Milford chronicle., 1885-01-09

Emily 7ery i'll, she said, "ant
certainly you, ,..s,.a lSca should be beside til,
lady who in four weeks will lheec,ag,, !,
your wife. In addition to this / am
afraid that some Interior object causes
your long delay in that out of-the- way
place. have heard, but totally disbe-
lieYe, rumor of some girl whose pretty
face has attracted your attentions. II
hoated upon me with some appearance
OF veracity, and might have troubled me
had l not known that could trust your
dignity as being member of the Creigh-
ton family and your honor as being en-
gagged to Emily Cumminga."
Con crushed the letter in his hand ana
tried to stare circumstances in the face
but circumstances batfled him, and in a
state of semi. torture he retired TO bis
dream-disturbed couch.
The next morning he returned to
London, leaving little note for Mabel
in explanation of his absence
Emily Cummings was much better
when he reached the city.
Mrs. Creighton greeted him with dig
nified pleasure, and poor Con felt as ut
terly mean and dishonorable as his most
inveterate enemy could have desired.
For week he wandered around in a
very uncomfortable state and then he
began to make sudden resolutions.
''What confounded fool I am he
soliloquized, as he walked along Picca-
dllly in the most dolorous frame of mind
II haven't written a word to poor little
Mabel, and these people are determined
to get me married. I'd break my bonds
before it's too late."
''Mr Creighton, I would like TO sneak
p. sga you a moment. -sase."
Con turned with a start and epeoun.
tered his lawyer, Arthur GRAY. of the
firm OF Gray & Myers, solicitors.
Certainly, Mr.. Gray. What's the |
business now?"
Rather an unpleasant business. I am
sorry to say, Sir. But will you step in
my office, where / can fully explain -
| 80 Con followed him in. and waited 10
hear what the unpleasant business might
! be.
''You are aware, sir, that your late
uncle, from whom you inherit your for
tune, died intestate-Or, I should say,
was thought to have died intestate-
whereupon you we're his heir.at-laW. A
few days since, however, we maue what
TO You must prove painful discovery
VIZ, the certificate of his marriage and
a half-drawn-up will, in which he be-
queathed all he possessed to his unac-
knOWledged wife, or her children, should
she have any. After diligent inquiries
we have. discovered that the late Mrs.
Creighton died in giving birth to a
child, but the child is still living. So.
my dear Mr. Creighton with deep sor-
row, must inform you thot you are
now"
"Pennilessl" finished Con, gloomily.
but with deHberation. /
mot quite, Mr.. Creighton. Your
father left you 50, 600, which is some
thing, though considerably less than B
el00, ,000 Your cousin arrived to-day.
believe a
Poor Con He didn't care very much
if she never arrivedi but he managed to
get into the street without disgraceiully e
his feelings, and then, by way d
Of keeping up the illusion, tried to a
whistle. Il
But the effort was miserable failure, G
for, after all, it's no joke to find oneself
preoipitated from the pinnacle 81
Of milliOnaireship c
"Well, after all, there's one comfort" h
he said, returning to his soliloquy; d'
Emily Cummings won't want me now, g
so fancy I'll give her warning. Mabel a
will take me, rich or poor, and I hope 81
IN not such miserable coward as to
ihirk the labor of a man" d
His meditations brought him up in Ia
ront of the Cummings residence. tu
Five minutes after he was sitting in ~
he daintiest Of boudoirs, Emily before IN
i'm in the most recherche of French
morning robes, fragrant with the sub N
lest of French perfumes.
"You look dreadfully tired, Con. l.
lave You been walking very far ?" she til
sked, a sweet sympathy perceptible in Iii
er voice, and tender anxiety in her it.
Iminous eyes. be
"NOt particularly far, but have had tn
ad news; and, as a general thing. that pl,
more harrassing than the mere effort
walking" he
Con bad way of plunging right into fac
and now he wanted to be
YER with it. ha
why, what news have you had? at
othing very serious, l hope" for
ooh, not at all Only that I've lost gr,
'ery penny of the fortune my uncle VIII
&c me p VIII
He now noticed with great satisfaction VIII
iat her fair face grew very white, and
lat she instantly put on an indesc ib- yol
be expression Of withdrawal. wa
''LOst, eh? Oh, no How p
"Oh, In romantic way, Of course. ess
seems that my supposed bachelor nln
lcle was in reality Benedict, but as
8 marriage was a secret one, and the mo
RI was not of his own social status, not
body knew anything about it. so he we
d her the ceremony was false, and left a
r. She died heartbroken, but left an dro
If or heiress, don't know which. he
his child takes the silver spoon out of vel
? mouth, and I, as you see, lose 91OO.- for
0 and am ruined. Plain and lucid,
It it?" pai'
But Emily didn't answer; she was rlae
eSiug over her fallen castles, musing win
er her unpaid bills, and wondering ton
ether her father could stand this last old
oke of misfortune. her
'Of course, Emily, came to yon at girl
se to release you, if you wished. from Con
{ engagement. Reared as you have A
sn, l could not expect you t. marry a and
II man; and, indeed, fear that; in Nal
charged circumstances, I would be in Il
fit husband for you" daul
Then Emily Cummings showed that,
as she was, she was equal to the oc-
ion.
jtanding fully before him, where the 81
At fell directly ON the belnhful retn
lghty face and slender, graceful fig Tie,
, she assisted him out Of his difficulty oaiI,
IA an ease and grace that was almost e N
erb. bic
! can readily perceive, Mr.. Creigh- cost eos
that it is your wish that our eu- dres
ement should end, and knowing this. etf;f
loud be the last one to ol ,se your Rear
nations. As regards yonr loss. 1 beoa
lpathize with you sincerely, but l knee
moi fall TO rejoice that it happened assn,
'ie "Woke 70 the late OF an unloved "Hu
I, raph
nc paused ior breath, and then, as bewi
slooa 10 shamefnl and, It must be forey
nsspd slightly disoustpd eilarca She rIJts