The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-08-02

fidence Major Henderson's anger
would not last more than three weeks
when once the irrovocable step was
taken that Maude was much COM
forted.
When they returned Major Hender-
son pressed Mr.. Browne to spend the
evening at Honeysuckle Cottage. Tea
being over, the Major asked Maude If
she would mind packing his portman-
teau for him.
II have laid out the things I wish
| to take, my dear. You will fit them
in more neatly than could"
Maude was delighted to have an
opportunity of doing q last little
kindly act.
Directly she had left the room, the
Major began fidgeting about, and at
length got up and paced the room.
Suddenly turning to Mr.. Browne, he
said; Comparative stranger as you
are to me, feel as ii l must tell you
the nature Of the business which is
calling me to London so unexpectedly.
The blow has fallen so suddenly that
to speak OF 1t would be an immense
relief"
The stranger was all sympathetic
attention i'll a moment.
"Mr. Browne" continued the Major,
excitedly, "this time yesterday be-
lieved that poor girl up stairs to be
the mistress of fairly large fortune.
To-day-if the information received
| this morning is correct-I know her
to be penniless. And that is not all;
the greater part, If not the whole, OF
| nv income is lost also"
So sympathetic was Mr.. Browne
that he begged to know all the de-
tails. These, however, the Major was
unable to furnish; in fact he could ex-
plain nothing satisfactorily, SO great
was the state of excitement into which
he had worked himself.
"Hushr' He said, as he heard
Maude approaching. "Not a word to
her. wouldn't disturb her peace of
mind for worlds, poor girl, until l am
certain how the matter stands"
The next day, about an hour after
her uncle had left for London, Maude
received the following penciled note
from Mr.. Browne:
MY OWN DARLING: I am the most
unlucky dog that ever lived! 1passed
q wretched night, and this morning l
am too i'll to leave my bed. To be dis
abled to-day, when was to have ar
ranged for the event which is to make
me the happiest man in England. l
have sent for the village "bones" and
if he can but patch me up it may not
yet be too late. Send book back by
| bearer to account for having received
O. letter f1om your nearly frantic
JACK.
Poor Maude! The torturing sus-
| pense of that day! In the evening she
ventured to ask the landlady to in
quire how Mr.. Browne was. "No bet
| ter" was the alarming reply.
Maude passed q sleepless night. In the
| morning she received second note
from her dear Jack, even more de-
| spairing in it's tone than the former
| one. "Fate is against u.s." he wrote;
| II teel as if shall never be able to call
| you lnine."
In the middle of the day she again
| sent to inquire after her lover; and
was over when she heard he was
much better, and was even thinking OF
getting up, his recovery bidding fair to
| be as sudden as his seizure.
That evening Major Henderson re-
turned. Hardly had he knocked at
| the door, when Mr.. Browne emerged
from the opposite cottage.
"What news, Sir?" asked the SYM
pathetic Mr.. Browne.
'The worst possible" replied the
| Major, throwing himself into All easy
| chair and covering his face with his
hands. "That poor girl yonder is
begger, and have but hundred a
year Left"
Maude looked from one to the other
in utter bewilderment, and then cross
ed over to her uncle, trying to COM
fort him and gain some explanation
| at the same time.
II feel this is no scene for stranger
to witness" said Mr.. Browne. "Slr,
you have my deepest sympathy, and
am sure that at the present moment
can show it in no better way than
by withdrawing.
Maude followed her lover to the
door. She was much distressed on
her uncle's account, but did not fully
realize her own loss of fortune.
care you really better, dear Jack?"
she asked anxiously.
eyes, thank you. Quite cured.
Goodbye" and he was gone.
That her lovers leave-taking was a
little abrupt did strike Maude; she
was, however, far too confused by
the turn affairs had taken to at
tach much Importance to the first
circumstance.
When she returned to her uncle ne
seemed wonderfully better, and at
supper he talked quite cheerfully OF
their future
Maude passed another sleepless
night. She did not SO much mind the
terrible loss she had sustained on her
own account; but she was bitterly
disappointed that she could not do
all she had promised for her dear
Jack. She determined, however, to
be the most loving and economical
wife possible. AT all events her uncle
would not be able to accuse Jack OF
being mercenary now, and there was
much comfort in that reflection. Per-
hads after all they would be able to
have q proper wedding, only of course
it would have to be very quiet one.
How much nicer that would be than |
running away and deceiving her uncle,
who had always been so kind to her. |
When she came down to breakfast |
the next morning she was lookingpa |
and little worn after her two Sleep |
less nights. The Major, however,
seemed to have succeeded in throwing
off his grief in quitea wonderful man.
ner, and was in almost his usual
spirits.
"Have you heard how Mr.. Browne
is this morning?" Maude ventured to
ask the landlady's daughter.
"Why, Miss, he paid up for the week
and went off by the mail train last
night, declaring he was sure the place
didn't suit him."
h Poor Maudel The blow did indeed |
fall on her with crushing force.
"Dear ME. rather sudden! We shall |
miss the old gentleman-eh, Miss
Maude?" said the Major, as soon as
the uncle and niece were left together.
Hn laid n cliuht cfrncc nr, fha n1iar-