San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-11

proposes to you"
"But they do" she said; "they propose
in shoals, and have done so for months
Only the other day girl said TO me that
she could not stay with the Blankneys for
the Bicester ball, because man would be
in the house whom she had refused. Bless
you said to her, If were 10 refuse invi-
tations to all houses where / should meet
men who had asked me to marry them
should stop a. home for the rest of my
lifer "
Then you cannot fail in lovey' | said
81 am in love that's Just it."
Won't he proposer'
He proposed years ago"
Then why doa't you'll felt myself,
getting puzLled, but she interrupted Ia.
'Idon't see that you are so very clever"
she said. Cant you understand that my
horrid old uncle has done his best to pre-
vent me from ever marrying the only man
| ever cared for in my whole life? How
would you like some one to leave you
money on condition you would not marry
your Euphemia?" Her voice began to
shake, and there were tears in her blue
eyes.
"Are you a friend of Euphemia2" I
said gently, to divert her thoughts for a
moment. l really never blushed so often
in an afternoon before or since.
NO" she answered, with quick smile,
though her voice shook as she continued,
81 don't know her, but know of her; and
l hear that you love her very much, and
when the solicitor said he could do no more
to help me / came to you to see if you'
could; and oh, Mr.. Fairbairn, do want
the money SO to help my brothers and sis
tiers as well as myself; and can't, [ can't
give up Harry" Here she fairly brokel
down and sobbed aloud to my very great
embarrassment.
WELL" l said, at my wits end, after a.
few moments silence, you ought to marry
to marry-can't you marry-some one
else firstS"
What she sobbed, land wait for Harry
till Pm an DID, old woman?"
Not exactly" said /; "your husband
| might mean you might div mean
your marriage might be put an end to after
time or he might die!"
She did not answer at once, and | felt II
had been recommending divorce by col
fusion, with the alternative suggestion of
murder, and had perhaps said enough for
the present.
He might die" she said, meditatively,
apparently rather struck with the latter
| suggestion.
"Of course he might l said, cheerfully,
land his life might not be of much value"
Then he would be sure to live unless he
was very, very old to begin with"
"Do you know any one very, very old?"
asked, new light dawning upon me.
mo one" she said, Except old Blif-
kins. He is 1872"
Hes the very mani" | cried.
"NOnsense!" she answered. Hes poor
| old man in our village and lives on brandy
| and snuff"
"Old Blifkins is the very man." l re-
| peated. Look here! If he's l02 he can
| not last much longer, and if you don't like
| to take him to church go to a registry Of
| flee. He will be glad TO end his days in af-
| fluence, and if you will send him to Jersey
or some such place where liquor and snuff
| are cheap
"Oh, Mr. Fairbairnr' she exclaimed. 81
couldn't"
THAT settles it," | said rather dryly,
| rising and looking out of the window as /
| lit fresh cigarette, but of course If you
could | understand your uncle's fortune
| is a very large one; there are your brothers
and sisters to be thought of, and then
there is what s-his- name, Tom, Bill, Harry"
as | said the last word the door clicked
behind me, heard a whisk of feminine
| draperies brushing the banisters and the
stairs outside, while silvery voice grow
ing rapidly more distant called back some
thing about "good-by," and about my be-
ing so clever, but / need not repeat that
again.
have not seen her or heard of her since.
My friends could not or would not tell me
anything. | was much mystified then, and
now the fine spring afternoon has reminded
me of her and l have recalled the Nhole
history of the visit of my fair client,
Five o'clock, by Jovel | must hurry
home at once and take my wife for stroll
in the park. Euphemia never could stand
being kept waiting. | wonder who that is
knocking. A good brief, hope. Probably
some little paltry county court case. What
do you say, William? A marriage settle
ment to draw. You know | never do any
cOnveyancing; send it away What sOlic-
itOrs? Sharpe & Wiseman; very good
people, and new clients-about the biggest
Irm in London. What is the fee? Five
hundred guneas! William! Five hundred
gllineas for drawing a marriage settlement!
They must be mad. Who is it? Let me
look. settlement on the marriage of
Capt Henry Scott-Shackleford" Owe heard
that name before somewhere) land Con-
stantia Blifkins, widow" Constantia
Blifkins sounds rather high classl Steady,
though, Blifkins! Blifkins? Where have
heard that name? Aha, begin to I'M
derstand My little client, this is indeed
gratitude Bat if we ever meet again,
Enr,rtnr,tin IL ,,-ill hn ,.nll t, hllISh and