The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-08-15
81 am in love-that's Just it. v
"Won't he propose.

! ole proposed years ago"
"Then why don't you'll felt my
self getting personal, but she inter
rupted me.
Il don't see that you are so very
clever" she said. "Can't you under
stand that my horrid old uncle has
done his bsst to prevent me from mar
rying the only man ever cared for in
my whole life2 How would you like
some one to leave you money on con-
dition you would not m ,rry your En-
phremiai" her voice began to shake,
and there were tears in her blue eyes.
"Are you a friend of Euphremiaf"
I said gently, to divert her thoughts
for moment. really never blushed
so often IN an afternoon before or
since.
"No,' she answered with a quick
smile, though her voice sh ook as she
continued, 81 d)n't know her, but |
know of her; and hear that you love
her very much, and when the solicitor
said he could do no more to help me |
came to see II you could; and oh, Mr..
Fairburn, | do want the money to help
my brothers and sisters as well as my.
self; and | can't, / mt give up Har-
ry" Here she fairly broke down aud
sobbed aloud to my very great embsr-
rassmant.
SWELL" l said, at my wits eud, after
9 few moments silence, "you ought to
marry-.o marry-csn't you marry
some one else first2"
"Whatl" and wait for Harry till I'm
au old, old wonsn9"
"Not exactly said |; "your hus'
band might mean You might div
| mean your marriage might be put to
an end after time, or he might die!
She did not answer at once, and
felt l had been recommending a di
vorce by collusion, with the alterna
tive suggestion of murder, aud had
perhaps said enough for the present
"Of might die" she said medtative
ly, apparently rather struck with th'
latter suggestion.
''Of course he might" said cher
fully "and his life might not be O
much value"
"Then he would be sure to live un
less he was very, very old to bsglr
with"
- "Do you know of any one very, yer,
| old," l asked, new light dawning up
on me.
q "No, one" she said, except old Bill
r kius. He is 1922"
n He's the very mani" | cried.
I "Nonsense" she answered. He's
}. poor old man in our village and live
/. on brandy and snuff"
@ "Old Blifkins ia the very man." r.
ii peated. ''Look herel If he's 102 b
v cannot last much longer, and if W
d don't like to take him to church 60
d a registry office. lie will be glad
d end his days in affiuence, and if ye
\. will send him to Jersey or some sue
t, place where liquor and stuff a
n. cheap
at "Oh Mr. Fairbairnl' she exclaime
ell couldn't"
d THAT settles it," said rather dryl
81 rising aud looking ont of the windo
,e as l lit fresh cigarette, ''but of cour
al if you could / understand your uncl,
" fortune is avery large one; there a
n. your brothers and sisters to be thoug
60 of, and then there is what's his paI
81 Tom, Bill, Harry"-as ! said the la
word the door clicked behind me,
ns heard whisk of feminine draper
90 brushing the banisters and the stai
n. outside, while silvery voice growi,
he rapidly more. distant called back son
as thing about "good. by" and about 4
n, being 80 clever, but | need not rept
@. that again.
tn | have not seen nor. heard of
We since. My friends could not or wot
m not tell me anything. / was mu
ar mystified then, and now the fine spri
,e- afternoon has reminded me
,s- her and | have recalled the whole h
er tory of the visit of my fair client,
ot Five o'clock, by Jove! l must hu
he home at once and take my wife fol
an. stroll in the park. Euphremia ne
mt could stand being kept waiting.
il wonder who that is knocking. A &C
ri. brief, l hope. Probably some lit
Ia paltry county court case. What do J
iii say, Williami A marriage settlem'
nd to draw. You know never do 8
of conveyancing; send it away. w
ID. solicitora3 Sharpe & Wiseman; v
itv good people, and new clients-ab
an. the biggest firm in London. What
he the fee? Five hundred guineas! w
,rv lam! Five hundred guineas for dr.
,at ing marriage settlement! They m
YER be mad. Who is it' Let me 10
Ia. settlement on the marriage of O.
he Henry Scott, Sackleford' Owe he
i'm that name before somewhere) "i
Al Constantine Blifkins, widow" {
Lhe Stamina Blifkins sounds rather b
ne, class! Steady, though, Bifkinsl B
be-. kinss Where have l heard that ma
in. Aha, l begin to understand. Ny
tie client, this is indeed gratitt
the But if we ever meet again, Const
ust tina, it will be for you to blush
for me 10 say with Talleyraud, sc
az madame. So. James, Budget.