The Dickinson press., 1885-01-03
NOT 50 BAD, AFTER ALL.

Con Creighton had got himself into
q scrape, and, man-like, had no very
definite idea how he was to get out of
it.
Last winter, in a flush of enthusiasm,
he had rewarded Emily Cummings
seraphio smiles by an offer of his hand
and fortune, and she, having been for
months an honest competitor, accepted
the prize with a show of tenderness
That was perfect in its way.
She was a belle and a beauty, but, to
give the poor fellow his due, he was not
very much in love himself, and had,
moreover, a faint feeting notion that
his 100000 had more to do with her
acceptance than any purely personal
merit of his own.
However, the marriage in all human
probability would have taken place, and
my little love story been entirely nipped
in the bud, had it not been for the grim
hand of fate, which beckoned the I'M
fortunate Con to alittle watering-place,
on a fishing excursion ostensibly, but
in reality to fall in love with pretty lit
tie Mabel Gordon.
He met her ct some village gathering,
and it being a fixed principle of his to
attach himself to the prettiest girl in the
room, he in the present case adhered to
his purpose with o rigidity which would
have been extremely amusing only that
it so DOR became serious, for after two
OF three meetings had followed the rus
tic soiree Master Con was fairly infatu-
ated, and innocent Mabel began to
think that her ideal hero had stepped
out from his "castle in the all" and tax
en- e. shly lodgings forever and ever
more.
For O week the dream was bright and
u~ndisturbed; then Con began to feel
uncoEifor, -.
With the prospect of being married
to n girl in a month, he was hardly
dishonorable 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 inspiration, perhaps, he lin
gered on at Mabel's side; and she, poor
child, was happy even in the uncertain
ty.
OF course people talked, as they al
ways do talk; and some, moro daring
than the rest, encompassed Con, and
looked unutterable things as they spoke
of Mable's parentage.
olives with her father and mother?
Oh, yes. But then they don't happen
to be her father and mother. She is
their daughters daughter; and as to
who was her father-well, we dom
know, and the Blairs take care to give
US nc information"
Then Con was awfully angry.
He was just young enough to be
Quixotlc, and, of course, he wanted to
marry her, shame or no shame; to take
his little star-faced angel to himself for
evermore-to transplant his little field
daisy to a more luxuriant soil.
He went up so see her, with a letter
from Emily Cummings in his pocket
and an ominous guilty feeling about his
heart.
"By Jove! but this is a cheering
scrape. Those Cummingses will be az
ter me like q pack of v~ultures; but all
I know is that I'll never have a. wife if
1 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.
VI 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 ut
terly foolish than ever.
CAS- if could stay away!"he answered,
half responsibility; then added pathet-
ically, cat least. until 1 have to, for,
I'm going away in a day or two."
l suppose Mabel had the natural
coqnettisi less of her sex; but at that
particular moment it deserted her en-
tircly. Her eyes wandered down the
rood, and she leaned more heavily than
aver against the garden gate.
ooh, are you?" worry faint and tremu-
lous, she murmured.
Eyes; but I'll come back again if n
one wants me-"
She stole one quick glance at him
from under her downcast lids.
"Do you want me, Mabel? Shall /
come back to your"
No answer came from the parted lips,
but I think he knew she wanted him.
for, leaning over the garden-gate, he
answered her silence by saying, every
we'll, dear, I'll be back in a very little
won't you?"
1t was not very definite, to say the
least of it.
Any other girl would have preferred
a more lucid proposal, but poor little
Mabel had one Of those rare natures
which IRE satisfied to give all and take
almost nothirg-to love prominently,
perfectly, and receive in return a tri-
fling need of affection.
The world doesn't contain a great
many like her, and I, for one, am
heartily glad.
Think the women who hold their
own, and anything else they can get,
are far more preferable; but then earth
and earth's children must be variegated,
and sharp as we'll as sweet.
Con went home that night ecstaticallv
but guiltily happy, and when he reached
home he found a letter awaiting him-a
letter from his mother, the eldest. Mrs.
Creighton, asking, o. I should say de-
handing, his instant return.
Emily is very ILL.," she said, aand
certainly your place should he beside
the lady who in four weeks will become
your wife. In addition to this. I am
afraid that some Interior object causes
your long delay in that out-of-the-way
place. Ihave heard, but totally dis
believe. a rumor OF some girl whose
pretty face has attracted your attentions.
1t hoated upon me with some appear
ance Of varacity- and mioht have from.