New-York tribune., 1891-05-17

curate's organization was sensiaSSe S one-'A'>'
were almost than he oculd bear
The voice was corporal enough. IL was MISS Miss
vesey once more indulging in whisper vent
the curate was at nonplns. AGAIN na,.i1no n his
iNI bcS your pardon ?" 1t seemed to be
stereotyped form Of words with him.
The words were cry of anguish-qpite add as an
gnished as the music was. The Rev Alan iooKe' iIies
round the ROOM perhaps for succor ana renea. fOce
lie saw his aunt, but at that moment her lace
baunened to be turned another way:
sIf you need my pity, it Is yours ,.,A.-
The words like the lady's, were spoken aouoV-
less unintentionally, in whisper ,
=" II you pity me, then help me tool
"If can, II VIII
"You promise? 7"
,It5o~ch the word was a tolerably bold one,
il was by no means boldly spoken proDaDly tn;.V
was owing to the state of confusion existing III
'"F Tbe theme was changed again; The piano
coasnd IN wall. A tumult Of sound came from II
which positively deafenng nncnreeS ne tbe
most bewildering especially as IL concerneu ,t TIe
Pev Alan. For in the midst OF all the tumulI
he was conscious of these words being addressed
to him by Miss Vesey: -,
"Help me with your love-" -.
The instant the words were spoken the tumult
died AWAY there was the languorous strain again.
The curate was speecnless Thicn' Mn al idea was
taking root in his brain that the musician was
mad at least mad enough to be irresponsible 1or
the words she used II that were so, then, un-
like the generality of lunatics, she had curious
aptitude for sticking 10 the point.
Love me, or die! , A.,
"My-my dear young lady" stammered the
curate
"You will be my murderer
The accent with which these words were spoken
was indescribabe, as indeScrloaole as tne hus1
which accompanied them. 1t may be douDted
IT, as he heard them, it was not the Key Alan
himself who was going mad The heat ana aglua
tjon brought on by the pace at which MS aunt
had marched him from Cadogan Place, the extra
ordinary manner of his reception at Pomona VIVA,
the still more extraordinary things when ha1
happened TO him since he had got INSIDE al
these. mt together, were quite enough to make
him uncertain as to whether he were standing on
his head or his heels. And then, for hIm, q
stanch believer IN the theory ana One placUlce u
dressed to him after five minutes acquaintance
| by total stranger and such pianist ana a
fine young womanl No wonder the Key. Alan i
pI,t his hand up to his head under the I'M
preston that that portion OF his frame was n7''-
ing him. - continued this
extraordinary young woman, in tones which mar
rowed his heart-and yet which were not SO har;
rowing as her music, by very great deal" snail
The Rev. Alan still had his hand to his head.
He looked round him with bewidered, short
sighted eyes Curousy enough a..a his oia au9{ sun
"I-Im sure" he stammered
"Of what ?"
I'll shall be happy"
The music ceased and that for the sufficiently
good reason that the pianist rose from her seat
and flung her arms about the curates neck. lie
said something, but what IL was was lost in the
ample eXpanseS Of Miss Vesey's breast.
Madam" she cried, addressing Miss Macleod,
"your nephew has promised to marry me! lie
has said that he will be happy"
Miss Macleod, who did not happen Just then to
he looking in the opposite direction, smiled grmly.
Owing TO the pecularity of her physical con-
iiguration everything about her was grim-even her
= am glad to hear it, she observed.
The Rev. Alan struggled free from the lady's
powerful embrace. His distress was tragic in its
This this is some extraordinary--"
t." Happiness" cried the lady, and again she
mine 1t has been my lifelong dream to be
married to clergyman; is not my father one
already ?"
At that moment the father referred to entered
What's this ?" he cried, as father naturally
would cry on seeing his daughter with stranger
in her arms
The young lady, however, promptly relieved his
mind
Father, let me present you to my future hus.
band"
III do protest." screamed the frenzied curate
you do protest, sir What do you protest ?"
The fathers voice terrible, so was his manner
destroyed by dipsomania. You come to this
house, sir perfect stranger, sir; you assault my
daughter, sir: you take her in your arms.
This was, perhaps, strictly speaking. perversion
of the truth but at this moment Miss Macleod
offered her interpositOn.
You need be under no concern. My nephew
is a gentleman / was witness Of his proposal.
If he behaves bastard to your daughter, | will
deliver him 10 your righteous vengeance then.
In the meantime, perhaps you and your daughter
will accompany us home to luncheon. We can
arrange the preLminaries OF the marriage during
the course of the meal