Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-22

His visitor apologized for his ignorance
about such matters, and SAID he would
see his solicitor.
However, after the apology was ac.
cepted, instead Of bowling himself out,
Mr.. Jekn ,Jones-for By that name he
called himself-entered into a general
kind OF conversation with Frank. He
spoke easily and pleasantly on a variety
OF topics. and when at last he left the
room, shook hands most cordially with the
youngHan and hoped he should meet him
again soon.
s@Wonder who he is - said Frank ISugh-
ing over the sudden friendliness this
stranger had exhibited. Anyway, ]
hope he'E make his solicitors send me that
brief.n
However,, no brief came: but for the
next few days Frank Abbot was always
stumbling across Mr.. John Jones. he
met himi Is the street as he went to and
from his chambers. Mr.. Jones always
stopped him, shook hands. and as often as
not, turned and walked beside INN. Frank
began to like the man. He was very
amusing. and seemed to know every cOun-
try under tue sun. Indeed, he declared
he was greater stranger to London than
to any other capital. He was a great
smoker, aud as soon as he found that
Frank did net object to the smell Of good
tobacco in his chambers, scarcely a day
went by without his paying him visit
and having S long chat over a cigar.
Frank was bOuad to think that Mr.. John
Jones had taken great liking to him.
Perhaps the man wanted a friend, as he
said he knew no one in London, and no
one knew him.
So young Abbot drifted into intimacy
with this lonely man. and soon quite
looked forward to the sound Of his cheer
full voice and the fragrance of those par
ticularly good cigars he smoked. He even,
at MIR. Jones' urgent request. ran down to
the seaside for a couple Of days with him,
and found the time pass very pleasantly in
his society.
Although the young man was very reti-
cent on the subject OF his family misf0r-
tune, Mr.. Jones had somehow arrived at
the conclusion that he uvaE nat rolling ia
wealth. de made no secret of the fact
that he himself was absurdlv rich.
Il say, Abbot he remarked one day.
III you want any money 70 push yourself
up with, let me know"
Perhaps Mr. Jones fancied that Judge
ships were to be bought,
81 don't wany any," said Frank,
shortly.
"Don't take offence. l said, if you do.
Your pride-the worst part of you. It's
very hard a man can only help fellow
like you by dying and leaving him money.
don't want to die just yet."
Frank laughed.
81 want no money left me. 1 shouldn't
take yours if you left it to me.v
"Well, you'll have TO some day, you
see."
Then Mr.. John Jones lit another cigar
from the stump of the old one and went
his way, leaving Frank more puzzled than
ever with his new friend.
But the next day an event occurred
which drove Mr.. John Jones, money, and
everything save one thing out of his
head--Millicent keene was IN England, in
London.
When he saw her letter lying on his
table, Frank Abbot feared it could not be
real. 1t would fade away like a fairy
bank note. No, before him lay few lines
in her handwriting: /.
'sMY DEAR FRANK have returned at
last. l am at No. 4 Caxton Place.
s'Yours, MILLICENT KEENE."
Early as it was he rushed out of his
office, jumped into a cab and sped away
to the address she gave him.
We may pass over the raptures, the
embraces, the renewed VOWS, the general
delicious character of that long deferred
meeting. We may suppose the explana-
ton of the lost letter accounting for the |
girPs silence; and we may picture her
with her lovers misfortunes
and her approval Of the manly way in
which he had gone to work to retrieve
them in some degree. Let us imagine |
them very, very happy, sitting hand-in- |
hand in a room at No. 4 Caxton Place, |
Millicent, by the by, looking more beauti- |
rul than ever, her charms not lessened by |
the look Of joy in her dark eyes.
Their first transports are over. They |
have descended to mundane things. In /
fact, Frank is now telling her that he be- |
lives he can count on so many hundreds a
year. What does his darling think?
Miss keene purses up her pretty mouth /
and knits her brOwS. To judge by APP /
pearances, she might be the most mer- /
cenary young woman. Frank waits her /
reply anxiously.
81 think we may manage" she says. /
Il have been accustomed to poverty all /
my life, you know"
Frank would have vowed to work his |
fingers to the bones before she should /
want anything; but remembering Just in |
lime that his profession worked with the /
tongue instead of the hands, checked him.
self. He thanked her with a kiss.
'When shall we be married ~ he said.
She looked up at him shYly.
"WOuld you think it very dreadful if l /
said the sooner the better? In fact, Frank, |
have come from Australia to marry you. /
If you had forgotten me, l should have |
gone straight back"
"Next week." asked Frank, scarcely |
his own happiness. s'Will next I
week be too soon? One advantage of be- |
ng poor and living in lodgings is that we |
IAN be married without any bother about /
/ house,"
Millicent gave him to understand that /
lext week would do. She was staying |
With some distant relatives. No ones con- I
Ient had to be asked. She had told her |
ather all. The day Frank chose she |
would be his wife.
Chow is youI father? forgot to ask"
'aid Frank.
"Much the same as ever" answered /
Millicent in a way (which inferred that |
Mr.. Keene's struggles to redeem fortune
we're as great as before.
Then she dismissed Frank until tO-mor-
'ow. He went home walking on air, and, I
ike dutiful son. wrote to Mrs. Abbot, /
elling her that Millicent had returned, /
md next week would marry him. Mrs.
Abbott's reply may be given here:
'sMY DEAR FRANK say nothing. | /
am too much Mortified. If any young man
vas ever called upon to marry money and
luild up the fallen fortunes of a family, it
s you. My last hope is gone. The OBJ
Itinacy of your character know too well.
Il thought | could turn you from your
purpose, would come and kneel at your
eet. If l knew Miss Keene's address, 1
would make one last appeal to her. She,
believe, was a sensible young woman.
''Your affectionate MOTHER"
CONCLUSION.
Frank laughed at the idea of Mrs. Alb
Tot kneeling at his feet, and had not the
east intention of sending Millicent's adj
lress.
He saw little of any one for the next few
lays except Millicent. His poor friend, I
Mr. John Jones, called several times, but I
Zach time found him absent.
''Your master is neglecting his BUSH
less," he said sternly to Franks small
Jerk.
SCOT something pleasanter to attend to-
Iaid the youth with wink.