Weekly commercial herald., 1885-10-30
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DISCOVERY

THE DIsooV
At nine o'clock that evening Mr.. Emblem
looked up from the chess board.
"Where is Mr.. Arbuthnot this evening,
my dearT' he asked
1t would be significant in some houses when
young man is expected every evening. Iris
blushcd, and said that perhaps he was not
coming But he was, and his step was on
the stair as she spoke.
'You are late, Mr.. Arbuthnot," said Mr..
Emblem reproachfully; ''you are late, sir,
and somehow we get no music now until you
come. Play us something, Iris. 1t is my
move Lala-"
Iris opened the piano and Arnold sat down
beside her, and their eyes met There was
in each the consciousness of what had passed.
II shall speak to him tonight, IRIS Ar
mold whispered. 81 have already writt,D TO
my cousin Do not be hurt if she does NJ
call upon you"
'Nothing of that sort will hurt me-" Iris
said, being ignorant of social ways and
without the least ambition to rise in the
world. "If your cousin does not call upon
me shall not be disappointed. Why should
she want to know mel But am sorry, Ar
mold, that she is angry with you"
Lala Roy just then found himself in pres
ence of most beautiful problem-white to
move and checkmate in three moves. Mr..
Emblem found the meshes of fate closing
round him earlier than usual. and both bent
their heads closely over the table
''Checkmatel" said Lala Roy. "My friend
you have played badly this evening""
~ have played badly" Mr.. Emblem re-
ta1 e. h.
portant day for Iris and for myself. A day,
Iris, that l have been looking forward to for
eighteen years, ever since got your fathers
last letter, written upon his deathbed. 1t
seems long time, but like lifetime" said
the old man Of seventy five, sit is as nothing
when it is gone. Eighteen years. and you
were little thing Of three, child.n
"What is going to happen to me, grand.
father. except that shall be twenty-oneg'
"We shall see tomorrow Patience, my
dear-patience."
He spread out his hands and laughed.
What was going to happen to himself was a
small thing compared with the restoration
of Iris to her own. eaf
"Mr. Emblem - said Arnold ~ also have
something of Importance to say"
You, too, Mr. Arbuthnot9 Cannot
yours wait also until tomorrow
mo; it is too important 1t cannot wait
an hour"
"Well, sir"-Mr. Emblem pushed up his
spectacles and leaned back in his chair
"well, Mr.. Arbuthnot let us have it."
II think you may guess what have to
say, Mr.. Emblem. l am sure that Lala
Roy has already guessed it."
The Philosopher inclined his head in
assent.
'It is that have this afternoon asked Iris
to marry me, Mr.. Emblem. And she has
consented"
"HaVe you consented, Iris, my dearg"
said her grandfather.
She placed her hand in Arnold's for reply.
"Do you think you know him well enough,
my dearg' Mr.. Emblem asked gravely look
ing at her lover. Marriage is o serious
thing; it is a partnership for life. Children,
think well before you venture on the happi.
ness or ruin of your whole lives And you
are so'young. What pity-what thou
sand pities that people were ordained
to marry at seventy or sop
''We have thought we'll" said Arnold
"Iris has faith in me-
"Then, young man, / have nothing tC
say. Iris will marry to please herself, and