The Press., 1884-08-21

esced MT. Tempany, eagerly. 'Tt is too rich. I'm sure she would like something quite plain better. A gold band or Q sim pie bangle would be much more suitable. I think I will change it"
 "No, Podmore; have an idea. Amy was delighted with my bracelet, and she shall have it. I will keep this one instead of my own as present from you, said the widow, in tone of decision. 'sIt will be the first really handsome present you have given me, you know"
 ''I'm sure you don't want it, Theodosia, :" said MT. Tempany, with kind of groan 'It-it doesn't suit your complexion, I'm afraid"
 'You think not? Look, MT. Bevis. What do you say?" exclaimed the widow, clasping the bracelet on her shapely arm
 Excellent !' cried MT. Bevis, in tone of emphatic admiration, for which Mr Tempany hated him on the spot. s'Noth- ing could look handsomer'
 "Very well. Then that is settled" said Mrs. Bramwell Jay, pleasantly. ''I'm sure Amy will be glad to get my bracelet back again. .....
 "You will have the stone replaced, of course, sir?' said MT. Bevis, in business like tone, as he took up the discarded or nament
 "Oh P certainly" interposed the wid- ow, before MT. Tempany could utter a re- mark. "In fact, think the setting should be renewed altogether. It is too old fash ioned."
 "I will make good job of it" replied MT. Bevis. putting the case on one side Good day, madam. Good day to you, sir D
 MT. Tempany went out of the shop with out uttering another word, being quite speeches. with mingled emotion. His horror at the probable amount of the jew elers bill was only equaled by the mad ening feeling of helplessness which kept him from demonstrating. So far from ex- periencing satisfaction at his escape, he was now inclined think it had cost him too dear, and his sentiments towards MT. Bevis had changed to deep resentment. He ex- cused himself from accompanying the wid- ow for the remainder of her drive, feeling that he must be alone to brood over his crushing misfortunes. The lady seemed neither surprised nor hurt at this sudden desertion, and MT. Tempany had an un- comfortable suspicion that she rather en- ioyed his discomfture. She was charm ingly affable, however, and overwhelmed him with expressions of gratitude for his handsome present when he showed her in- to her carriage.
 "By By-the-by, Podmore, dear," she ex- claimed, putting her head out of the win dow as she drove of, "what could have in duced you to say ill your letter to Amy that this lovely bracelet was an heir loom in your family ?"
 This significant speech ranked good deal in MT. Tempany's mind when he had sufficiently recovered from his state of hor- rifed bewilderment to think it over. It really sounded as if the widow suspected she had been imposed upon, though she had not scrupled to turn the circumstance to account. It may have been owing to a guilty conscience, but MT. Tempany cer- tainly fancied from that day forward the widow began to manifest decided coolness towards him. So apparent did this be- come to him, that if he had had any self respect he would have terminated the en- gagement. However, as MT. Tempany re- garded his marriage, as we know, from a very material point of view, he was not in- clined to be easily affronted.
 At the last moment, however, an unex- pected- obstacle occurred. The widows solicitor intervened with some very nasty suggestions about marriage settlement. This did not suit MT. Yempany's views at all, and being unable to come to terms WAoAA oAAO A""ySA AO fDPEC1lCS% oOln0Wndt indignantly to the lady herself. Mrs. Bramwel Jay refused to interfere, saying that she was entirely in the hands of her legal adviser, and the upshot was that, finding the widows fortune was so strictly tied up that he might be reduced to the unpleasant necessity of supporting his household with his own money, MT. Tem- pany resolved to remain bachelor until a more favorable opportunity offered.
 Of course, this was dreadful blow to him. It aged him considerably, for when he came to add mp what his engagement had cost him one way and another in actual pounds, shillings, and pence, he was fairly mortified at the amount. MT. Beviss ac- count brought tears to his eyes and reduced him to 8 state of incipient imbecility for days. He had to pay it, however, nor did he get farthing discount. But it was at least faint consolation to think that he would recover something out of the fire The bracelet would fetch good round sum, even at secondhand, and this refec- tion buoyed him up little so long as he