The Washington critic., 1886-07-20
LOVE DEARER THAN GOLD.

though Miss Margaret has told me she
is engaged to Mr.. Liscomb's ward, you
do not recognize the matter as anything
more serious than boy .and-girl folly.
! own IL has been allowed to go on
longer than one might think judicious,
since the fellow Is q begger, and you
had other plans for your daughter,
madam"
Mrs. Liscomb's still, fair face flushed
hotly, and she lifted her head with the
intention of giving her insolcnt com.
panion glance under which he would
nearly wither, but the first object that
caught her eye was q mammoth soil.
taire ON the fat hand he was carassing
his mustache with.
In an instant she remembered that
he was the catch of the season-the
purchaser of that great mansion on the
hill, where he had told her he wished
TO install pretty Margaret as mistress.
"Once he is my son-in-law | will
teach him better than to presume to
criticisc me-" she told herself.
Then blondly to him:
"Victor is not quite beggar, Mr..
Conway, but, as you say, the parents
of girl like my Margaret should look
for her to do better than engage her
self to young physician without any.
thing in the way Of practice. Yes, you
have my countenance, my approval, of
your suit, Mr.. Conway. know my
daughter will not long remain insensi-
bic TO the honor you pay her; but she
is young and wayward. Do not greatly
mind II she sometimes seems to prefer
Victor. 1t is girlish folly, which, re.
gret to say, my husband has not
frowned on. Now, think you might
look her up and ask for few dances
My Maggie's card Is always filled very
early-shc is such favorite."
The great man lifted his ponderous
frame and went away. Mrs. Liscomb
shivered with aversion as she watched
him.
1T would be almost sin to link my
sweet child's life to that of this brutel"
she murmured; "but-over a millionl
And we are only struggling along, try.
ing to manage to keep in good society
with our pittance. will talk to Mar.
garet. She will understand she must
accept him. She really must"
Standing among the oleanders and
palm trees and dropping blooms Of the
conservatory, looking very much like
lovers, not more than five feet away
from Mrs. Liscomb and the millionaire,
but hidden from them by turn in the
walk, two young people, who had
been interrupted In the erection of q
magnificent castle in Spain, and who
had heard every word, without any ap-
| parent feeling of compunction for caves
| dropping, now faced each other in per-
feet silence, looking into each other s
eyes long and searchingly.
AT last the young man held out his
hands, with tender smile; and the
| girl laid hers in them, with touching
gesture of childlike trust; then, hand
in hand, they went down the avenue of
subdued light, talking low and
earnestly.
An hour later Margaret went up to her
mother leaning on the arm of Mr.. Con
way, looking as sweet and fresh as a
flower. The fat millionaire was wear.
ing very complacent expression of
countenance.
Your daughter has done me the
honor to promise me her hand, ma
DAM" said he, pompously.
81 am so delighted" Mrs. Liscomb
said, but not in tones Of rapture.
For, seeing her lovely child beside
the coarse, middle aged and pompous
wooer. it struck her again that it would
be sin to bind her sweet life to his.
Margaret accepted her mothers con-
gratulatory kiss without any seeming
rapture.
ii told Mr.. Conway that I would
allow you to answer him, mamma,
she said, quietly. II knew You would
think well before you arranged my fu.
ture-would promise nothing that you
fancied would give me an hour of un
happiness"
You quite understand, of course
all concerning Victor?" Margaret
looked with scornful eyes at the elderly
lover. "You know that Iwould marry
him but that my parents forbid mt
tor
Il do not mind youthful follies-car
remember few of my own" smiled
the millionaire, indulgently "Ant
now all is settled, and have only t
call and arrange the settlements will
Mr.. Liscomb. They shall be generous
my dear Miss Margaret.
But Margaret was smilingly allowing
very tall and fair young man to leat
her toward the dancers aud her part
ing smile struck her mother as havin,
more malice than mirth in it.
II am disappointed in Margare
be glad she is willing to marry 70
riches, but somehow it seems horrib
TO me, and poor Victor-how will Ii
take it, wonder"
He took 1t with remarkable sang
froid when told of 1t next day; made
wry face, then laughed, and congrat
ulated his late lady-love with seeming
hcartiness.
Mrs. Liscomb didn't know whethe
TO be most astonished or relieved.
Margaret allowed her mother TO ar
range everything; If consulted on an,
point her reply was invariably: go t,
mamma" and mamma settled every
thing, even TO the wedding day, whicl
was TO be in midsummer.
Mr.. Conway was generous lover, a
he frequently reminded her. He loade
her with gifts-solid gifts of golde
ornament or cleaning stone. She &C
ccpted them, but never wore trinke
of the many he lavished on her.
Once he asked her why this was SC
and she answered.
when | am wife l will wear tn
Jewels my husband provides for me
Such gems as you send me are inappro
pirate for so young girl.
The wedding day came, sunlit an
warm, and in the morning Victor au
Maggie went for long ride, much I
Mrs. Liscomb's annoyance, who dt
clared ii was disgraceful for bride t
90 cantering over the country with II
old lover only couple of hours befor
she was to take the VOWS Of wifehooC
The morning grew to MONDAY, an
still the bride had not returned, A