Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-07-05
MABEL'S CHOICE.

= IMADEL y VI
Chicago News.
: Mabel Winston was in the cool milk
room scalding out the churn, and Jol
Tressaly stood outside with big stone
pitcher in his hand and the pan just OF
level with the milk-room window.
"LOok here, Mabel" said Job Tressa-
", valiantly; "I'm neither blind nor a
fool! You used to like me well enough
before that Fernauld fellow came out
here fishing and loafing and pretending
to sketch. You think he's better man
than l am because he comes from the
city and wears soiled kid gloves, with a
flaShy ring on his fingers"
'Well, and what if 1 dO?" retOrted
Mabel, turning the churn upside down
on one of the snowy shelves.
"Why, just this" said Job, leaning on
the window sill; II love you, and I've
told you so often enough, but I'm not
the man to be played fast and loose with
for the amusement of any girl. Mabel,
you must choose between me and Felix
Fernauld."
'Very WE'LL" said Mabel, with def
ant toss of the head; ''then l take Felix
Fernauld."
And Job Tressaly took up the stone
pitcher of cool, sparkling water, and
walked off across the meadow to the
field where the hay makers were at work,
his heart as heavy as lead within him.
And Mable sat down and began to
cry. Why, she could not exactly have
told. She was half terrified half exult-
ant, but wholly frightened and nervous
at her own bo1dness.
"Mabell"
She started up with cry. Felix Fer
nauld's dark, handsome face was bend
ing over her.
you're trump!" said Fernauld. "a
brick, my dear! Give me a kiss. And
now to business. Old Jessup's gone to
town, eh?"
eyes," said Mabel, much wondering
why he should ask the question.
Taken the mortgage money with
him?"
"Not to-day" said the innocent Ma
bel. ale is going to the bank to-mor--
row."
"Good," said Felix Fernauld, pulling
at his black mustache. "Where does he
keep it, my pretty one? Confidentially,
now, between you and mel"
"Why do You want to know?" she
flashed out.
"Now, don't excite yourself, my dear,
don't" said Fernanld, tapping her cheek.
"It's all in the way of business. Old
Jessup is rich; Pm not. Why shouldn't
we divide? You'll tell me where he
keeps the money; that's darling'
81 will notI" cried Mabel, flushed and
trembling all over.
every WE'LL" said Fernauld, taking
both her hands in an iron grasp. "In
that case must tie and gag you, and
take a thorough search of the premises
myself. Don't be alarmed; shan't hurt
you"
"Stopw said Mabel, who had grown
very pale; ''you need not gag me. If
you are really determined to have the
money, can't help it. I'll tell you
where it is, only" trembling like a
leaf, ''you must give me half ~
81 knew you were a trump" said Fer
nauld, approvingly. didn't 1 say so?"
OF course, we'll do the fair thing
fear of that. Now, look alive. There
is no time to loser'
''He keeps it in the funniest place you
ever heard Of" said Mabel, laughing
Historically. ats in the big oven back
of loose brick.
'Sly little puss" cried Fernauld, pat
ting her cheek again with the same air
of offensive patronage. "YouU make
the very good wife for man in my line
of businessl Now, then, show us where
the old oven is"
Mabel opened the huge iron door of
the old fashioned brick oven, sort of
mausoleum of the past, full of cobwebs
and dust.
81 don'thalf like the looks of il" said
Fernauld, obviously. "However, I've
done more disagreeable things than that
in the way of business. so here goes"
And with wonderful agility Mr.. Fern
nauld precipitated himself head foremost
into the yawning chasm.
straight ahead!" said Mabel. Don't
you see the loose brick?"
''See? see nothingr' roared Fernauld.
"What have you shut the door for?
Open it quickl Open it | sayp'
But Mabel Winston had no such idea.
She had swung back the big iron door,
it safely on the outside.
Then, regardless of the smothered
shouts and execratiOns of the human
she caught up her broad
brimmed hat and flew across the field to
where, against the blue of the summer
sky, she could see the reapers at work in
Farmer Russell's bayfield,.
''Oh, Job, come quick!' she gasped.
"Call the men! I've got him safe-the
thief"
They followed her, without quite
knowing why; but when they reached
the house and found Mr.. Felix Fernauld
half -stifled in the little brick oven they
began to comprehend the reason. And
when Miles Jessup came home they told :
him how Mabels courage and presence (
of mind had saved his 81 100.
Old Jessup made up his mind that it
was not safe to live alone in these bur ,
glarious times.
$50, if you and job have mind to be 9
said he to Mabel, an give up !
half the house, and Job shall manage !
the place on shares. He's a first-rate
farmer, any way you can fix it."
Mabel looked shy at job.
at shall be as Mabel pleases," said
the young man.
And they were married the next week. {
THE Senate Pension Committee re- ]