Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-20
CHAPTER II.

. 'I am aware that my proposition is strangely startling one," said he, gently, as Isabel looked at him with clasped hands as if in a dreami "but 1 leave the city to- morrow, and I wish to take you with me, and release you at once from tho hardening influences by which you are surrounded"
 To-morrow!" said Isabel, repeating the. words after him, mechanically; release from all these harassing things tomorrow, and through such an unloolked-for medium, no wonder the girl was dazed.
 "But your family, your friends, what will they say to your marrying a shop-girla" she said, her mind going back to gentle Lilly Stanford, irrelevantly, because it really had so little to do with the matter, but feeling for the moment as if scorn and aversion toward her in that sweet young face would be moro than she could bear; worse, indeed, than her present ills.
 My family!'' he replied, haughtily; 'fort- unately am entirely independent of their fancies, and fully old enough to choose for myself; besides, they are sensible and kind, and if I am happy, will lovo you for my sake, until they can do so for their own. Take little time, Miss Grant, and think over the matter calmly before giving me an answer. I can give you undoubted refer ence as to my character before the mar riage." G
 "One question" she said, gravely; 'I have seen what love of stimulants can do in 0 home whether it be rich or poor, and have vowed sacredly never to marry man who 4dulged in them, even in the least degree" {" She looked at him interrogatively.
 "Have no fears ill that respect" he re- piled, earnestly. "I despise any thing of the sort as much as you can do, and 1 honor you the moro for your resolve in regard to it. never use liquor in any form" | She raised her eyes and looked in his face 1 long and searchingly; she, too, had fac l ulty for reading faces, or rather her in | stincts read for her, and rarely betrayed her; she saw in this case an honest manli- ness in the face before her which inspired her with confidence, and going to him she stretched out her hands, saying, with q fearful smile: "Mr. Falconer, if you are will ing to abids the consequences of this i'm pulsive act, I win accept your offer, and earnestly strive not to disappoint you"
 He rose, and taking her hands in his, said quietly: ''It shall be the study of my life to convince you that your informal choice is a wise and happy one. l leave the city to- morrow at 2:15. Shall we fix the ceremony at one, in this roomr
 "As you please" replied Isabel; she was yet too bewildered to give attention to de. tails.
 Every well, will call ill the morning at nine, and ask Mime. Arnot for permission to use her room"
 "Isabel Grant, do, for pity's sake, tell ut what Harvey ,Falconer could wish to sec you for," cried Mime. Arnot, who was inahe work-room when Isabel entered it at last with preoccupied, far-away look in he' eyes.
 "We are dying to knowr' said Jennie Dewey; !" has he gone into the millinery business and offered you position as sales womana" The idea of Isabel and bonnets seemed inseparable.
 "He has offered me a position" repliet Isabel, dreamily, "not as 0 saleswoman but as his wife" ... .a
 To be continued.