The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-22
SO. LONDONDERRY, VT
CHAPTER XII.
AIL's WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

W Tue uTllSb hS uo ulbCOuTSeu VI
pictures; and horrible, still more horrible,
Jimmy Marks had told him that the same
hated individual visited Miss Delormt at
her home; he had seen him there. Wild
with jealousy and passion, Fitz had rushed
to Marion and told her what he Bnew. She
received it coolly.
Its all true," she said, quietly. Mr..
Stanley is very dear to me. have known
him since was little child.
"And you love him?" said Fitz forgt-
ting in his madness to say aw, or lisp.
Every much, answered Marion.
And you're going to marry him2' gaspd
Fitz.
"Oh, no." laughed Marion. I'VE DOM
always. marry those We love. There may
be insuperable objections"
But you said you loved me, " cried Fitz,
eagerly.
$50 do, Fitz," and for the first time
Marion caught Fitz's face between her
hands and kissed him.
"And-and-you'n elope with me?'
screamed Fitz in an agony Of delight, for.
getting all about his rascalty.
Certainly; and become your wife when
you please"
"And-and-keep it secret till can fix
things!"
II or years, If you like.
What more could he want OR ask? It
should be done Immediately; and, to do it,
he rushed instantly after Jimmy Marks.
But there had been new phase opened
in the matter on the part of Jimmy Marks.
He felt that the iron was hot, and now was
the time to strike, if ever. He had sud-
denly become aware that his honor as q
gentleman was about to BIZ compromised,
and he must defend himself. How diff
cult it is to awaken some people to the
situation. He must not allow little Cobbs
to be sacrificed to Fitz, so long as he could
extend protecting arm over her little per-
son, and so one day-there was a hundred
thousand dollars and more at stake-he
kissed her, tod her how he loved ner, and
that she was the only lovabe woman in the
world. She cried on his shoulder, and
sobbed out:
"Oh, yes; but I'm engaged, you know"
To a wretch" he said, whom 'twere
base tlattery to call man."
"But-but the is your friend"
"No longer so. Give me little time,
dearest, and | will prove him fraud. He
is false to you, and at this very moment
proposes eloping with another"
"Ow!" shrieked little Miss Cobbs. "The
nasty fellow! l only consented to marry
him because he pressed and bothered me
SO couldn't get rid of him."
"The very ring you've got on is false. I
was with him when he bought it and gave
seven dollars for it,"
This settled the matter with Lavinia. She
tore off the ring, flung it across the room,
and was only pacified on Marks promising
that he would bring her real diamond
larger, better, brighter, and costlier than
that if it had been real. Then he was to
prove Fitz's falsity. and, SO doing, Lavinia
Cobbs was to become Mrs. Marks, until
which time the whole affair was to be kept
secret, however great the effort, even from
Fitz himself if he should call.
From this interview Jimmy went to the
eab aas Waiting an snffaq fSf hfam from Ftz yao
Its all awwanged. She's agweeable.
Will go tonight, if you're weady," ex-
claimed Fitz, eagerly, and then went and
told Jimmy all about his interview with
Marion and her consent to elope.
Nothing but mawwidge will suit her,
said Fitz. with q spasmodic grin. Its q
pity, but it's got to be done. When can we
iix it?"
Marks thought it could be done the next
evening, as far as he was concerned, and
so it was arranged that the next evening at
eight o'clock they should meet at the club,
take carriage from there, and Jimmy was
to have the whole thing fixed, bogus min
lister and all. Then Marks went home and
demanded immediate audience of Mrs.
Dufrom, to whom he disclosed the whole
plot
What wonderful girl Miss Delorme is,
Mr.. Marks. She told me all this not an
hour ago."
How did she know it?" questioned
Jimmy, astounded.
you'll have to ask herself that" said
the landlady, in daze.
Marks begged an interview with Miss
Delorme, and repeated the story. She
laughed and said, "Poor Fitz!"
How did you know it," Miss Delorme,
queried Marks.
Il guessed it, Mr.. Marks" answered
Marion.
"What will you do?" asked Jimmy, Gag
erly
"Elope with him." she replied. "Wil)
| you do me a service, Mr.. Marks?"
With all my heart and SOUL Miss De,
lorme, he said, earnestly.
Then there was five minutes conversa-
| ton, and they parted. In the evening he
and Fitz We're promptly at the door with q
a carriage. Fitz had prepared Marion, and
she was ready, and so was Mrs. Dufrom.
"Aw," said Fitz, taken little abaek at
the appearance of that lady. Il didn't
| know"
"You certainly didn't want me to go
without friend, my dear Fitz." said Ma
rion. "You have Mr.. Marks.
Jimmy said that was all right, and the
party drove away. Fitz was too much ex-
cited to take much notice. He only whis-
pered to Marks to know if it was all right
when the carriage stopped. A floating
idea seemed to cross his mind that the
house and all its surroundings had an air
of high responsibility, and the bogus min
lister certainly looked like gentleman. In
ten minutes the ceremony was over, and
the minister called for witnesses to the
certificate, which were already filled out,
and Law upon the table, when out from the
back parlor, where Fitz thought ho heard
somebody moving, stepped Stanley and
Clarry.
Ell! aw!" CALCULATED Fitz. "Wha-
what's this? Who's this?"
"Your sister and my brother, said Ma
rion, smiling Percy, this is my hus-
band"
Stanley took Fitz's hand and shook i,
before he could resist. He only stared
about him and stammered:
rs this veal minister"
Hush. Fitz," whispered Marion, there's
nobody knows it but me. You are my
husband This is the Rev. Mr.. Whitaker
who married my mother to my father
Stanley is my half brother, my mother
child knew your plans, and, for you
sake, Fitz, have defeated them. lam you
legal wife, and will keep my promise t
you, and conceal our marriage as long a
you wish.
"Oh, don't want it concealed an hour,
said Fitz, softly. Il love you, Marion
and don't care who knows it." and b,
kissed her.
And love you, Fitz, and / don't car
who knows it. You're going to be man
Fitz, for nv sake, and she kissed him.
While this was going on Stanley ant
Clary had signed the certificate and wer,
talking earnestly in the back parlor. Thel
they came forward and Stanley said:
Marion. this dear little girl and / hav
concluded that you are right 1t is no us
to battle against circumstances, and so W
are going to be married tonight and lie
tomorrow look out for itself" Then Ma
rion sprang to Clarry and embraced he
passionately. exclaiming "Oh. you darling