The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-08
from tho Chicago LedgerI
Marion De|Ollle:,
THE WORTH OF WIT.
By j. W. WATSON,
Author Of :" Hold Fast and Ketcham," I" Bank.
ers and Brokers'" Etc, Etc
By j. W. WATSON,
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX
THE MYSTERY OF sEPTIAfus.
J ITS all your own fault" said Jimmy
Marks to Fits, half an hour afterward
when the two were buried in the recesses
OF one Of the corners at Delmonice's, dis
cussing what had just occurred. Il canl
understand your insane dislike to Stanley
He phys attention to your sister. but, so fal
hs can SEQ, and / see them in different
places, there's nothing very pointed in it
and if there was it wouldn't be very ba6
thing for her. Stanley'sa rising man. He's
making ten thousand year, and will dc
better in year or two"
The fact was that Jimmy Marks, having
given up all hopes of Clarry, his last in
vitation, through Fitz, to go to the theatel
having been so positively and pointedly re-
| Jected, stood in an excellent position to
speak disinerestedly of her. 1t was OF
very little interest to him who won her, so
long as he could not. He was aspiring in
his several ideas, and had determined, as
Fltz said, to marry rich, but he did not pro
claim it as positively as did Fitz He GER
tainly had more right to expect such con-
summation to his social career than Fitz,
for, though incli ing to the dudish style,
he was not utterly lost in it. He did have
some legs, and some sense. He did not
drawl, or pervert the English language, and
he did earn his own living, being an excel
lent specimen of the drummer, though he
never could be brought to admit that as his
vocation, but rather seemed to desire to
lead the public mind into the belief that he
was silent partner in the house of Dunn,
Vlvlmus Il Cc,, the establishment he tray
eled for,
Nor did Jimmy Marks ever intrude upon
The same public that he was of the Hebrew
persuasion, though it must be said that he
never denied the soft impeachment. Strange
to say, he was not favorite among women,
though why it was hard to tell, for he was
handsome, an immaculate dresser, and an
excellent talker, and yet he never lost faith
In himself when he was among them. The
right one would come along some time, he
seemed to think, and that settled it. Fitz
had been in the habit for long time of
going to Jimmy Marks for advice and con-
sultation, and sometimes for something
more substantial, when he was in a pe-
culiarly tight spot, and now he was con-
suting with him what he should do about
Stanley, for Jimmy had come in while the
affair was in progress, and witnessed it.
Aw! why-why-he S an awtist," drawled
and stammered Fitz.
And you're fool" blurted out Jimmy.
Nv bat If he is an artist, he is of very fine
family, has property coming to him on the
death of an aunt and altogether, is ire
proachable. In every way, he's your supe-
rior, and mine, too"
Fitz might have said that this fact was
exactly what he did not like, but he did
not; he only mumbled something about a
sWe led nose, and not liking the man who
did it.
WELL" said Jimmy, in a tone of disgust,
what are you going to do about tonight? I
told Mrs Dufrom to mention to Miss De-
| lorme that you would call to- night, and re-
ceived her answer that she would be happy
to see you. Now, Fitz. I can't be trit1ed
with, and you must go, swelled nose or
not. All | can do for you will be to make
an apology, and say that you have taken a
heavy cod"
Fitz did not like this very much, and
suggested the idea of writing note and
pleading a sudden departure from the city,
but Jimmy would not stand it, and recon-
mended, instead, applications of warm
water and quiet. The latter Fitz took in a
quiet game of faro, at his usual place,
where he deposited fifty more in bank, and
then went away to his usual haunts, where,
in answer to inquiries from his fellow
dudes, he pleaded the severe cold dodge
suggested by Jimmy Marks, and was be-
lieved, for not one of them would have
credited that Fitz could have got it in a
9ght.
Stanley went to the opening of the Sketch
Club, where he found Clarry. beaming with
beauty and innocence, and very soon he
told her all about her fathers purchase of
his picture. and all the circumstances con-
uected with it.
That's just like pa," said Clara, laugh
ing; he dearly loves a mystery, especially
If it is something that sets ma wondering.
Ma does not care for pictures, anG, though
she does not absolutely oppose his scheme
about the gallery, yet she has told me that
she thinks the money would be better laid
out in diamonds. Yesterday he arrived
home a little late, with face full of smiles,
and told us that he had passed such de-
| lightful afternoon in the studio of paint
er, where he had found that picture of
De Soto Discovering the Mississippi,
which he has talked about so much, and
bought it. Then he went off into rhapso-
dies about the honesty of the painter, who
might have charged double for his picture,
but would not take any more than the
original price asked. Then he talked about
the lady he met there, who, according to
his account, was the most lovely creature,
except ma he had ever seen, and who, in
stead of taking a thousand dollars for her
portrait, which he admired gave it to him.
! All this did not seem TO interest ma, and
| she declined the invitation to join us when
pa told of the appointment for this after
noon to see the picture at the artists studio.
She's very much absorbed, just now, in
assisting Mrs. Clapptrapp in her prepara-
tons for the great ball she is to give on
| Tuesday next
And he never told you the name of the
artist he bought the picture of, OF that OF
the lady?"
4Oh, no! that's what pa likes-a little
mystery. He says that ma likes it in nov-
els, and why not in real life. He kept the
names as the mystery part and, as I did
not know you as the painter of the DE Soto
picture, did not recognize it. Now that |
| know it was yoU, of course know who
the lady is. Pa, in confidential talk with
me afterward, proposed to present Miss
Delorme, through me, with pair of dia-
mond earrings. and has commissioned me
to hunt them up. He says that they must
be the handsomest pair that can be found
In New 1ork CHy.
"ihope you will persuade your father on
| of the idea, Miss Clara. know it will no
please Maria, and though she might not
under the circumstances, refuse them. i
will be painful for her to accept She al
ways has been backward in accepting gifts
even from me, and has. as have told you
asserted an independence that has, often
times, annoyed me; but which, now, sub
NIT to as inevitable. You can place it il
any way you please before your father t,
prevent the offering; for am sure that
speak only Maria's wishes in the matter
Tell him. if You think it will help chang
his mind, that ] shall bank his check TO
her marriage portion. though, as the old
fashioned people say, believe Marie ha
been fore-handed, and has very nice littl
4 he shnnid