Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-07-12
CHAPTER *.
JUMpING AT q NCLrsIONs.

Ahl, uioLulc WCHJ away uuC hCAb WCChs
He carried his borrow with him, man
fully resolved to do all he could to
leave it on the summit of ont Blanc
or the Matterhorn, to sink it in the
Lake of Maggoire or Como, or to cast
it upon the flowing Rhine. He told
himself with such cheerfulness as he
could muster that he as deeply wound
ed but not killed. Before he tied the
label on his portmanteau he discharged
what his keen sense of honor told him
was a duty He called on the Talberts
and informed them how he had Jared
with Beatrice.
They were very busy bottling off a
quarter cask of sherry. With their
native politenes' the moment Mr..
Mordle came in sight they ceased their
occupation. Horace turned the tap
and rose from the half-tilled bottle,
Herbert left the cork half-driven in.
They greeted their visitor and apollo
gized for bringing him down to the
lower regions. Altho Oh they wore
large coarse white aprons fashioned
somewhat like girls pinafore, they
looked two we'll bred gentlemen.
Il say" said the curate, nervously,
''you know I'm off the day after to-
morrow"
ayes. We wish you pleasant trip"
Thanks Sure to enjoy myself. |
want to tell you something before |
60" They begged him to speak. They
thought ic was some petty parish mat
ter or his mind.
ado you mind taking off our aprons
for minute? Somehow my news
doesn't seem TO tit in them
Without word they united their
pinafores. folded them up, and laid
them across the sherry cask,
"Shall we so upstairs" asked
Horace.
ooh, dear, no. This will do CAPT
tally. What want to tell you is this.
Last week 1 asked Miss Clauson 10
marry me. She refused Thought yoI
ought to know"
Horace looked at Aerbert; Herbert
locked at Horace. They stroked their
boards meditatively, but for some time
neither spoke.
WELL" said Mr.. Mordle, that's
ALL"
II think. Mr.. Mordle," said Horace,
sadly, 'you should have consulted us
first"
"Quite So" said Herbert
don't see it ut all Miss Clauson is
of age. But it doesn't matter-I tie
you now"
The brothers shook their heads
gravely.
al tell you" said Sylvanus, "because
am going away to cure myself. When
/ come back should like to be able to
visit you as before. You needn't be
afraid"
"Miss Clauson must decide" said
Horace.
EXACTLY So" said Herbert
So the matter was left and Mr.. Nor
die went away with clear conscience
if a heavy heart
The brothers returned to Their fascin-
ating occupation, and worked away for
some time in silence. Three dozen of
sherry must have been bottled before
Horace spoke
at is time Beatrice was married"
",es." said his brother; .but she
isn't marrying girl. She takes after
us. think"
There was always a comfort in this
reflections; especially now, when the
fame of Miss Clauson's good looks had
spread throughout half Westshire.
1t was indeed time that suitable
sutton made his appearance The
chances were that in year or two the
girl might fall into her uncles' old
maidish ways. For the Talbert's were
now getting into domestic groove
down which it seemed likely they would
slide until the end of their lives. They
had of course seen the great world and
the vanities thereof and now they
found that there was nothing like
home, sweet home-especially when the
disposition of the home lover is such
that he takes an immense interest in
every detail which makes up that sweet
ness. With the exception of the per-
rennial visit to town they had not left
Lakewood House for any length of
time, since they settled down to rule its
fortunes. They went to London this
year for the last week in May and the
whole of June. But Miss Clauson did
not accompany them. She said out
right that she hated London, and loved
Oakbury and its belongings. So at
Oakbury she stayed A very curious
choice on the part of Young lady wko
might, had she wished to do so. have
spent the London season mingling in
the pursuits and gayeties of what is
called the upper circle.
So when Miss Clauson refused to go
to London she extricated her
uncles from a dilemma. She stayed
at HazlewoUd House and for