Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-12-12

Ecusss, and the neishborhcod Is not fashion
aba
NJ. Retainer looked rather amused he
/ lea1ed back in his chair moment and re-
! garcied Augustus through his speetacies as
/ though impressed by his sh-ewdnsss An
I g'lStus did not bear the scrutiny very well,
/ Tor reasons that may b imagined
When you are oder, Mr.. Nav, you viii
learn that it Is net always safe TO Judge by
! Appearances he sad, with smile
Then you think, sir
DO not alarm yourself interrupted Mr..
Retainer, turning impatisntly to his work
M Tape explained 70 me the circum-
stances Of the ease. It Is an right"
Mr.. Retainer dismissed Augustus with
nod as be finished speaking. and the enter
urising student left the room with his doubts
completely SET &C rest It seemed that Mr.
Retainer had private reasons for knowing
that the viii was trustworthy, and he was
not a man given 20 jesting. nor to speaking
without proper means Of knowledge Au-
gIstus therefore, resolved upon the spot TO
obtain an Introduction 70 Mr.. John Smith
without q moments delay.
This did not prove more difficult than he
had anticipated; IN fact, the details Of his
conquest over the susceptible heart OF Miss
Arsbella Smith are too commonplace to
need describing. Suffice il 70 say that Au-
g1stus' fascinating manner, his fashionable
attire, and ais performances upon the Ger
man flute combined 70 render him rresist-
ible.
The Smiths turned out to be q respectable
family, without the least prstention to gen
I'll ". Il was evident that Augustus was
I rha aeh 20 ant havr
had ever been acquainted with, and their
qualification at his polite attentions was IN
disguised No doubt the fact that he very
much exaggerated the amount OF his small
fortune assisted 70 facilitate his eourtship.
Old Mr. Smith, from the outset seemed con-
tent with the prospect Of securing him for
son-in-law; and when Augustus, after q
comparatively short acquaintance, avowed
his passion for Miss Arabella Smith, her
father gave his consent 70 the engagement
without hesitation
Augustus was naturally elated By the Sue
cess, though the naive vulgarity Of Miss
Arabella rather distressed him But she
seemed q good honest sort Of girI-nOt
beautiful certainly, yet fairly presentable
Compared with the solid fact that she was
an heiress. her trifing defects weighed very
lightly with Augustus The crumpled rose
leaf which disturbed &s happiness was due
10 the ominOus behavior Of rival, Mr..
Theodore Brittlebone, whose attentions,
until Augustus had appeared upon the
scene. seemed 10 have been favorably re-
ceIYed BY Miss Arabella
Nj Theodore Birthstone was a quaint
and gloomy youth, whose avocauon was
something in tine hardware line. Bitter
- - bsaTu
and Augustus. which resulted in Mr.. Brittle
bone beng requested BY old Mr. Smith 20
disContinue his visits when Miss Arabella's
snsagemsnt was announced Mr.. Brittle
bone accordingly withdrew his society, but
be haunted the house ike a shadow He
waylaid Augustus IN the streets, accosting
him with mock politsness, and accusing
him with trifllng with Miss ArabeIla's aztec
lions Occasionally his conduct became
violent and he once actually challenged
Augustus TO fight it out ike man beneath
lamp post
The unruly behavior and persistent perse-
cution began TO prey upon the nerves OF
Augustus, who, IN addition TO being a little
man. was not addicted 70 pugilisn- He was
painfully conscious that he was no match
FOR the beIlicCse Mr. Brittleboue, and be
]
safety. But what worried him even more
was that his rival cast doubts upon the
existencs o. old Mr.. Smiths reputsd wealth
Apparently Mr. Br:ttlebOne. rendered keen
eyed by JEALOUSY, OWNED the real cause Of
Augustus devotion At al events, he never
wearied Of insinuating that be was ac-
| Guaiuted with Mr. John Smi as real cir
/ cumstaaces, in a tone and manner which
l. An
| bore 70 discuss the subject with him.
/ although these DARK hints made him very
/ uneasy. De was quite unable 60 fathom his
/ future father-in-law, who declined 70 De II
\ veigIed into conversation about his affairs.
/ But 1t was evident that this reticencs was
/ constitutional, and was not assumed for the
/ occasion Old Mr.. Smith was habsiualy
/ taciturn and secTe.ive. and in this respect
/ MS conduct Was quite in keeping with
/ misery propensities. Ausustus coRsOled
/ himself with the reflection that none could
! know better tEan himself the true state 4
! tae clse, AMI endeavJred to s;ife his mis-
! givlnss by attrIJuting NJ Brittlebone's
/ !nauendoes 70 envy ami ignorance mingled
! with jealousy.
/ Although Augustus duly announced his
| engaSeuNsnt 20 his friends he G:d not for
/ some 5ime mention it to his feilow-stutents
I AZ Mr.. Ret4ia-r's chambers H. instInc-
/ lively guessed that Nr Retainer would sus-
pecs bow tie event came about, and there
/ fore. % avoid unptsasansness, b. deemed it
/ prutsnc 10 hOld his tongue. But after
I awhile the news leakel out, rs al Il, VS. Will;
/ and VIXEN Ausu,tus was, one morning re-
I quss;eI tO 70 into Mr. ReJainer's room, he
had a pre-enrImens OF what was IN s-ore-
~ A. NJ
I tailspr. very stsfly. y nave sent for You
| 20 ask 4 Il De true, a hear, that you are
I engaged 70 Be mari Iedf
''Yes, sir; 1t IS trua," sad Augustus de-
/ dlatly.
%. cours-. I have nothing whatever to
10 With T1u- Drivate affair resumed IL.
I Rsta .ner. but l. has occurred TO ne that
may be. ia a measure innocenly response
I bic for what has taken place.
Il don't understand, said Augustus, red
dening.
The young lady is a Miss Smith, am
I told-the daughter Of Mr.. John Smith, OF
I Hlldrop Crescent. Camden Town, said Mr..
Retainer meaninSly.
That Is correct admitted Augustus
Whose will was prepared in my chambers
. few months back" said Mr.. Retainer with
unpleasant emphasis
at was an accidental circumstance
murmured Augustus, avoiding Mr.. Re-
| tainer's gaze
'Of cUurse Although FOR one moment
/ that any one Of nv chambers could be
/ capable Of such gross breach Of faith, as
well rs Of professional etiquette, as 20 take
I advantage OF professional secrets, would
request him 20 put on his hat and leave this
moment
The effect Of this speech upon Augustus
was that he felt inclined TO sneak out Of the
( room then and there II was evident that
/ Mr.. Rstainer's words were equivalent to
/ formal notice to him 70 leave Augustus
stood his ground, however, from sheer des-
peration-
Il quite agree with you, SIR be said,
shortly.
7 am glad OF that said Mr.. Retainer,
with a grave bow; =your affection for the
\, dNSirs-