Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-04-26

cI, odiN h"eNi ""N"s
more positive.
"Th-then she has been decelv-
ing me all these weeks " shouted
Mr.. Packer.
"And she is going to New YORK
with him tomorrow, what's more"
breathlessly added Kate. 81
don't think you should be kept IN
Ignorance ofthls, Mr.. Packer. She
told me herself ~
Mr.. Packers face famed purple
through the twilight.
81 won't be deceived" gasped
he. T-rll teach the young wo.
man a lesson. III break the en-
gagement at once :"
81 would if | were you," SAID
Kate, in secret glee. "But please,
Mr.. Packer, don't say | told you "
"I'm under a thousand obllga'
tions to you," said Mr.. Packer,
tugging at his neck-tie, as if he felt
the coming indications of a tit OF
apoplexy. "Her young lover, in
deed She'll find she can't have
two lovers at once, this designing,
double.faced daughter Of deceiying
Eve y
And Mary Mellen's amazement
may be better imagined, than de-
scribed when Mr.. Packer burst III
to the room like a red-faced whlrl-
wind.
"Give me back my lorty.dolIar
opal ring - said he. Our engage
ment is ended y
Mary rose to her feet in aston
isbment.
81 don't know where you keep
him." added Mr.. Packer, strainirg
his protruding eyes into the semi
darkness of the lamp.Iighted room;
"but he is here somewhere. AND
you have been decelving me all
this time You are a fraud y
"Mr. Packer -"
81 don't want no explanation nor
excuses said Mr.. Packer, forget
ting his grammar in the excite
ment of the moment. "I'll be
trifled with no longer III have
nothing more to do with you Give
me my ring.
"If you refuse to hear me, Mr.
Packer
"Give me my ring. say :"
Mary drew the weird stone from
her finger and placed it IN his
hand with quiet dignity.
"There it is, Mr.. Packer, SAID
she. 81 do not understand your
ungentlemanly insinuations, 8,
but"
"Ha ha ha ~ yelped the fat
grain merchant, pocketinG the
glimmering opal. "Now, you can
90 where you please with that
scoundrelly young lover of yoIrs.
Now you can see that I'm not such
fool as you seem to consider
me-"
And he strobe, putting, out Of
the room, leaying Mary Mellen
overwhelmed with amazement and
yes, let us confess it at once
delight.
She did not stop to ask herself
the reason of this strange conduct
she never paused to argue with
fate she only dropped on her
knees and thanked heaven for the
freedom-the blessed freedom
that had come at last.
Kate Cleve was yet on her home.
ward way W hen Mr.. Aaron Parker
overlook her once again, out OF
breath with rapid trotting.
"I've dore it, said he, I've cast
that false rninion from my heart 4"
ooh ! have you?" said Kate, a
little terrif ed at the success Of her
mission nov.
"But,' painted Mr.. Packer, "the
wedding ring is bought, and here's
the engagement jewel, safe ana
sound in my pocket. The house Is
! all refurnished, aud its most a pity,
! isn't it, that all this should be
wasted ? I've always considered
you a remarkably pretty young
woman, Miss Cleye, won't you
marry me now ? And the wed
ding shall take place after all"
mo, | won't" said Kate, reso
lutely, "Mary, you indeed I'd
as soon have the biggest meal.bae
in your gIanary. You are too old
and selfish, and too doaineerlng
and | never did fancy the idea o.
beng an old mans darling. Bnl
did you sec the young lover, Mr.
Packer Z"
"See him 2" roared Mr.. Packer
"NO if | had
alt is worth fifty dollars, a
least" added Kate, rehectively.
"Fifty dollars ?"
"Tbat, at least Tie pretties
art.pointing you ever saw -
"A-palntlng - cried Mr.. Pack
or. "You said it was a young
} 1man 2"
, "Excuse me-" courtesied Kate
, 81 said IHer Young Lover An'
that's the name Of the picture. Sh'
will take it, she tells me, to tn
Art Emporium, in New York to
morrow"
Mr.. Packer wheeled around oI
| his heel and posted back to Mrs
Mellen's cottage at once but b
was too late to renew the fiOwery
chains.
"l can not trust my future L
any man who could address a VIC
, man as you spoke to me few mo
= ments ago. said Mary, with sc
y rene dignity, "You, yoursel
broke our engagement. You cal
not blame me for accepting m.
.. freedom
cst ... ...orrtoI 20 tIIunh Vau