The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-10-23

said WIS d gentleman. IF Ishould ac-
cept the offer you make me, should be
one no longer. and prize my reputation
IN that respect more than cherish any
thing II the world
This sounds well, sir, bur It IS child
ishness. You are bound to make my
client amends for your folly. It IS in
your power 70 marry her, and IF you are
a man you viii make her that repara,
ton.
Excuse me, Mr. Chelm, II would be
foolish for us to argue longer on this
point. VIII call again tomorrow, when
we are both less excited. Do not think
wish time TO reflect, for my decision is
final, but I should like your client to
know that am not wholly an migrate.
Tomorrow, If yen say so, at the same
hour"
'tStop one moment. have one more
request 10 make of you, which you can
hardly refuse, perverse as you seem &c
be. Ny client expressed the wish that
IN case you should decide as you have
done. you would call upon her this even
ing at her own house"
Francis bit MS lip. 4 should be
obliged 10 make the same answer"
The subject, sir, will not be preached. .
Certainly, then. I viii come"
It was with difficulty that l could re-
strain myself from rushing into the room
and falling at his feet but when knew
that he was gone. l went up to Mr..
Chelm with the tears In my eyes.
Il did my best for you, Virginia. But
the fellow is right He is a gentleman.
hated him for causing you sUch pain,
but if he loves some one else-well-one
can scarcely blame him.
Il told you he would refuse me. Do
not mind my tears, and promise me that
you viii come tonight.
what new mystery is this:'
Never you mind: only promise that
you viii come.
How shall describe that meeting? To
begin with, went home and broke the
news 10 Aunt Helen and Aunt Agnes
that my husband to be was to pass the
evening with Us, and for the moment did
not break to them another bit of news /
had heard before leaving Mr.. Chelm-
that the Honorable Ernest Ferron, hav-
ing made large fortune in the stock
market through the agency of Mr.. Dale,
had withdrawn it from his hands in
time, so as not TO have it swallowed up
by the failure, and had sailed for Eng
land. 1t was money he wanted, not me.
But both my aunts, poor old ladies,
fancied, fear, that it was the future
Duke of Clyde who was to be the guest
of the evening: and when Francis Prime
was ushered IN, although he looked dis
tinguished enough to be a prince, Aunt
Helen, at least. suspected that there was
something wrong. As afterward
learned, her air toward my lover was
distant and naughty, and as Aunt Agnes
had begun Of late TO initiate her former
enemy, his reception was not cordial.
But while he was looking from one to
another with some hesitation, Mr.. Chelm,
who was standing in one corner of the
room, by previous agreement pulled
away the drapery thai covered portrait
of me which stood IN the middle of the
room.
Francis gave start and flung up both
his hands. "Who is THAR he cried
''That, sir, is my niece" replied Aunt
Helen with haughtiness. Are you not
acquainted with herr"
''Impossiblel It is Alice Bailey"
"Yes, Francis" said, coming into the
room, "it is Alice Bailey, but it is Vir-
ginia Harlan as well The power of love
and the power of money! Ny own sweet
husband, you are mine forever-that is,
if you viii have me. Ike, the imperious,
beautifully ugly Ilze'-for l had released
the dog from the vestibule to share our
happiness are mine now, as well
as his.
It was thus that I gave expression to
my happiness, clasped in the arms OF
him [ loved, ana who loved me, while
the others were too dazad to speak. But
when the time came for me to be given
away It was Ir. Chelm who said tht
necessary words.
In adding that my aunts never quar-
relied again. have told Of my autobiog
raphy all that can possibly interest the
public.
TIE END.