The Press., 1888-09-20


 he was poor, but, of course, she never dreamed he would take it so to heart."
 "And, of course, she knew her father would frown on any such matchq' I tsOf course, rich men don't like to see their daughters wed poverty"
 ssOh, that's nonsense, my dear; any father of sense will look first at the character and capabilities of his daughters lover, and if they are all right the purse is secondary. As for Osborne Palmer, assure you, my dear, have watched him closely since he has been here, and consider him a very fine fellow. Of course, his would be suicide is against him, but I've come to the conclusion that worry and starvation had made him two thirds crazy"
 "Do you think a girl would"-
 "Be lucky to marry him? Yes, I do, and If you know of any girl that thinks of doing so-now, hush, my dear, don't speakl Don't tell me anythingl I have a very particular reason for not wanting to know anything you tell her or him, or both of them, that to save all fuss or awkwardness I, if were him or her, would slip off quietly and be mar ried.'~
 "But, papa dear, do you really mean that you would forgive'-
 "Theres no question of forgiveness. You just tell Osborne what have said, and If he has the sense I give him credit for he will understand me-"
 At this moment Palmer himself came into the room. There the conversation terminated abruptly. For some days thereafter MT. Clyburne was so good natured, so almost generous, that every one observed it.; his fellow directors | and associates nudged one another and said: 'tNow's your time to talk to Clyburne on such and such 8 project" and his clerks whispered: 'How queer MT. Clyburne seemsI Wonder if he's going to die?"
 One intimate friend, a venturesome fellow, had the hardihood to say:
 "What the mischief has come over you lately? I never knew you to be so genial. Whom have you heeced this weekg'
 "Oh, I've got such rich thing on Obed JennessI" replied Clyburne, chuckling to himself for the thoQsandth time. "Didn't cost me anything but a little advice-cheapest thing in the world, you know. He can't get ahead of me on this scorel"
 The friend didn't mention this to any but ten of his most intimate friends, and as they were equally secretive it did not take long to set every man on Change to slyly watching Obed Jennnes. They naturally supposed that Clyburne referred to things financial, not matrimonial.
 Bertha visited Daisy quite often about that | time, and Mr. Clyburne lost no chance of publicly insisting that Bertha must send for her t'things" and remain the rest of the week with Daisy.
 One morning, during a visit, servant came to MT. Clyburne as he sat at breakfast and tremblingly said:
 ''Mass' Clyburne, sah, Miss Daisy ain't in her room, sahw
 'No9 Gone for walk, I suppose"
 'I-I's feared not, sah. An'-an' Miss Bertha done gone too"
 ''Theyu probably be here soon. Keep some coffee hot for them"
 "B-but, sah, Mary she say as how de beds ain't ben slep' in"
 'sNsither of them2" asked Mir. Clyburne, a | little anqi
 ''N-no, sah; am yur's a note Mary foun' in Miss Daisy's room," added the man, hand ing tiny envelope to his master. but stand ing as far from him as the width of the silver salver and the extent of his long arm would permit.
 MT. Clyburne opened the note calmly; he suspected that he knew what was in it; he merely glanced at the first lines:
 "Darling Papa-This to tell you that MT. Palmer is about to act on your advice; Bertha and are to meet him at Dr. -'s at Il o'clock tonight, for we think it best to have friendly witness to such matter"
 "Ha, ha, hap laughed he heartily, to the surprise and delight of the alarmed servant. "I understand 1t now. Miss Daisy will be home pretty soon, but it is not necessary to give any hint of this little affair to your mis- tress. She has severe headache and it will only worry her. Send Mary here."
 Mary quickly appeared, for Silas Clyburne was terror to evil doers, and she, too, was cautioned to silence and her fears all allayed. Silent! Yes, truly they would be very silent, especially when each of them received $2O bill with the remark, "rll give you as much more if you will ever again bring me such good news"
 "And now," said he to himself, as he was on his way down town, 'how best to break the news to my dear friend Obed! Ha, ha, ha! How he will rage and fume! Wonder what I'd best say. Guess I'll just hand him Daisy's note to me and watch his face while he reads It. By the way, haven't read it all myself"
 Drawing the note from his pocket he be- gan to read: ''At Dr. -'s,' um, I've read that unn, um such a deed, and who can be a better one than cousin? Bertha goes home tonight Oh, pshaw, then the fun is over. But what is this? T go with my husband Why, why, what-'Your loving daughter, soon to be Daisy Palmerp Am I crazy9"
 No, he was not crazy. In his greed to work mischief to his enemy he had not allowed his daughter to explain that it was she, not Bertha, with whom Osborne Palmer was in love. He jumped to the conclusion that she was referring to Bertha all the time, and, lol he had done as the wicked often do; he had himself fallen into the pit that he had so carefully digged for another.
 ''If I am fooled, old Obed shall not know it; I'd not give him that satisfaction" was his decision.
 But though he put brave face on the matter, no one was deceived, and he knew it. They whispered to one another and won- | 0ered |Wher0 is the little game he was in play on his enemyg"
 Of course Daisy's husband, in Daisy's eyes, is far too precious to risk his life in opening any more of papa's possible bombs, so Mr.