, 1889-08-17

Straight TO this apartment Elsie flew,
and, locking the door, sat down opposite
Betsy and said:
81 have something for you to do, Betsy.
and I'll pay you well for it."
Just name it then" said Betsy.
when l was a little girl, Betsy" said
Elsie, poor papa promised that should
marry a young gentleman who lives in
England when / vas grown, and that if
l did not l should lose my fortune. Now
the time is come, and he is coming; and
l can't marry him. Betsy, I want him
to refuse me. Do you understand
81 understand" said Betsy, "and if 1
were you I'd huff him of quick enough,
and make him glad TO go, that I would"
And l can't think how to do it,
Betsy" said Elsie, land II you can, you
must do 1t for me. While he stays you
must pretend that you are Miss Sea
bright; you must wear my clothes, and
take all the airs you possibly can, and
mako him as unhappy as possible, 50
that he'll ave to refuse you-that is,
me, you know. Be sharp us you can
with him, Betsy-never the least bit
kind or nice. You'll try, won't you,
BetsyT'
Then the two girls left all other work
to examine Elsie's wardrobe. and soon
Betsy was dressed in the most elegant
attire.
"And l." said Elsie-I will be your
poor companion, and you mus call me
Miss Smith. and snub me and order me
about"
Thus 1t was all arranged when the
little letter Elsie had 50 long been ex-
pecting arrived, and breaking its blue
seal she read that Mr.. Harrington would
pay his respects to Miss Seabright in the
course of an hour.
How Miss Seabright laughed asshe sat
waiting in the drawing room, watching
Betsy sail up md down with all the
new assumption of dignity. Betsy,
with the most amiable intentions, would
have been sure of offending; but Betsy,
benz on being unpleasant, would be a
grand success.
Just then Betsy herself leaned from
the window.
"Oh, missl' she cried, "there's a car
riage Mt the door, and there's n gentle
man coming out of it, Bless usl If that
is him | don't wonder you want to be
off your match. Deary, OH deary mel"
But before she could explain a servant
had brought Elsie n card bearing the
name of Harold Harrington, and rs she
arose the most extraordinary figure On
tered the room.
1t was n very tall young man, between
whose shoulders. nevertheless, grew a
hump. He also, though he seemed to
move actively enough, walked on
crutches.
On his head, from which he had re-
moved his cap, was<a black silk skull
cap, such as entirely bald old gentlemen
then wore.
His nose was certainly well shaped,
but it was much the color of red flannel;
and about his throat was a muller.
This was Harold Harrington.
Elsie's surprise was 30 great that she
sank into n chair and forgot to prompt
Betsy as she intended.
But Betsy needed no prompting. Sho
was not in the least embarrassed.
She advanced to meet Mr.. Harrington
with n grin of supreme insolence upon
her face, and burst into a loud laugh.
"Well," she said, you are my young
man, are you? l must say, whoever
picked you out showed no mighty great
taste; 'twasn't for your beauty, that's
plain"
"No, madam" said the arrival, 'it
was not for my beauty. Do l address
Miss Seabright2"
"Why, who else should | beY' cried
Betsy. "'Twas not for your cleverness,
neither, you were chosen. But now
you've come, sit down. Been in the
wars, haven't your
my infirmities," sighed the young
man, "are the result of my recklessness
as n boy. l had n most sympathizing
letter from you upon the fall that broke
my limb. You remember it? You also
condoled with me upon the careless shot
which cost me my eye, though you did
not know how serious was the result.
at was while l was on n trip to
Switzerland that l injured my back, and
while e~ndeavoring to drink some boiling
tea the ho~usekeeper had left carelessly
on the table l scalded all the hair from
my head. This scar upon my cheek is
the result of having attempted to shave
myself with my poor fathers razor. 1t
was injudicious of him not to tell you
the result of my injuries, but now yor
see them for yourself, l will not go into
further particulars. You remember all
my accidents"
Yes" said Betsy, ian n fine figure
of q man they've made you; you'd do to
scare the crows from a orchard, 1 must
say, and you're sent TO me, that I might
ave my pick and offers to marry. It's
enough to make one die of laughing"
"Then you refuse me'" said the young
man eagerly.
"oh, no." said Betsy. "Oh, no., l don't;
there's the fortune, you know. Money
is money, and even an object like you is
better than poverty. Inhave you; though
how folks will laugh to see us paired off
togetherl One comfort, though; SO broken
as you must be you cant last long"
"On the contrary, l expect to live to be
eighty" said the young man.
Expectations don't go for much" sail
Betsy. Look how the old folks went"
1--WE were deprived of their affections
very suddenly" said the young man
signing. My father loved yours dearly,
Miss Seabright."
Folks will take queer notions" said