, 1888-06-10

and watching her charming play Of ex-
preston, how happy he believed he
would bel
Some weeks ago, one afternoon, my
uncle called me from mending Tommy's
stockings, and told me a friend wished
to see in tho drawing room. /, who had
no friends, was much surprised; nor did
this surprise lessen when l was presented
to the man who had silenced the crazy
Pole that day in the train. His name
was Mitchell, and he turned out TO be an
old friend OF my u~ncle's. Rich as Cru-
sus and a bachelor my uncle said TO
me, with a knowing wink, when our
visitor had departed.
81 took a great dislike to Mr.. Mitchell;
In manner and appearance he was most
r~epugnant to me. But i thought very
little about him one way or another
why should | interest myself in a man
older than my fatherQ-until, a week
later, Uncle Thomas informed me that
| Mr.. Mitchell wished to marry me-
'sPreposterous, " exclaimed Owen.
al don't often laugh in the presence of
Uncle Thomas, but when he told me this
| 1 laughed heartily. This made my uncle
very angry. Why should l make game
Of the offer of n man Of whom | might
be proud? l, who would be in h work
house If it were not for the charity of my
relationsi'
1.-THE brutel'
'If / was 80 silly as not to know on
which side my bread was buttered-it
was often difficult to tell-he would turn
me out Of doors, and hat would perhaps
bring me to my senses. But why need I
tell you the particulars of this and many
another most painful scene7 was silent
and undecided for a while, and at last
found courage t tell Mr.. Mitchell that i
could not marry him.
'tHe listened with q disagreeable
smile, and replied: My young lady will
not find refusal so easy as she thinks"
lowing to rusty conduct on the part
of your amiable uncle" interpolated
Owen.
81 believed this was his meaning, I'M
til the next day. Then my aunt in
formed me calmly that l was already
married to Mr.. Mitchell"
SIS that good lady subject to such fits
ofnnental aberration2"
81 stared at herr in amazement, when she
proceeded to explain to me that, according
to Scotch law, if a man in the presence of
a witness says a woman is his wife, and
she does not deny it, it becomes a legal
marriage. There was a witness in the
train that day-the old lady ] mentioned
Mr.. Mitchell is Scotch, and was deter
mined to nave his rights.
81 could not believe aunt was in earn
est, but il seems she was, and what is
worse, they all beset me every hour in
the day with speeches to the effect that
1t is of no use to try and escape my des-
tiny; Mr.. Mitchell has the law on his
side, and the sooner, for appearances
sake, l consent to another marriage cere-
mony in church, the better.
81 nave asked you to meet me here
this evening, Mr.. Stanley, to tell me
truly If there is any ground for their say
ing / am Mr.. Mitchell's wife"
at is the most preposterous, cowardly
lie l ever heard Off exclaimed Owen.
quite boiling over with Indignation. I'm
some parts of Scotland, long ago, come
such rubbish as they tell you might be
true; but we are not in Scotland. To
have this rich mans money in the family,
your reprobate of an uncle Is trying to
play upon your innocent ignorance,
knowing or believing you had no one to
~enlighten you. He ought to be exposed
and prosecuted for his villainy."
'Oh, I'm so glad and thankful you as
sure me that this dreadful man has no
power over mer'' said Louise. with a
profound sigh of relief.
''You poor little friendless thingl" AS
IL of its own accord OWENS arm encircled
the girls waist, and he tenderly and
reverently kissed her unresisting lips.
"And now l must fly back to the
house. Dear mel the half hour is long
past"
stFor heavens sake, don't let then
persuade you to commit any rash folly
Trust In me" said Owen, taking another
kiss in farewell.
Arriving at his lodgings, he found TIVE
letters awaiting him; one from Travers
q special chum in the old luxurious days
and the other-he could hardly belize
his eyes-from Uncle Raymond
He dashed into the perusal Of this las
at once, and discovered that, after a yea
and a month, his former friend and ben
efactor, his fathers only brother, was OF
the track of the fellow who had commit
ted q certain forgery-a crime of which
Morris Raymond, in hot, sudden anger
had accused his nephew. Strong cir
c~umstantial evidence against Owen wa
not wanting, and thus, suffering for thu
misdeed of another, he was thrust out fo
n rough struggle with the world.
Now, through the merest chance, til,
real culprit had been discovered, and tn
letter in OWENS trembling hand con
tanned ample apology for past injustice
and an earnestly expressed desire that oil
relations be renewed
GAS you are reinstated with the oil
boy"-an extract from Travers' letter
II suppose we shall soon have you anon
us again. I hope 1t will not break you
heart to hear that Nelly Welland ha
given you the slip. When she heard {
your misfortune she transferred her aifeC
tons to Mortimer"
81 think 1 nave found some n VIII
will console me for the tickle Nelly,
said Owen to himself. Ibid ever
stroke Of fortune come at a luckier nj
mentT'
Old Cruncher's hat played the role {
post box on several occasions after this
there were other tetes-a-tetes upon tn
NOISY log, and hero Owen told Louis
the old, old story-told and listened
with tender, sweet delight. Uncle Ray
mond's letter emboldened Owen I
- L., lnprJ-fnr NJ