The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-03-14

1.-The mill O1Gire!H' 1t was lSabeIS turn
now to be surprised; she had thought little
of his position in life, and had supposed him
to be & comfortable tradeSman, or, to come
nearer the truth, she haG had no definite
thoughts on the subject except as his words,
"peace and plenty sugg ested q home OF
comfortable abundance, and she sank into
chair trembling. I'm not joking" she
said, family, "but l had no idea he was a
man OF such wealth when l accepted him. -
''There will be fine hummng among his
aristocratic friends when they Eear he has
married a shop-girI," said Nine Arnot
scornfully; she had married canal driver
in her days of poverty, in lieu of better
offer, and through all her years of prosper
ity he had remained the same, low, vulgar
and illiterate, a creature to be kept out OF
sight of her present circle of friends, so far
as possible, and it CALLED her and filled her
with wrath and jealousy that girl, hitherto
dependent upon her for her daily bread,
should by one stroke of fortune rise so high
above her in the social scale which she
would occupy as Harvey Falconers wife.
But there's no danger! He's fooling you,
girl; he'll nCU p marry your
Time will tell" was Isabel's quiet reply.
1t seemed to her now, in the family atmos-
phcre of the work room, that it was all a
dream, and that Nine Arnot'S diSdainful
words were only too reasonable, but, as she
had said, time would tell, and a very short
time, for Mr. Falconer's last words had been
Expect me at nine tomorrow
In case of such an absdrdity occurring,
will give YOU just one year to get behind
my counter: no good results could possibly
come from such a strange alliance" and
Nine Arnot hounced out of the room far
from gracefully, and the girls were left
alone.
''The spiteful old cat /" said Jennie Dewey,
Indignantly; ''it's no wonder 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 ELUSIVE girl, and her deeper feelings
especially were inexpressible. Mr.. Fal-
coner had touched these in his conversation,
and she could no more have repeated it
than she could have brought out for inspec-
ton the tenderest of love making.
'lt all seems so unreal" she pleaded; ''all
l can tell is that he proposed to me and ac-
cepted him"
For Miss Grant," said Ellice Ryan, COM
ing in from the shop at the moment with a
small package.
''That certainly looks like tangible proof
SAID Jennie, as Isabel undid the package and
disclosed plush box which, when opened,
revealed an elegant diamond ring Mr.. Fal-
oner must have studied the slender white
fingers to advantage during his stay, for the
ring fitted her engagement finger to a
nicety. A new, sweet feeling stole into her
heart with the gift; she had not been used
tobeing considered and cared for, and a new
world was opening up before her; one of
ole cl,N hold s.
happiness as well as her own in her hands,
and the question whether or not she would
fail in the trust committed to her was a
serious one.
Dear me! you wouldn't catch me looking
so like an owl if had some one to send M
diamond rings" cried Jennie, as Isabe
turned the brilliant slowly around on her
finger
Dear Isabel, [ am SO glad for you," said
gentle Lottie Ford, rising and limping ovel
to her side, where she stood caressing the
waves of 1sabel's dark hair, as she whis
pered softly: 81 believe he is good man
and that is worth more than gold or dia,
mondS" "
Yes. LOttie, - replied Isabel, in whisper
also; yet that seems to be the last thin,
others think of. If | coIld not have fe
that he was good and true, would lleuer hav
conscnted.n
Nine o'clock precisely brought Mr.. Fa'
cOner to the shop, where he proffered his
quest with the air of a man who knew VIII.
he was about. Madam was all smiles, al
seeing that the affair was Il reality and ne;
at hand, began to alter her department t,
ward Isabel materially, in hope of gain
herself; the future wife of millionaire be
ing person of much more Importance il
her eyes than plain Isa Ell Grant.
She could not forbear one little malicious
shot, however, and she asked with toucl
of sarcasm III her honeyed tones: ''Do yom
friends, the Stanfords, attend the Weddiug:'
'Mrs. Faconer will make the acquaInt-
ance of my friends in her own home.
madam" replied Mr.. Falconer, coldly; he
understood the sarcasm perfectly, and re-
sented it.
Il observe that the ring fitted, Miss
Grant he said, gravely, taking her hand
there We're too many curious eyes about to
indulge in aught but commonplaces
II wonder you could have guessed so ac-
curately," she replied.
AT one, then, you will be ready" he con.
tinued, still holding her hand.
Yes" How strong he was; how his pres
ence swept away all the objections which
v
had surrounded her, came troopipg to her
mind, suggesting a thousand tormenting
thoughts and fears,
IF there are any expenses to be met you
will allow me to defray them" making
motion toward his breast pocket. Nine
Arnot had withdrawn her sharp eyes for
the moment.
'Oh, no, no." and she shranh back
hastily; 81 have been frugal and am well
supplied for the present."
There was little accomplished in the
work room that morning, the prospect of
the wedding in the afternoon effectually
business ideas.
Isabel would almost have preferred leav-
ing her life at Nine Arnots where she had
taken it up, in the work room, but she ban
iShed the luea as Il sentimental one. All the
girls were TO be present at the ceremony,
and Kitty Ray remarked that they owed
Isabel a vote of thanks for getting them
glimpse of madam's parlor, which, though
nothing grand in itself, she held sacred
from the intrusion of her shop girls, but in
this instance she could not refuse the re-
quest af tne rich Mrs. Faconer to be.
She was too busy during the short time
to have many ideas aside from
packing her slender wardrobe into a trunk
several sizes too small for it, III suppose the
next time you travel you will have a sara
toga trunk with cupola on It," said
Jennie, as she dextrously fitted Isabeps
best hat into a box.
"The future looks like a vast untried
sea-" replied Isabel, 80 entirely vague
that l make no calculations on what may pr
may not come TO me-"
''Not even in tho prosaic matter of a
trqpi63 laughed Jennie ;''now, should have
= Whole wardrobe, hung with elegant