West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-03-21

like To see her at least once before tho
die was irrevocably cast, so when
reached the town | hunted up cousin
OF mine who knew her and told him he
must arrange for me TO call on heI in
cognito. lie asscnted very readily. and
as / only reached there the day be orc
the wedding was to take place, we
called the night of my arrival She
came in directly, and l was introduced
rs Mr.. Falkncr.'
laid eyes on her | grew rigid with in
dignation TO think that my uncle dared
impose on mo in such a way. He had
led me To believe she was everything Il
man could want i'm wife. / found her
painted like an Indian. dressed i'm hor-
rid taste, talking at the top of her
voice. and altogether the most ill-bred
creature had ever seen. ! could not
stand it, so wrote a note TO my uncle.
left the town that night. and have new
er been back since learned to-day for
the first time that the girl | saw was
not the one | was To have married. but
friend of her cousin whom he had
taken into his confidence. and that her
horrid curls and her vulgarity were as
sumcd for the occasion, all part of
Dicks little pleasantly; and my
hnancec. who Dick saws is the prctticst
woman he ever saw, was so cut up bv
my brutal behavior and the note
left that she ran away. and for a
long they thought she had drowned
herself. OF course there was bio
sensation, and everybody denounced
me. Dick, II cowardly knayc. hadn /
the nerve TO tell the truth about it
and acknowledge his part in the
affair, but the girl who abetled his
hendish decept on went straight TO my
uncle and told him everything as soon
as she heard was gone.
"'Whcn he saw how il was he swore
that we should both be found, dead or
alive, and if we were alive the marriage
should be consummated. They started
detectives after us and advertised us
everywhere, and at last they got on the
track Of the girl and they We traced her
to tn X very town. Think of IT, Dick
says they are sure she is here, and he
was here looking for her when he acct
dcntally stumbled upon me. THEY'LL
lind her OF course; il is only question
OF few hours. and then | must be
dragged Up, like a schoolboy that has
been pla ing hockey, and married to
wife of some other mans choice, or
leave here between two days and give
up a good pos ton
He turns toward her, but she man
ages the palm-leaf so that n does not
see her face, and asks presently in n
heSitating way: but if she is as pretty
rs they say she is and-you would get
tho money besides, why do you OBJ
ject?"
Because am in love with somebody
else, and l m done with matrmon nj
negotiations by proxy. ! will attend to
my own love affairs hereafter"
He proceeded to carry out his resolu-
ton by in>inuating an arm between the
shelving and the slight figure that is
resting against it.
eve been in love with somebody else
ever since ! found her or ing in a corner
not thousand miles from here, and il
she can only say the same of me I'll
whistle the fortune down the wind and
defy all the detectives in Christcndom. q"
lie draws his arm Il little closer about
the yieliilg figure, and, screened from
view by the swaying fringe of gloves, lie
feels safe in bringing the other arm into
position, so forming n complete circuit.
The acc 'mmodating palm-leaf is quite
large enough to conceal two heads, and
sound Ike a half-audiblc OSCILLATION
issues from behind it.
long, low whistle breaks the silence.
Proceedings are Immediately nd ournei.
and haunted by visions of presuming
and prying cash-boys, they both start
up and confront--Dick.
Have you found hero asks the cash
ier deieCtedlV
80 yes, I've found her." says Dick.
leaning heavily upon the counter, as he
wiped the moisture from his brow.
Miss Davison, allow me to introduce
my cousin, Tom Winfield; Tom, Miss
Alice Dawson. The introduction seems
to be a little subse ,uent, but we have
done the best we could"
$50 another wedding-fea was spread
beneath the hospitable roof of Mr.. Hum
phrcy Dawson, and this time to some
purposes for a marriage was solem-
niled, at which ceremony Dick, his sins
forgiven, OBLIGATED rs best man, and his
pcrlidOus accomplice, minus paint.
cur!s, and all Objectionable features.
made charming bridesmaid. Cbtcago
Tribune.
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