The Wilmingtonian., 1885-06-06

as his most invcterate enemy could have
desred.
"What coniound, fool l am |" he
solloquized, as he walked along Piccadilly
in the most dolorous frame of mind. 81
haven't written a word to poor little Mabel,
and these people are determined to get me
married. I'd better break my bonds before
it is too late"
''Mr. Creighton, would life to speak
with You for moment, please"
"Certainly, Mr.. Gray What's the
business now ?"
"Rather an unpleasant busines, am sorry
to say, sir. But will you step into my office,
where l can fully explain ?'
So Con followed him in and waited to
hear what the unpleasant business might
be.
"You are aware, sir, that your late uncle,
from whom you inherit your fortune died
intestate-or, 1 should say, was thought to
have died ntestate-whereupon you were
his heir-at-law A few days since, how
ever, we made what to you must prove
painful discovery-viz,, the cert ficate of his
marriage and half-drawn up will, in which
he bequeathed all he possessed to his I'M
acknowledge wife, or her childlen, should
she have any, After dilgent inquiries we
have discovered that the late Mrs. Creighton
died in giving birth to child, but she
is still living, so, my dear Mr.. Creighton,
with deep sorrow 1 must inform yov that
you are."-
''Penniless y flushed Con, g'o,mly but
with deliberaton.
'Not quite, Mr.. Creighton. Your father
left you 60, 900, which is something, though
considerably less than 100000. Your
cousin arrived to-day, | believe"
His meditations brought him in front of
the Cummings residence.
"Well, after all, there's one comfort"
he said, returning to his soliloquy; EMILY
Cummings won't want me now, so l fancy
I'll give her warning. Mabel will take me,
rich OF poor and hope Pm not such
miserable coward as to shirk the labor of
man."
Five minutes after he was sitting in the
daintiest of boudoirs, Emily before him in
the most recherche of French morning
robes, fragrant with the the subtlest of
French perfumes.
"You look dreadfully tired, Con. Have
you been walking very far?" She asked, a
sweet sympathy perceptible in Ter voice,
and tender anxiety in her luminous eyes.
''Not particularly far, but [ had bad
news; and, as general thing, that is more
harrassing than the mere effort of walking"
Con had a way of plunging right into
difficulties, and now he wanted to be over
with it.
"Why, what news have you had ? Nothing
very serious, hope"
"Oh, not at all Only that I've lost
every penny of the fortune that my uncle
left me -
'Lost, eh ? Oh, no How ?'
ooh, in romantic way, of course. 1t
seems that my supposed bachelor uncle was
in reality Benedict, but as his marriage
was a secret one, and the girl was not of
his own social status, nobody knew anything
about it, so he told her the ceremony was
false, and left her. She died heartbroken,
but left an heir or heircss, | don't know
which. This child takes the silver spoon
out of my mouth, and l, as you see, lose
100000 and ruined. Plain and lucid, isn't
it ?"
But Emily didn't answer; she was griev.
ing over her fallen castles, musing over hei
unpaid bills, and wondering whether heI
father could stand this last stroke of misfol
tune.
"of course, Emily, came to you at once
to release you, if you wished, from our
engagement. Reared as you have been,
could not expect you to marry poor man
and, indeed, | fear that in my changed
circumstances, would be no fit husband
for you."
Then Emily Cummings showed that, gin
as she was, she was equal to the occasion.
Standing fully before him, where the light
fell directly on the beautiful, naughty fac'
and slender, graceful figure, she assisted
him out of his difficulty with grace chat
was almost superb.
can readily perceive, Mr.. Creighton
that under existing circumstances 1t would
be better that in the future we shall NEE
only as friends, indeed as l consult th,
inmost workings of my heart 1 am pursua
ded that wrongly interpreted my feeling
, towards you; in fine that l had mistakel
sentiment for affection.
She paused for breath, and then, as Coz
stood in dsgusted silence, she went Oh
''And now, Mr.. Creighton, rather tina
prolong our unpleasant interview, had W
better not say goodbye P'
So for the last time, Con went down th
marble stairs, saying to himself, "At an
rate, still have two thousand and Mabel.
"Ah, here you are again The yer,
, fellow want ! Your cousin has arrive
/ and is anxious to see you, Could you go t
her at once She is with some relative
at the Grand Hotel.' !"
4 Con turned on him with sulby expires
sion wreathing his handsome face.
"Look here, Clay, isn't it enough fC
:, a fellow to be left penniless, without maxim
> him play lackey to the girl that's got HI
money? As you're so desperately intereste
you can tell my cousin that am worry muc
a engaged to-day, and can't go to her.
she washes to see my mother p resume 81
g can find her."
Arthur Gray whistled as he turned h
back upon his late client.
4 He was young man, and still unmarried
50 it may be presu med he didn't feel vel
badly as he returued to pay his devoirs I
;s the heress-