Miss Rivers at this drew herself up
S little haughtily.
"You may have it all for me-" sal
she; 81 want no secondhand articles
, Uncle" turning to MIR. Rivers, VIII
3 had been studying her face with tender
a sOlicitous eyes, II believe 1 am dlser
Q chanted at last. Take me home agai
, keep that man," with a shudde
r ''away from me-and let me learn VIII;
l treasure have in your love an
care"
So Miranda Rivers returned home
: and the elopement produced no mol
l serious effect than a few years, and
T general confagration of love letter!
Mr.. Pepperel was a good tactician, br
, he had not learned that where wome
"a