The Wilmingtonian., 1885-06-06
THE STORY TELLER.
Not SO Bad, After All.

1uea now ne WAS 10 Beb Oub Vi lt'
Last Winter, in flush of confusion, he
had rewarded Emily Cummings seraphic
smiles by an offer of his hand and fortune,
and she, having been for months an earnest
competitor, accepted the prize with
show of tenderness that was perfect in its
way.
She was belle and beauty, but to give
the poor fellow his due, he was not
very much in love himself, aud had,
moreover, faint, fieetipg notion that his
e100, 900 had more to do with her ac-
ceptance than any personal merit Of his
own.
However, the marriage, in all human
probability, would have taken place, and
my little love story been nipped in the
bud, had it not been for the grim hand
of fate, which beckoned tho unfortu-
nate Con to 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 fixed principle of his to attach
himself to the prettiest girl in the room, he
in the present case adhered to his purpose
with a rlgidity which would have been ex-
tremely amusing only that it SO soon be-
came serious, for after two or three meetings
had followed the rustic soiree Master Con
was fairly infatuated, and innocent Mabel
began to think that her ideal helo had step
ped out frem his "castle in the air" and
taken earthly lodgings forever and ever
more.
For week the dream was bright and un-
disturbed; then Con began to feel uncom-
Portable
With the prospect of being married to one
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 loop
hole. So by way of inspiration, perhaps,
he fingered on at Mabel's side, and she,
poor child, was happy in the uncer-
tainty.
OF course people talked, as they always
do talk, and some, more daring than the
rest, encompassed Con, and looked unut-
terrible things as they spoke of Mabel's par
entage.
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 to
who was her father-well, we don't know,
and the Bairs take care to give us no infoi-
nation"
Then Con was awful angry.
He was just young enough to be Quixotic,
and, of course, he wanted to marry her,
shame or no shame: to take his little star
faced angel to himself forevermore-to
transplant his little field daisy to more lux
uriant soil.
He went up to see her with a letter from
Emily Cummings in his pocket and an ON
inous, guilty feeling about his
heart.
"By jove! but this is a cheering sorape.
Those Cummings will be after me like a
pack of vultures; but all | know is that I'll
never have wife ifI don't get Mabel Cor.
don."
So, with trembling determination, he
went into her presence-pretty Mabel, with
ner white face upraised and her wondrous
hair falling around her like glorious golden
cloud.
81 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 thar
ever.
''As if could stay away" he answered,
half reproachfully; then added, pathetcally
''at least, until i have to, for am going
away in day or two"
suppose Mabel had the natural coquet.
ishness of her sex, but at chat particular
moment it deserted her entirely.
Her eyes wandered down the road, anC
she leaned more heavily than ever against
the garden gate.
ooh, are you?" very faint and tlemu!ous
she inulmured.
"Yes; but I'll come back again if any on
wants me-"
She stole one quick glance at him iron
under her downcast lids.
"Do you want me, Mabel? Shall l com
back to you?"
No answer came from the parted lips, bu
InlnR ne hneW sne WanUeu MIN, lOl
leaning over the garden gate, he answer
ed her silence by saying:
every we'll, dear, I'll be back in yer
little while, ond you'll be waiting for me
won't you?"
1t was not very definite, to say the leas
of it.
Any other girl would have preferred
more lucid proposal, but poor little Mabt
had one of those rare natures which are sal
isfied to give all and almost take nothing
to love prominently, perfectly an
receivs in return tri1ing need of affeC
tion.
The world doesn't contain a great man
like her, and l, for one, am hearth
glad.
think the women who hold their owl
and anything else they can get, are far MOI
preferable; but then earth and earth's chile
rem must be variegated, sharp as well {
sweet
Con went home that night ecstaticall.
but guiltily, happy, and when he reache
home he found letter awaiting him-a lie
ter from his mother, the elder Mrs. Creigl
ton, asking, or | should say demanding h
instant retnrn.
emily is very ill.," she said, "and ce
tainly your place should be beside the lac
who in four weeks will become yol