Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-30
Tales aud Sketfhss.
NOT SO BAD, AFTER ALL.

scrape, and man IKE, hau E0 very uennilc
idea how he was to get out of it.
Last winter. in flush of enthusiasm he
had rewarded Emily Cummings seraphic
smiles by an offer of his hand and fortune,
and she, having been for months an earn
est competitor, accepted the prize with
show of tenderness that was perfect IN lis
way.
She was a belle and beauty, but, to
/ give the poor fellow his due. he was not
verv much in love himself. and had, more
over, a faint fieetiug notion that his f10O,-
900 had more to do with her acceptance
than any peculiar personal merit OF his
own.
However, the marriage in all human
probability would fave taken place. and
INV little love story been entirely nipped
in the bud, had it not been for the grim
hand of fate, which beckoned the unfor-
tunate Con to a little watering place, on
fishing excursion ostensibly. but in reality
to fall in love with pretty little Mabel
Gordon.
He met her at some village gathering
and it being a fixed principle of his to at
tach himself to the prettiest girl in the
room, he in the present case adhered to
his purpose with rigidity which would
have been extremely amusing only that il
so soon became serious, for after two or
three meetings had followed the rustic
soree. Master Con was fairly infatuated,
and innocent Mabel began to think that
her ideal hero had stepped out from his
castle in the air" and taken earthly lodg-
| ings forever and ever more.
For a week the dream was bright and
undisturbed then Con began to feel I'M
comfortable.
With the prospect of being married to
one girl in a month. he was hardly dis
honorable enough to propose the same
course with another; but being neither
very clever nor original, he couldn't see
the slightest loophole. So, by way of in
spiration, perhaps, be fingered on at Ma
bells side; and she, poor child, was happy
even in the uncertainty.
| Of course people talked. as they always
do talk; and some. more daring than the
rest, encompassed Con, and looked unut-
terable things as they spoke of Mabel's
parentage.
Lives with her father and mother ?
Oh, yes, but they don't happen TO be her
father and mother. She is their
daughters daughter; and as to who was
Blairs take care to give us no infor-
nation
Then Con was awfully angry.
He was just young enough to be Quixo-
tic, and of course he wanted to marry her,
shame or no shame; to take his little star
faced angel to himself forever more-to
transplant his little field daisy 10 a more
luxurient soil
He went to see her with letter from
Emily Cumming in his pocket and an ON
inous guilty feeling about his heart.
by Jove! but this is a cheering scrape.
Those Cummingses will be after me like
a pack of vultures; but all know is that
I'll never have wife if don't get Mabel
Gordon"
So, with trembling determination he
went into her presence-pretty Mabel,
with her white face appraised, and her
wondrous hair falling around her like q
glorious golden cloud.
Il thought you would come" she said,
shyly. the color family flushing her fair
cheeks. And then. though nature hadn't
made him so, Con felt more utterly foolish
than ever.
LAS If could stay away, he answered,
half reproschfully; then added, patheti-
cally. AT least, until | have to, for | am
going away in day or two
suppose Mabel had the natural coquet-
ishness OF her sex; but at that particular
moment it deserted her entirely. Her eyes
wandered down the road and she leaned
more heavily than ever against the garden
gate.
"Oh. are you?" very faint and tremu-
| Ions she murmured
Eyes; but I'll come back again, if any
one wants me"
She stole one quick glance at him from
under her downcast lids,
"Do you want me Mabel? Shall
come back to you?"
No answer from the parted lips, but
think he knew she wanted him, tor, lean
ing over the garden gate, he answered her
silence by saying:
Very well. dear, I'll be back in a very
little while, and you'll be waiting for me.
won't you ?"
1t was not very definite, to say the least
of it.
Any other girl would have preferred
more lucid proposal, but poor little Mabel
had one of those rare natures which are
satisfied to give all and take almost moth
ing-to love pre-eminently, perfectly, and
receive in return tritling need OF affec-
ton.
The world doesn't contain great many
like her. and |, for one. am heartily glad
think the women who hold their own,
and anything else they can get. are far
more preferable but the earth and earth s
children must be variegated, sharp as well
as sweet.
Con went home that night ecstaticallv
but guilty happy, and when he reached
home he found a letter awaiting him-a
letter from his mother, the elder Mrs.
Creighton. asking. or | should say de-
handing, his instant return.
Emily is very ill, she said. "and GER
tainly your place should be beside the lady
who in four weeks will become your wife.
In addition to this am afraid that some
Interior object causes your delay in that
out of the way place. l have heard. but
totally disbelieve, rumor of some girl
whose pretty face has attracted your atten-
lions. 1t hoated upon me with some APP
pearance of veracity, and might have
troubled me had | not known that could
trust your dignity as being a member of
the Creighton family and your honor as
being engaged to Emily Cummings"
Con crushed the letter in his hand and
tried to stare circumstances in the face.
but circumstances bafiled him. and in a
| state of semi-torture he retired to his