Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-22


pany be may talk Of marriage"
II was so obviously said for my con-
ISOLATION that | was exasperated into
aging: You seem to think am IN
teiested in Mr.. Arden's future arrange
ments. There is some great mistake"
Stop. stop, my dear lnterestedY
Why, who else should be? Unless
10, you're not thinking Of throwing the
boy over! God bless my soul IL
will be the ruin Of the lad-the ruin,
tell you I've seen it dozen times.
Don't, my dear, don't! l dare say
you have been annoyed at his not ex-
planning himself, but you see how it
has happened"
IL don't want him to explain him.
self" persisted in an agony Of impa.
thence. ~ don't want to be engaged
to him at ALL"
is il the long waiting you are afraid
of, my dear? | dare say it is trying,
naturally. Well, don't fret, and if the
boy goes on well something may be set
tied"
but don't want anything settled"
| protested, almost crying. "Do let
me tell you how it all arose."
mot now, dear-not now. Sleep
on it before you do anything final. To-
morrow-to-m morrow.
First thing in the morning.
Where?" perseyered.
81 walk to the end Of the Leas every
morning with my early cigar. There's
a nice quiet corner and seats there. Is
half-past s too early! No! Then
come, and we'll have a sensible talk.
All. you young lovers may be glad of
an old fogy's help now and then in your
small difficulties"
But we are not lovers" | was
wrathfully declaring when the agra
waiting old gentleman bowed and left
me. | had plenty Of partners and
dancing for the rest of the evening,
though Joscelyn never came near me
again. 1t came to an end at last, and
! got home and to bed, where | lay toss
ing and trying TO invent the most lucid,
forcible statement of the case that words
could give for the enlightenment of Uncle
Laurie tomorrow, dropping Off to sleep
in the middle Of my most telling SEN
fences to dream Of Joscelyn, who al
ways knew what | was going to say
next and wouldn't tell. Morning came
at last. Joscelyn's flowers, which |
had not had the heart to throw away
after all, greeted ne with their fresh
fragrance from my dressing-table. !
could not resist fastening one creamy
bud in my plain brown coat as |
dressed for the interview. Mother was
safe for another hour, | knew, so !
slipped down stairs softly and out into
the fresh, sunny, salt-smelling morn
ing. had the place to myself, |
thought for moment, till | heard some
footsteps behind overtaking mine. |
hurried; so did they. would not look
up, and felt provoked to see the two
shadows preceding us in such close
companionship. The Generals sturdy
gray figure advanced to meet US, radiant
in the sunshine.
well, Master Jos, who said you
might Gomez"
"If a criminal has any right any
where, it is at his own trial, said
demure voice at my elbow. 81 have
come to plead guilty"
was glad to have him there after
all. lie began at once and told the
whole story of our meeting so conf
cally that the General nearly choked
with laughter, and | began TO see the
fun Of it for the first time. He con-
fessed his dread Of the ChieftainesS
and the straits he had been driven to to
avoid her; and solemnly produced
the one letter | had ever received from
him, which set the dear old boy of
again till the tears rolled down his
cheeks.
But what are we to do?" he in
quired anxiously, in the midst of his
hilarity. "l've gone and told every
body, in strict confidence. But still
they know it,"
Tell them I've broken it Off and
behaved atrociously," implored.
Couldn't do it," Joscelyn declared.
''Such a story would be in horrid bad
taste coming from our side. You may
say so if you like. Only think Of
your mothers feelings if it gets round
to her."
l did think, and was direfully per-
picked.
Just let things Slide" he pleaded.
d" Only be civil when we meet in pub
lie. Only till Saturday"
"Do, my dear" begged the kind
old General; "don't make me look an
old fool. You and Jos can give it up,
or keep it on by letter afterward, just
as you like. You shan't be.compro-
missed"
What could | do? What am to
do? Joscelyn and his uncle have kept
their promises to the letter, but Mrs.
Arden has told my mother that she al
ready loves me as a daughter, and the
Dean has taken to calling me " Ermen-
garde, my dear" Aunt Hesba has
come down and regards me with grim
approval, and Uncle Peter and the Gen"
eral have had long and mysterious
consultation, Of which the latter only
reports that if the General acts as
'andsOme as he promises, he'll find
that others can come down 'andsome
on their side, too"
Joscelyn behaves beautifully. He is
pleasant and quietly attentive, more to
mother than me, in public, and in the
fete-a-tetes to which people persist in
driving us, so tOuchingly penitent and
deferential that cannot succeed in de-
testing him as could wish.
"Only till Saturday," he says now
and then alphabetically.
only till Tomorrow" it is by this
time. If he says that again as he did
Just now, shall break down.
"You have nearly got rid of me,
| Miss Helder. Only few hours more,
and l shall have sailed. Then | sup
pose you'll sit down joyfully and write
your letter of dismissal, to go by the
first mail"
| i'll =, fyVL.. .-o-,k