The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-08-14

world for the person who would Dreak
off this match"
Cora. having finished winding her
silk. had stepped into the house to put
it away. Her lover took scat near Mrs.
Bascomb. -,
eff break off your brother S match,
he said, 'may l rely upon the promise
you have just madc?'
"Ccrtainly," she answered, "though
I don't expec; that YOU will ever be aole
to claim it"
~ call upon you, Miss Josie and lom'
to be witnesses to the bargain
"Why, how do you propose to pro-
ceed!" inquired Josie.
~ played the rich creole lover to you
last winter. Why should l not act 1t as
we'll now to-to any lady who can her
self play part3"
josie clasped her hands in delight, and
Toms classic countcnance was illumincd
with smile which displayed the whole
of an irreproachable set of teeth.
"Oh, if you would! And we will all
help you! And how fortunate that no.
body here knows you! And oh, what
q blessing it will be to everybody ! and
what fun" Josie excitcdly exclaimed.
"But remember, young people, there
must be no fbbing."
"Certainly not, Aunt Maria! The
plain, unvarished truth is all that we
shall need"
"Hist!" said Tom, tragically. "shc
comes"
Obeying a signal from Josie, Mayhem
disappeared into the house.
The widow came up the steps, all
smiles, bangs and futtering ribbons.
"I have left Mr.. Walden at the gate
talking to Doctor James," she simpeled.
"We have been criticising the appearance
of the house, and suggested that this
fashioned porch and the gabled roof
be removed, and a Grecian portico and
mansard substituted. Don't you agree
that it would be great Improvement"
Mrs. Bascomb flushed, and an angry
reply was on her lips, but she checked
herself.
II think it would" said To n gravcly.
ESPECIALLY if there's Gothic bow win
dow, and tower or Chinese pagoda or
something on the roof to afford a better
view. Won't it, Joe2"
"It will make little difference to me, "
replied his sister, "as l don't expect to
live here always"
"Indeed?" said the widow, with inter
est, delighted at the idea of getting rid
of Mr.. Vaden's favorite niece. "May l
presume that there is another person con-
cerned, Miss Josephine?"
'T-really haven't quite made up my
mind" she replied, looking down and
trying to blush.
you'll have to, pretty soon," blurted
out Tom. "What is he here for, I'd like
to know, if it isn't to persuade somebody
to say yes'"
Mrs. Bascomb caught his side-glance
and WINGED a little, while the widow in
quired:
"What! is he in Covington2"
"Came to-day" said Tom, chewing a
straw. "When Josie was at Aunt
Maria's last winter, he was constant
visitor, and everybody could see how
things stood. I knew that he would
turn up here some time"
"For shame, Toni" said Josie, gig.
ling. "Mr. Mayhew's very nice gentle
man, but it isn't at all certain that I
shall ever marry him. People might say
was marrying for money, and that
would make me feel real mean."
The widow glanced sharply at her, but
she did not raise her eyes from the flowers.
$50 this beau of your sisters is rich?"
she inquired.
81 should think so-rather! I heard
Judge Fellows, who introduced HIM to
Aunt Maria, telling her about him, aud
the judge is a man whose word is to be
relied on. lie said the gentleman had
just come in possession of an immense
fortune-a cotton plantation on the Mis-
sissippi worth a million of dollars, and
valuable real estate in Spain, besides
owning an interest in the great gold
mines of-what was the name, Aunt
Maria2"
"Bubbleazoo!" replied Mrs. Bascomb,
coughing behind her fan.
1t was with difficulty that she and Jo-
sic could repress smile, for Tom was
relating what had actually occurred in
the play of "Thc Creole Lover"
"Unclc Joseph" resumed Tom,
''thinks himself very we'll off; but what
is his property compared with Mr.. May
hcw's? And you ought to see his dia-
mond solitaire ring and studs! Why, if
he were presented at court in them,
they'd make Queen Victoria stare"
"Oh, nonsense, Toln!" said Josie.
"You exaggerate everything. Mr.. May
hcw never makes a vulgar display Of his
diamonds, and to sec what polite, un-
assuming young man he is, no one would
imagine him to be so rich"
Next evening Mrs. Chamberlain was
introduced to Mr.. Mayhew, who ap-
pcared in the diamond ring aud studs
mentioned by Tom.
He was evidently impressed with the
lively and coquettish widow, and she
was very gracious, their acquaiutar &C
thenceforth progressed rapidly.
Josie began to look little sullen, and
when Mrs. Chamberlain paid her usual
daily visits to the house, she found her
self, as she thought, not very cordially
received by the girls.
She arttully teascd Josie about "her