Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-21

Here's begging letter." she said.
Such is woman and such is her terrible
jealousy. With reverend hand I opened
the sacred letter and read:
DEAR Mr.. SPENcE-Your letter has reached
me by the hand of our mutual friend. You are
not not unknown to me; nay, may say Know row ;,1 y9n
doubtless be pleased to hear that 30 is no draw
back in my eyes.
Our mutual friend has given me such good
account of you and your circumstances thai
have not the slightest objection, but Will be-
come your wife with all possible pleasure.
1t seems to me the sooner you are rescued
from that harpy Mrs. McGregor. whom also
Yours affectionately,
MARY DUNCAN.
P. ST. have loved you secretly for months.
I'll go to see you to arrange matters as soon as
you like.
Such was the answer to nv letter. In one
way satisfactory enough; and yet, somehow,
it, or rather the tone Of it, did not quite
please me. For instance, the word "harpy'
gave me slight shock. could not have
imagined such word falling from such
lips. But when does a man know woman?
1 think 1 would have liked little shyness,
not quite such eagerness as was displayed in
the P. s., any wav. Yet what grumbler
1 was. Not content that I had got what l
wantedl
OF course. had to answer the letter.
did so, and was just wondering how to get it
conveyed to its destination, when messen-
ger called from Miss Duncan. Although l
felt this was a little like sharp practice, I
gave the letter, in which 1 stated nv in
ability to call on her, and my hope that she
would call on me. By return of post an
answer came, saying she would call the fol-
lowing day at 4 o'clock.
On the morning Of the eventful day. the
day that was to realize my brightest
hopes, and yet the most awful of my life,
1 said to Mrs. McGregor, 81 expect a
lady to call on me this afternoon about T."
Then Mrs. McGregor smiled a bitter
smile, and said:
care YOU ashamed O. versel at your age?
day after day having forward huzzy CON-
ing here. It's no respectable. If ye dinna
ken what's RIGHT, ither folk dae, can tell
We. Fine excuse her comm in wi her
tracts and Dav NurseriesI Bonnie like
thing! In nv time, Mr.. Spence, lassies
had something better adae than rim after
a wheen silly characters O. men. IF ye
were a laddie-but there's nae fule like an
aud fule.'.
Mrs. McGregor," said I, with great dig
nity, ehave you quite fnished?"
'iI may as weel haud my tongue as talk
to a mad man."
"Very we'll, then-this day month, if you
please, Mrs, McGregor.'
Then she left the room. My dearest Mary,
you were perfectly right An old harpy,
indeed"
Soon after this passage of arms the doctor
called.
"You are looking blooming, Mr.. Spence" I"
he cried.
1 was glad I looked it. for I never felt
worse in my life.
1--WE shall soon have you out again." he
continued. "If you had only an agreeable
companion, you could not do better than go
away for little. Why didn't you follow my
advice? By this time you might have been
married, or on the road to it"
"Well," cried, 81 did follow your ad-
vice, and want you to tell me how soon 1
can go away.
"Oh hol Sits the wind in that quarterl
You sly old fellowl But who is the lady,
if may ask?'
"Miss Duncan"
mot Miss Duncan in Newton street?"
eyes, the same"
"Then," said the doctor, "I congratulate
YOU both. I have known her since was a
boy. She's a nice, sensible woman. The
very wife for you. should say, and by no
means bad looking"
"By no means bad lookingP' nearly
choked. "Whv, think she is positively
lovely!' 1 exclaimed.
every man to his TASTE" replied the
doctor, smiling. Lovely is hardly the
word would use; but if you are
pleased Doctor, I assure you 1 am de-
lighted beyond measure. Allow me to tell
you consider myself the most fortunate of
men. Few at my age could expect such
wife. Upon my word, don't know what
you young men have been about to let her
wait so long"
"Come, now, you are reaping the benefit
of our negligence"
"Well, 1 cannot understand your having
known that charming creature for so many
years and not loving her,"
81 can understand it. However, / con-
gratulate you, and may say get married
next week, if you like" And he went,
leaving me surprised at the stupidity of
other men.
But my hand trembles as I approach the
climax of story.
Four O'Clock came, and with admirable
punctuality the bell rang. Mrs. McGregor
opened the room door, and there entered,
not Miss Duncan, but a stranger, yet
stranger whose face had something familiar
In it.
MADAM" said I, bowling, there must
be some mistake"
'None at ALL, was the reply, ''if you are
Mr.. Spence"
sThat is my name, certainly"
"Then it's all right" and she smiled.
"Who are you?" asked, tremblingly,
for terrible possibility flashed over me.
nha rpbpou,, etanpad nuiokIv across the
room and, throwing her arms around my
neck, exclaimed: "Williaml WiIliami
don't YOU know your own little Mary?"
Ny own little Mary. indeedl Thus we
stood for a few moments, then, as very
gently attempted to shake her of, she said,
fDon't excite yourself You are, at least
I hope you are, too much of a gentleman to
break your word. have your letters all
right, and my niece, Mary Duncan, my
is witness that you wanted me
to marry you. There's dear! Kiss me,
and let us have comfortable chat about
the wedding"
The awful woman kissed me, and push
ing me down on a chair, seated herself
opposite.
1 knew too late. had proposed to, and
been accepted by the wrong woman. Now
I recognized her-the old maid who sat in
my pew in church.
How that interview ended I know not;
was completely bewildered. This 1 do
know, am to be married tomorrow, unless
L run away tonight.
oh, single men Don't give money to
charities; don't break your legs; and, above
all. don't write offers of marriage. When /
think 1 am only 80, and may live to 100,
nv heart grows faint. Oh, that the world
would end to-night.-ScottiSh american.