The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-22

Anu mere tnere was Wneel Wltnln u
wheel that set Jimmy Marks schoming
brain to work to see il it was not the di-
rect hand Of Providence at work for his
benefit He had seen Miss Cobbs, and,
though he did not admire her person, the
hundred thousand that she was known to
possess loomed up grandly in his eyes. lie
had heard Of her as tlirt and iit, but
that did not make him afraid, and he had
been trying, unsuccessfully, for some time
| to obtain an introduction to her and take
his chance. and here it was.
you're in a mighty tight place, Fitz,
but skill and pluck will get you out. First
ly, you want to get rid Of Cobbs."
"Aw! Ya-as! No-ah!" said Fitz, STAN
mering. al don't know"
What do you know" asked Jimmy, an
grily. DO you want both women?'
"Aw! ya-as," drawled Fitz, gulping down
another glass. of tho vine, and looking at
his cane head as though the response was
intended for it confdentially.
"Fitz, you're either fool or knave,"
said Jimmy, starting to his feet and then
sitting down again. What in the name of
the devil are you driving at?"
Then, in the name of the devil, and feel.
ing at the time that the devil actuated him,
he made clean breast of it, and told all
his mental villainy and plotting. He could
not marry poor girl, on that he had set
tied or, rather, his mother had settled it
for him, and yet was madly in love with
Marion Delorme while he was engaged to
marry Lavinia Cobbs. What should he
do? He must marry Cobbs, but he could
not give up Marion. He therefore pro-
posed to abduct Marion, and defer his mar
riage to Cobbs until such time as he could
have Marion safe in hand, and then, in
fact, trust to luck and Jimmy Marks help.
Jimmy was a man Of the world, but this
staggered him. 1t was the first time he
had heard anything from Fitz that sounded
rascally, and he did not know exactly what
to do about it, If he broke out and de-
nounced him, he should not only be be-
traying his confidence and making an ene-
my of him, but he should, perhaps, accel-
crate the very mischief he wanted to pre-
vent He must appear to work with him if
he would serve Marion Delorme and further
his own interests, and so he said, as if the
proposition had not startled him at oil:
And how am to benefit if I help you
in this?"
"Aw! by my fwiendship, my boy" said
FitZ, regaining his composure as he saw, or
thought he saw, Marks coming into his
plans.
"Oh, bother. First you want to get away
with Miss Delorme. How do you propose
to do it?"
"Aw! mawwy her, over the left, you
know. She wouldn't consent to anything
else, bigad, eh?"
Il don't think she would" said Marks,
with n sneer. Are you sure she'd have
you, anyhow"
"Aw! ya-as, of course she will. Not
now, aw, but after while Don't she know
paws wich, and amt that enough?"
well; and you want ME to manage all
this for you. Well, I'll do it if you'll make
me your first man when you marry Miss
Cobbs, and do what you can for me with
| vonr sister"
Marks knew that Fitz could do nothing
for him with Clarry, but he must have n
motive with Fitz for helping him; and
| Fitz knew that Jimmy's case was hopeless
with Garry, but he was ready to promise
anything, and so he promised.
On the following Sunday morning Clarry
said to Fitz:
"Fitzy, want you to stay at home this
afternoon and evening. MIR. Stanley is to
dine with papa, and will bring an elegant
lady with him. know you will like her. :"
Fitz jumped as if he'd been shot. and
began to rail against Stanley. How had
the fellah ever got to paws acquaintance?
He would tell nav, and have him turned
out "Clarry told him of the purchase Of
the picture and of the invitation to dinner,
but it did not pacify Fitz. He did not want
to see Stanley, and almost commanded
Garry to drop his acquaintance, ending off
with threat to tell nav and raise arumpus
generally, after which he hounced off, and
did not return till after midnight, and
would not hear from Clarry, the next day,
one word about the delightful day they had
passed, or allow her to speak about Stanley
at all.
Now, for some weeks everything ran
smoothly for all parties, as they thought.
Fitz had introduced Marks to Miss Cobbs
as his best man, that was to be, and. as
Fitz could not pay attention to Miss De-
lorme and Lavinia at the same time and as
he preferred Miss Delorme to Lavnia,
the former absorbed him; but Jimmy
Marks stood between him and harm, and
paid such strict attention to Lavinia that
She did not seem to miss Fitz. Mrs. Ber-
tie called on Lavinia, and Lavinia told her
of the engagement, after little rounda-
bout talking, though, strange to say, La
vinia did not seem anxious to have
it known; but, in spite of this, it did
leak out, and was discussed at the club
Fitz denying it with sneer, and Marks
protesting to know nothing. Mrs. Bertie
saw that Lavinia did not have an engage
ment ring, and questioned Fitz. Fitz re-
sponded by purchasing a most excellent
Partisan brilliant at cost of seven dollars
which, as Lavinia didn't know diamond
from cobblestone, did Just as well, and
made Jimmy Marks chuckle.
J;,,n,1 occ;dunuc Ha fool. Toyinia
everywhere. He bought her presents, he
Dragged of his prospects in business, Of
the money he made, and the certainty tina
he would be rich man. Lavinia was
dazzled. Fitz had never talked that way tc
her. Fitz had never taken her to all tn,
theaters, and acted as though he was proud
of her, and nobody, even those who wert
the most urgent TO marry her, and whom
seeing through she had so coolly cast off
ever told her she was pretty and piquant
and one that any man should be proud Of
Oh, no; all this was reserved for Jimm,
Marks to do, of course in the interest o
his dear friend Fitz, and SO, for the frs
time in her life, little Cobbs was in Low,
with-who?
Fitz was spending his money as freely al
ne drew from nav, who, now that she wa
satisfied by Lavinias confession and sigh
of the engagement ring, launched ou
freely. He got along charmingly in tn
service of Marion, who one day said {,
Stanley, when he had uttered some disap
proving words about her course with Fitz
Percy, what would you think of me if
interfered with you in your course witt
CARRY You are afraid to face her mother
knowing her influence over her daughter
and SO am /, knowing that Fitz is really tn
3 creature of his mother l have reall
) learned to love the little fellow, aad an
: irving to do the best can for his happiness
If he does not marry me he will be miser
able. And l am willing to take him 70
better or for worse"
: But, Marion, how do you know he wi
marry you at all? assure You that the ru
I, NOR of his engagement to this Miss Cobb
I is true, no matter what he says, and hi
t mother, who controls the father as well a
the son, will die rather than consent to you
/, marriage"
: Il shall notask the consent of his mothe
father, or even his own; but will mari
him, and leave the result to his love an
D what 1 have reliance in, and nobody els
has, his common sense, when it is brougl
J to bear, and shall bring it to bear"
! of course Stanley could do nothing bJ