Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-02-28

refusal. | will admit that it is mere
sense of duty, if that admission pleases
you. But am authorized by Lefty to
say that when she arrives at the age of
81, should your consent to our marriage
be refused, we will marry without it.
That will be the next move on the board,
Mr. Bitltes."
You are playing a costly game, sir" !"
"Not at all, sir. At all events, shall
call on the bishop to capture your queen" ,"
replied Cooke, good humoredly, and
bowed himself out of the office with
mock courtesy.
When Lefty heard of this positive re-
fusal, in spite of her avowed contempt
for money, she was disposed to be down.
cast. But Carter whispered to her Sc
cret, proverbially dangerous thing to
do to woman, and Lefty, after look
of astonishment. burst into ripple of
silvery laughter.
"Oh, you dear, delightful Carter!" she
exclaimed. "Who would have thought
It'll"
And Lefty renewed her laughter, for
the secret seemed to her the most comical
thing in the world.
Bittles did not desire at all to exact
the penalty; but he did very much de-
sire to break the disagreeable connection.
But how? Lefty went into society under
the chaperonage of Mrs. burroughs,
Bittle's own sister, well to do widow,
who was four years his senior, and liked
the mild kind of dissipation which she
enjoyed by virtue of her office. At all
routs, kettledrums, parties and the op-
era, or wherever Lefty went, Carter
Cooke was sure TO be; and Lefty suffered
him to assume the right of prospective
ownership in way that drove all other
suitors from the field. Lefty made no
secret of her feelings, and wore her en-
gagement ring openly. Mrs. Burroughs,
who liked Cooke, tacitly aided and
abetted. 1t soon became known that
Bittles frowned on Cooke, and folks
were curious to learn how the affair
would end, as though, in such a case,
with two willful young persons, it could
end in any way but one. Bittles was
duly informed of his open courtship, and
the lectures he bestowed ON Lefty in con-
sequence only increased his wards dis
like to himself, until it deepened to posi-
tive aversion.
Bittles trusted to time and the chances.
He did not believe that Lefty, when the
pinch came, would sacrifice SO large q
portion of her property for mere girlish
love, which might be destroyed at any
time by a lovers quarrel; nor that Cooke,
whom he had brought himself to believe
had mercenary motives, would care to
take her with so much less money. Nine
thousand a year to one of Letty's expen-
sive habits meant almost exclusive rural
residence; and he knew that Lefty did
not like living in the country, except
during the time of flowers and sunshine,
and then varied by Newport and Sara
toga. Bittles waited, not without hope.
He had calculated on an ally in his
sister, and, to insure her co operation,
told her of his hopes and fears. She
laughed at him.
james" she said, this is the most
absurd thing possible. She is about half
your age. You have staid, old bachelor
habits, and Lefty, though she's good
girl, is fond of life. society and racket.
She'd drive you mad in six months, and
put you in the grave in less than year.
If you must make an exhibition of your
self matrimonially, choose some rich
widow of 30 to 40, who would suit you
better"
"Hang rich widowsl"
.fOuita tNnlifa ND oop, oo,,
sidering that l am widow with COM
Portable income. You had better give it
up. have sounded Lefty to the depths,
and know that she loves young Cooke;
and he is-barring fortune-a capital
mate for her. | would have preferred
her to have made richer match, but
they will have enough between them"
mo, they'll not; for will never give
my consent. I'll take her from you-lock
her up, if need be-
"You are a lawyer and know better,
James. You may refuse your consent,
though every one will penetrate your
motives and laugh at you; but as TO the
locking up-they do such things in plays
and novels, not i'll real life
"She is under my control until she is
21."
"Oh, yes-doubtless; that is, nominal
ly-for three months more. Then she'll
marry in spite of you. If you strip her
of all but five thousand year, you'll in
cur general reproach and gain no salts
faction in the long run. The best you
can do is to keep off the wedding for a
short time. Give in. If you were ten
years younger l might strain point to
help you-not as it is"
AS the Irish peasant girls say, "she
was as stiff as he was stout" and Bittles
fell back on his move of the forfeiture,
which he thought would deter both par
ties for some time, and, in the mean
while, no one could tell what a chance
quarrel, newer face or the whims of a
woman might do.
Just then fate seemed to come to the
assistance of the guardian lover 1t as
sumed the shape of new suitor, or
something like it, and, to the delight of
Bittles, it was also Virginian-Maj
Boiling.
Fire fight fire." thought Bittles.
Maj. Phil Boiling was considerably
older than Carter Cooke, as he should
have been, since he had fought in the
sectional war, ridden with Jeb Stuart,