The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-06-06
CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II.
II am aware that my proposition is D
strangely startling one,'' said he, gently, as
Isabel looked ct him with clasped hands as
II In Q dream; ssbut / leave the city to-
morrow, and wish to take you with me,
and release you at once from the hardening
influences By which you are surrounded"
Tomorrow said Isabel, repeating the
words after him, mechanically; release
from I'll these harassing things tomorrow,
and through such an unlooked-for medium,
no wonder the girl was dazed
But your family, your friends, what
will they say to your marrying ashop-girl.''
she said, her mind going back to gentle
Lilly Stanford, irrelevantly, because 1t
really had 90 little to do with the matter,
but feeling for the moment ~ II scorn and
aversion toward her in that sweet young
face would be more than she could bear;
worse, indeed, than her presentills.
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 II am happy, viii love you for my
sake, until they can do SO for their own.
Take little time, Miss Grant, md think
over the matter calmly before giving me an
answer. lcan give you undoubted refer
ence AZ 70 my character before the mar
rage
Zone question, = she said, gravely; II have
seen what Q love Of stimulants eau do IN q
home whether it be rich or poor, and have
vowed sacredly never to marry man who
INDUCED in them, even in the leastdegree.'
She looked at him interrogatively.
Shave no fears in that respect" he re-
piled, earnestly. II despise any thing of
the sort as much as you can do, and honor
you the more for your resolve in regard to
it. never use liquor in any form.'
She raised her eyes and looked in his face
long and searchingly; she, too, had fac
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, il you are will
ing TO abide the consequences Of this I'M
pulsive act, will accept your offer, and
earnestly strive not to disappoint you"
He rose, and taking her hands in his, said
quietly: 1T shall be the study Of my life to
convince you that your informal choice is o
wise and happy one. I leave the city to.
morrow ut 3:l5. Shall we fix the ceremony
at one, in this roomr'
As you please replied Isabel; she was
yet too bewilderei to give attention to de-
tails.
VERY well, will cali in the morning 1t
nine, and ask Nine. Arnot for permission to
use her room"
"Isabei Grant, do, for PHYS sake, tell us
what Harvey. Falconer could wish to- see
you for" cried Mime. Arnot, who was in the
work rt9M when Isabel entered it Ut last,
with 3, pFeoccupied, far-away look in her
eyes. I'LL.
"WAzsre dying to known said Jennie
Dewey; has he gone into the millinery
BUSINESS and offered you . position as sales
womahf' The idea Of Isabel and bonncts
seemed insepaiable.
HE has offered me position" replied
Isabel, areamily, mot as saleswoman,
but as his wife, s-'~ ...-..
8 His.wye ~ almost screamed Nine Arnot.
in her surprise; Harvey Falconer, the
s,.i,lioSdige; nossense, girl, you're joking.h
"The. mtll;onaire'' It was Isabels turn
now to be surprised; she had thought little
Of his POSITION In life, aud had supposed him
to be comfortable tradesman, or, to come
nearer the truth, she had had no definite
thoughts on the subject except as his words,
P10NO. 9uu RASuSSS OOkk CSVCO Va
comfortable abundance, and she sank into
chair trembling. I'm not joking she
said, family, .but / had no idea he was a
man 81. such wealth when ! accepted him. =
+. There will be . fine humlning among his
aristocratic friends when they hear he has
married sHOp-Gil," said Nine. Arnot,
EsQornfully; she had married canal driver
10 her days of poverty, in lieu Of q better
06cr, and through all her years of prosper
ity he had remained the same, low, vulgar
and illiterate, q creature TO be kept out OF
sight Of her present circle Of friends, 80 far
IS possible, and it CALLED her and filed her
with wrath and jealousy that girl, hitherto
dependent upon her for her daily bread,
should by one stroke Of. fortune rise 80 high
above her in the social scale which she
would occupy as Harvey Falconer's wife.
but there's no danger! He's fooling you,
girl; he'll nerer marry your
thine will TELL was Isabel's quiet reply
1t seemed to her now, in the family atmos-
phere Of the work room, that it was all q
dream, and that Mme. Arnot's disdainful
words were only too reasonable, but, as she
had said, time would tell. and very short
time, for Mr. Falconer's last words had been
Expect me at nine Tomorrow
TN case of such an abslrdity occurring, ]
will give you just one year to get behind
my counter; no good results could possibly
come. from such p strange alliance" and
Mime. ArnQt founced out of the room far
from grasefully, and the girls were left
alone
ssThe spitsfulold cat I" said Jennie Dewey,
Indignantly; tits no wondep she envles you,
Isabel, in comparing Mr.. Falconer with hor-
rid John :Arnot; but do.tell Us all about it."
But Isabel could not; she was not gush-
ing or effdsive girl, and her deeper feelings
especially were indispensable. Mr.. FGl.
coner had touched these in his conversation,
and she could no more have repeated it
than she could have brought out for inspac-
ton the tenderest Of love making.
ut all seems so unreal" she pleaded; ssall
can tell is chat he proposed to me and ac.
cepted him.
ITO BE CONTINUED
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