The McCook tribune., 1891-03-27
tain that Ethel ard my heroine were

morrow. | hope the change will do
her good. Her aunt has promised to
take charge of her for a few weeks
l felt that | must speak then. 1t
occurred to me that if l had daugh-
ter who had formed secret attach
ment to a man like the one | had seen
last night should look upon the in
formation as an act of great kindness.
| might be wrong 1 must use great
caution, then there could be no harm
resulting from word of mine.
Pardon me-" l said, sis your
daughter a young lady of about 16
years, and does she sometimes
wear -" Here described the dress
of the young girl.
The girl looked at me for moment
in blank astonishment; and. being APP
parently satisfied with her scrutiny,
she answered Eyes"
She will leave London from the
Southeastern Station?"
The lady answered "Yes," again.
'Pardonme. Ihavegood reasonsf for
asking these qestions," | continued
"Was the date and time of her de-
parture fixed by yourself or by the
young LADY,"
The person addressed evidently
thought me insane; but she answered
my question, and her answer gave me
the clue l needed.
''My daughter remarked last evening
that she would like to visit her aunt
tomorrow, and that, with my per-
mission, she would leave by the
morning train. The invitation had
been standing some time. [ was to
have accompanied my daughter. I'm
fortunately, L am called to Canter-
bury upon business this afternoon"
II think shall induce you to post
pone your Journey" L remarked.
"Will you mind answering me one
more question? Has the young lady
any male friend? Imean, is there any
young gentleman she meets by an ap-
pointment, having your permission to
do so?"
Certainly not" said the lady in
dignantly. "My daughter is much
too young to accept attentions from
gentlemen"
Then I described to her the meeting
I had witnessed with the languid and
gorgeously gotten up Adonis. spoke
OF his manner toward the young lady
and OF the appointment he had made
with her.
"You are mistaken" said the ma
tron frigidly. "The young lady was
not Ethel"
| had partly expected this, and yet
[ was morally certain that previous
to our conversation the lady had
said to her friend: II am growing
quite uneasy about Ethel. Do you
know she frequently leaves home upon
all manner OF excuses in the evening""
And she had admitted to me that
this same Ethel would leave town
alone on the Wednesday morning
train from the Southwestern station,
and that my description of her was
the correct one.
Good breeding, of course, should
have prompted me to apologi ize for
the interruption and make no further
whatever, but | was so con-
vinced that the young lady had no
of visiting her aunt but that
she did intend to elope with the cava-
lier of yesterday that l sacrificed the
point OF etiquette and returned to the
attack.
Suffice it to say that I induced my
travelling companion to postpone her
journey until the next day (hut to
leave her home as at present arranged
and remain at her friends house,; fur
ther, | obtained her promise to be at
the Southeastern station at the hour
fixed for her daughters departure,
and | promised to arrange for some
place where she could see without be-
ing seSn.
/ succeeded in, doing this, and, OF
course the reader knows the sequel.
The languid Adonis, in the extraor-
binary costume, was standing on the
platform. Presently the young lady
Joined him and he took charge
Of the little baggage she had
carried with her She burst into
tears, but he quickly reassured her.
After q time he would have handed
ner into the train, but the now nearly
distracted mother rushed from her
and the girl fell fainting
INTO her arms.
The youth disappeared promptly,
out he was unearthed a few days al
He was one of a worth
ess, dissipated set. He intended to
marry the girl" he said, and then to
come upon her friends for a new
start in life. Happily, his designs were
by the coincidence attend
ng two whispers.
Ethel, poor child, was inconsolable
at the loss of her Gown true love, but
she will learn wisdom in time, and
when she finds her true love in reality
she will thank me for my window
and for what followed it.
She will teach her children to avoid
formed acquaintance
ships, and relate to them how narrow
" She escaped falling into the tolls OF
q schemer, whose Standardization, in
the first place, was an impertinent in
suit, and whose flattery was vlle.-
New York World.