The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-09-12


change her daughters ducats for Q
share of his lordship's title.
And Silss Clyburne, as ambitious al
Lucifer, made up his mind that il
should not be bis fault if the young
man were not attracted by his Daisy
Thereupon ensued series of entertain
ments of all sorts; Clyburne began
none of them, but he gave the last OF
each series, for 30 much more costly
was his dinner or ball. o. theatre
party, or luncheon, or gayety of any
sort, that no one ventured to succeed
him.
"Papa," said Daisy TO him one eve.
ming as hesohanced to be alone In the
library for few moments, 81 have a
piece of news for you"
How his heart jumpedl The for
eign fish had certainly been swimming
round and round the bait on the ely.
burne hook; was he really going to
nibble?
"Well, my darling, what is III"
"Did you know or suspect that my
cousin Bertha was the girl for whom
Mr.. Palmer was willing to throw away
his life?'
"Nol You don't mean i'll Well,
well, l am surprised. Heartless little
jade that girl is, anyway; just like
her father"
"Oh, papa, you do her injustice.
She did discourage him then, because
well, because he was poor, but, of
course, she never dreamed he would
take it so 70 heart
"And, of course, she knew her
father would frown on any such
match?"
"Of course, rich men don't like to
see their daughters wed poverty"
"Oh, that's nonsense, my dear; any
father of sense will look first at the
character and capabilities of his
daughters lover, and if they are all
right the purse is secondary. AS for
Osborne Palmer, l assure you my dear,
| have watched him closely since he
has been here, and l consider him q
very fine allow. OF course his would
be suicide is against him, but I've
come to the conclusion that worry and
starvation had made him about two
thirds crazy
"Do you think girl would
'Be lucky to marry him? Yes, l
do, and if you know of any girl that
thinks of doing so-now, hus',,
my dear, don't speak! Don't tell me
anythingl l have a very particular
reason for not wanting to know any
thing-you tell her or him, or both of
them, that to save all fuss or awkward
ness l, If l were him or her, would slip
off quietly and be married"
"But, papa dear, do you really mean
that you would forgive'--
"There's no question of forgiveness.
You Just tell Osborne what l have
said, and if he has the sense give
him credit for he will understand me. u
At this moment Palmer himself
came into the room. The converse
tion terminated abruptly.
For some days thereafter Mr.. ely
burne was so good natured, 80 almost
generous, that every one observed it
his fellow directors and associates
nudged one another and said: "Now's
your time to talk to Clyburne on such
and such a projects" and his clerks
whispered: "How queer Mr.. Clyburne
seemsl Wonder if he's goingto die'"
One intimate friend, a veuturesome
fellow, had the hardihood to say:
"What the mischief has come ovel
you lately7 l never knew you to be SC
genial. Whom have you feeoed thi,
week."
"Oh, I've got such rich thing on
Obed Jenness! replied Clyburne, chuck
ling to himself for the thousandth time
didn't cost me anything but little
advice-cheapest thing in the world
you know. He can't get ahead of MT
on this score!"
The friend didn't mention this tt
any but ten of his most intimate
friends, and as they were equally Sc
cretive it did not take long to sci
every man on the Change to slyly
watching Obed Jenness. They natural
ly supposed that Clyburne referred tt
things financial, moi matrimonial.
Bertha visited Daisy quite otter
about that time, and Mr.. Clyburns
lost no chance Of publicly insisting
that Bertha must send for her 'things'
and remain the rest of the week with
Daisy.
One morning, during a visit a serv
ant came to Mr.. Clyburne as ne sat a
breakfast and tremblingly said:
'Mass' Clyburne, sab, Miss DAISY
amt in her room, sab!'
"Noi Gone for walk, suppose"
1-Ts feared not, sab. An'-an
Miss Bertha done gone too"
They'll probably be here soon
Keep son coffee hot for them"
"B-5ut, sab, Mary she say as how
de beds amt ben slep' in"
"Neither of themf' asked Mr.. ely
burne, little anxious.
"N-no sab; an yur's note Mar,
foun' in Miss Dalsy's room adde'
the man, handing tiny envelope to hi
master, but standing as far from b
e, the width of the silver salyer AM
the extent of his long arm would per
init.
Mr.. Clyburne opened the note calm
ly; he suspected that he knew VIVA
was in it; he merely glanced at til
first lines:
"Darling Papa-This is to tell 20
that Mr.. Palmer ia about to act o
your advice; Bertha and / are to NEE
him at DIR. -'s at II o'clock tonight, fo
we think it best to have a friendl
witness to such matter.
"Ha, ha, hal" laughed he heartily, t
the surprise and delight of his alarme
servant. 81 understand it now. Mi
Daisy will be home pretty soon, but
is not necessary to give any hint c
this little affair to your mistress. Sh
has a severe headache and it will onl
worry her. Send Mary here"
Mary quickly appeared, for Sila
Clyburne was a terror to evil doerl
and she, too, was cautioned to silenc
and her fears allayed.
Silent! Yes, truly they would
i ua,., a,Ina. oeaoo.all,,