The Delta independent., 1890-08-26
NOT GIVEN, BUT LOANED.

II cannot understand, my dear Al
trura, what could have been Mr.. Ar
.leigh's motive for coming out here to
find us-several hundred miles from
his home and place of business. We
certainly never saw or heard of him
until he called here two months ago.
bringing letters from old friends of
ours, and showing very plainly that
his object was to become acquainted
with you, and secure, If possible, your
hand and heart"
Zone he has certainly secured" ad-
mitted Altrura. blushing. land is in
q fair way to obtain the other"
"But, my dear. have you any idea
where or how he heard of us-or of
you, perhaps I should say more prop
erly. as l, in common with other pros
pective mother-in-law, have no just
right to count myself in as an object
of special or unusual concern"
stop right therem exclaimed Al
trura, throwing an arm around her
mother. You know very we'll that if
Walter had been your own son. long
absent from you. and returned at last,
he could not have shown deeper or
more earnest interest in your welfare.
In everything he has said in regard
to our prospective marriage and re-
turn to the city where he lives he has
counted you in from the first. But in
reply to your question. l have not the
remotest suspicion as to his reason for
coming way out here to look Us up, as
he evidently did, with the interest and
care Of enc determined to find old and
long-lost friends. / have tried in a
careful and delicate way to learn from
him when or where he had seen either
Of ~, or what be had ever known in re-
gard to us. The only answer have
sver been able to elicit that threw the
very least light upon the subject was
that he had once seen US both for .
few moments. and when or where he
would not tell me. He even begged
me not to press him for an answer to
to that question, and on looking up at
him saw large tears standing in his
eyes, his whole expression Indicating
deep feeling"
'The correspondence had with my
old friends in regard to him, at his re-
quest" remarked Mrs. Morrison, ..has,
Is you know, been very free and full
giving us the most positive assurance
Shat he he il not only an enterprising
and successful business man, but .
gentleman of irreproachable character
-one who could easily have secured
wife without coming all the way out
herc to find and marry my daughter"
she added, smiling. but he had some
reason for desiring to find you, and I
must bs contented. l suppose. to wait
until he IL ready to explain the mys-
terry"
well, mother" said. Altrura, with
another charming and happy blush,
"Walter will be here in about ten DAYS
now. and our bridal tour, which have
left to his arrangement, will comprise
our removal to the house that Is now
am sure from his description. will be
much more like the one we had in days
that can only just remember than
the one We have had here since the
death of my dear father"
I'VE have never been really poor. "
said Mrs. Morrison. From your ia
theirs estate. after his death, saved a
little money. but seeing that it would
be necessary for us to live under very
greatly changed circumstances. I
availed myself of the opportunity to
purchase this place, and moved out
here, where we have been living very
comfortably for the last seven or eight
years. Now. strangely enough. you
and are to return to the home of your
childhood, and early youth, where ]
shall again meet my old friends and
live among them. and feel thousand
times more at home than it would ever
be possible out here in this western
city. And all this is brought about in
some mysterious way through the
agency Of one we never heard Of, and
vino has been acting under an impulse
that 1t has been impossible for us even
TO conjecture"
The marriage OF Walter Arleigh and
Altrura Morrison took place at the ap-
pointed time, and was made the occa-
sion of a most delightful, and at the
same time, tender and 6ectionate
blending of joy with sad regrets at the
prospective parting from = mother
and daughter whe had endeared them
selves to large circle of acquaint-
snces.
They saw them. however. about to
leave uuder the care and protection OF
one whom every one who met him was
instictively prompted to treat with re-
spect and esteem. one whose COM
mercial reputation was unblemished.
"Good-by. dear fsllow!'' was said on
all sides. at the farewell reception
which preceded tho departure Of the
little party. You have obtained .
good wife, and size an excellent hus-
band"
Having returned to her former home
Mrs. Morrison was soon surrounded by
her old friends. all Of whom welcomed
her back again among them. and con-
graduated the fair and happy bride
upon being brought back by q gentle
man whom . considerable number Of
the young ladiss who had long known
Him there would gladly have prevented
from performing that srrand.
The past history Of her son-in-law
soon inevitably became q subject Of
eausual conversions bstwesa Mrs.
Morrison aad her ~ friends. among
whom weee some distant relatives.
He hnd bssn kpown 70 some Of thoss
! psopas In early childhood while his pc
eonts were living.