The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1886-02-04
"Aud that's tue, ma'am,r said

the clock-mender, with sudden ac
cession Of awkward shyness. "But
l wanted TO see yourself. III
wanted to kiss the sweet hand Of
the lady who lie going to marry MIR.
Fortescue Bennett Fortescue."
"ls the man crazyi" thought Iris,
coloring wildly as the old artisan
reverently beut, and pressed bis lips
to the back OF her hand.
"They shink l don't know any
thing about it," faltered the old
man. But human nature is hu-
man nature, and it's proud day for
ould Terence Fortescue, when he
hears that bis son, fipe gentleman
as ever was, is to be married to o
real born lady"
What r. cried Iris. "You-you
are his father 7"
Don't let on to him, place,
ma'am," said tho clock~mender. Its
a, fne spirit he has, and a pride that
J Always knew would work his way.
: Aud father says he, you keep
yourself to yourself. II I'm to be q
gentleman, says he, Il cant be
hsmpered by poor relations And
it was gospel truth, ma'am, don
you see, though Ill not deny it burt
me little at the time, for Id pinch
ed and scrapped sorely to give him
chance For in the old country
we were only hedgers and ditchers
An now sea where me boy is
clerk in a bankers Office at q salary
Of six hundred dollars q year"
Still 1ris listened in mute amaze
msnt.
80 il you pluse, ma'am, not to
mention it to Fortescue," said the
old man. II didn't name to say oil
this when l came 10. l just wanted
to get glimpse at the sweet face OF
the grand lady my con was to marry.
But somehow the latch OF my ton2ue
got loosed and l couldn't help sayin
my say. He'd be fit TO murder INC
entirely, If he knew l had took the
liberty--but after all. ma am, he's
my own son. And blood's thicker
than water, we all know. Thank.v
ma'am, kindly" as Nora brought iu
the cup Of steaming coffee. "The
Lord loves them as is kind the ould
and poor. Aud l shall 90 about my
business now, with an easy heart ~
lie carried the clocks away, still
with the same dropping gray head
slow, uncertain movements-t those
OF man who has been bound down
by toll all his life-and Iris, her
heart full Of conflicting emotions,
hurried to her room.
SO this was the foundation OF Mr..
Fortescue Bennett Fortescues fam.
lily title' in Tyrone-his ruined cas-
tie, the grand old lineage in which
lria had 80 gloried. An ungreatful
SOFA deliberate schemer--a false
liar And Iris Dale sh adhered q,
the fate she bad 80 nearly escaped
the fate OF becoming wife to vii
lain.
The engagement was broken off
" 10 e.~--oip ""-~-..~r ~ .Ia 49,
fact. Mis- Dale returned the dia.
mond ring to Mr.. Fortescue Rem.
nett Portescue with brief note. il
which she stated that she had
changed her mind, and had deter
mined, henceforward, to lead q sin.
gle life. For she would not bstray
the poor old clock-mender, and &C
she preferred leaving herself expos
ed to the charge of csprice--coquer
ry-whatever Mr.. Fortescue chos.
to call it.
Mr.. Fortoecue Benuett Fortessu,
was furiously angry of course, ant
consulted a lawyer to know whethe
an action for breach Of promis
would not lie. But the lawyer ad
vised him not to try the experiment
80 the disappointed swain pockete'
his wroth and looked out for anoth
er heiress.
Mrs. North rejoiced greatly.
"My dearest Iris said she, 4 wa
quite convinced that you would no
be happy with that man. And ! d
believe you have done wisely 10 re
jecting him. But l don't under
stand why you broke it Of so sud
denly.
"Ob," said Iris, laughing. 81 o.
ways was creature OF impulse, 20
know, Nortby."