The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-02-04

false pretenses"
''Stop, Mr. David" she implored.
As well might she have cried: "WhoaP
to q runaway IRE engine"
"Little whippersnapper OF nephew
dead mems shoes! Parasites"
'tMercy," she entreated.
so perish all fortune huntersW
| she seized both my hands, saying: BE
| silent and listen" so authoritatlveiy that
obeyed-as though she were my aunt, IN
deed.
s.Hy mother is the cause of this She is s
beautiful character, but she's got what they
call an oriental imagInation. She object:
, to giving plain things their right names
I'm used to hear her call postillion g
| cavalier, dish-covers cupolaS, temporary
jug hagon, street fignt duel, but this
| was carrying things too farl Mother
what frightful mischief have you done
| Too lateii 81
Can you possibly mean" / asked, b.
wildered, that Observation-Disclosures take her
| daughter by surprise-that you believe
| yourself OF gentle oirth."
| ''Of course | did, she replied, simply.
How shoald know betterl True, once
| since my engagement she dropped nint III
| her exultatiou that excited my suspicious.
| But Il never dreamS OF anything approaching
| this, or | should have insisted on knowing
| the worst. Then, perhaps, IL I'd fallen ~
| his feet with frank confession; but now
| he'll never forsive-neTer, in the vIolence
of Just resentment, believe me innocent of
| this fraud, for | can not prove II. y, my
lost friend! Great goodness, that's MS
| knock
| She started up.
Come to denounce mother and ch.ld.
How snall face him. How brave bis re-
proacheSr'
She hid her face.
stood over my aunt that was to have
| been, feeling almost tall and quite heroic.
| Now for a revenge, now for Goals of lire.
1t was glorious moment.
Celia" l said, lit may not be too late.
Listen. Touched by the sunshine your inhu-
ence has brought into my uncle's life.
withheld that ietter-gave him one about
enSilage instead. He suspects nothing.
The frank confession is SILL yours 10
mai;e.''
Worthy nephew OF your uncle" she
cried, intending compliment. 'Iil thank
you afterward. He mustn't lind you here.
lnis way-quick."
l barely disappeared through one door as
my uncle entered through the other, con-
cerned TO find his betrothed in tears.
Ny dear Celia" he began, so tenderly
that must peep through the key-hole TO
certify it was uncle speaking, this
wretched accident has affected your
nerves."
The train was upset, but it takes moro
to upset me,n she sobbed. i wish I'd been
cut 10 pieces: l do. II would have spared
me what l mind worse, and you would
have regretted me. Say you would, Rich
ard"
Celia, dearest love- here 1 nearly be-
trayed myself by starting and yelling,
what have l done to provoke this strange
reception"
Our marriage" she said, with desperate
dignity, 'can ROT take place"
Said my uncle, with frowns in his voice:
"This jesting, Celia, is ill-timed; l don't
understand
wait. and-you-will," she faltered.
GA terrible family secret, carefully kept
, from me hitherto. Circumstances over
which | had no control materially affect
ing our condition"
"Pecuniary circumstances" he suggested.
"You mean your fortune was Oyerstated.
Your mothers liberal expenditure has led
her into debt:''
Its worse than debts" she declared.
paused, then announced, solemniy: 'BiotS
on our eScutcheon generations can not
efface."
"A family skeleton" ne began uneasily,
trying TO laugh. That's bad"
O. Worst than the worst you can imagine"
''Not crime!" he muttered, startled.
Worse than a crime" she affirmed
Hereupon he rose impatiently, saying:
dearest Celia, think you have got con-
cusSion of the brain"
Not l." she returned, mournfully, sits
my mothers where the screw is loose.
Don't blame her before me, Richard. She
is rOmantic-She has misied Won about our
origin by using high sounding language.
the awful truth | never knew myself. Our
union is impossible. l am no fit match for
Richard Grlmston"
THE daughter of an eminent public func-
tionary, and OF a collateral desccndent of
the Norfolk Towards IS no unfit match, even
for Richard CRIMSON"
He was simple policeman" sne sobbcd,
lin England; q Storeileeper in America.
Mothers family'S only connection with
their illCstriOuS nameSake was that they
supplied their breakfast-table with fresh
rolls. Take back your betrOJhal ring. Rich
ard, the worst has yet to come. The late
Mr. Pierpont was no artist-5ut a-a-per-
fumer. etc"
There was tremendous pause, broken
by Celia sObS. Touched. | was using my
pocket handkerchief behind the door. My
uncle,S voice, when be spoke again, sounded
CONTINUOUSLY familiar.
You will excuse me if leave you row.
This intelligence has stunned me com
pletely. II true
Its all true" she declared. "Ask
mamma"
Your word sufices, he said hastily. and
left the house.
Instantly darted from my hiding place
to the assistance of my promised aunt,
PROSTATE on the sofa.
"Celia-aunt, be comforted." implored
Never" she returned. "rll break my
heart-it'll serve mother out"
How alleviate her distress? Presently
came brisk ring az the door, and i'll
tripped Mrs Pierpont, home from shopping.
One glance at this pretty, careless, frisky,
MISUNDERSTANDING matron, the contents
OF whose brain, | suspect, were mainly
thistle down, explained much. Full of her
purchases she began, without even noticing
he:
Celia. I've seen vour wedding-dress.
Just like poets dream, dear"
..Wedding-dress! echoed Celia, bitterly.
"WOuld it were.'
"You won't be wanting to wear it ever
lastingly," replied Mrs. Pierpont, mis-
understanding her. "And I've composed
the loveliest white pearl cuirass."
Hush" cried Celia, frantically. 81 wish
I'd never seen Hamerton; never left Amer
lea! Never been born! It's all your doing"
'Of course it isl said Mrs. Pierpont com
to afford you the opportunity of marrying
an English gentleman-your ideal, You
said''
"a likely thing" Celia bitterly re-
sponded, that an English gentleman
would marry girl of my humble extrac-
ton. No use, mother, | know all, all; so
does Rich-Mr. Grimston, and he's gone,
leaving me branded as an adventures"
Mrs. Pierpont, very slightly disconnected,
looked around as il seeking an escape. Her
eye fell upon me.
who is that young mani" she inquired.
MIR. David D'Aubigny," mourned Celia,
'my nephew that was to have been"
He, then, is the infOrmer against u.s."
Mother, no; thanks TO his generosity
alone, | was enabled to inform against my
self-and spared the disgraceful fate you
prepared for me-"
Mrs. Pierpont began to sob.
Il did it for your good, Celia-ungrateful
girl. No princess ever had a better educa-
tion and we moved in excellent society in
New York. And. after all, what did tell
YOU of Mr.. CRIMSON that was false. Your
papa was valuable civil servant. and his
was the only pure butter in Indianapolis.
I've no doubt the vine Towards sprang