Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-12

gentleman she is engaged to fixes . dav for
her marriage, and allows her parents to in
| vite guests to be present at that marriage,
and then coolly postpones 1t! Put it in q
| common-sense way to your own mind. How
should you like your sister. we will saw. to
be treated in such fashion by any man."
81 should not like my sister, if had one,
to be forced to marry a day before she
| wished, answered Sir James, sturdlly.
"Well, must consult Colonel Clyde, and
then shall write to you to tell you his de-
cision."
off You like I will wait to speak to
Colonel CLYDE to-day"
"Oh. there is not the least occasion to do
so," said Mrs. Clyde, coldly. who had no
idea OF Sir James speaking to Colonel CLYDE
until she had prepared the way Colonel
| Clyde will not dine at home TODAY, and
therefore you could not see him. but shall
| tell you what he says"
| She rose as she spoke, and very plainly
intimated to Sir James that she wished him
to go. But Sir James stood his ground
with some courage.
81 should like to see Miriam before I
leave" he said.
81 think not to-day, Sir James; this had
better be settled first before you have any
| more interviews with her."
"But it is settled, said Sir James
eve shall see," said Mrs Clyde, with a
somewhat wintry smile, and she looked so
plainly at the door that Sir James felt COM
PEELED to go.
And he was scarcely gone when Mrs
Clyde proceeded to Miriam's room, more
angry with her daughter than she had ever
felt in her life. She used scant ceremony,
opening the door without rapping, and
walked in, and Miriam felt afraid when she
saw the expression of her face.
U1.k H. l.. IL
said.
'What, mother?" answered Miriam,
nervously.
DO not prevaricate. You have persuaded
Sir James, it seems, to assist you in dis
obeying your father and mother; you have
induced him to come to me and propose to
postpone your wedding day."
Miriam was silent
81 little thought child of mine would
act thus" continued Mrs. Clyde, severely;
and yeu-knowing as you do the story that
might reach his ears any day-shouId have
been wiser"
ut would have been better to have told
him, said Miriam, desperately.
''To have told him what?" answered
Mrs. Clyde, fixing her dark eyes on her
daughters face, who shrank visibIy as she
did so. Miriam, have you no prudence,
no common sense? You are the last person
who can afford to triAe with the good for
tune which came to YOU when Sir James
asked you to be his WIFE"
81 will marry him, mother, only not vet"
said Miriam, who was pale and trembling.
Don't ask me, cannot-I told you So
cannot, 1 cannot %
"But why? Is there another mystery
about this engagement also?"
"Mother, don't drive me mad p ex-
claimed Miriam, passonately. Il only ask
for few weeks delay-Sir James was very
kind, far kinder than you are %
''Sir james is happily ignorant of the
past, which l am not Sir James knows
nothing Of"
"Mother. be silent, for cannot hear any
more" interrupted Miriam, SO excitedly,
that Mrs. Clyde, firm and cold as she was.
grew afraid, 81 have said will marry him
in two months, but cannot before, will
not!'
"I fear you will repent this, Miriam"
answered Mrs Clyde, still looking at her
stand this sudden change. Until the last
few days Miriam had seemed fairly happy
and satisfied with her engagement, and now
to show such strange persistency in deferring
her marriage half startled her mother, who
began to think there must be some hidden
cause for her conduct
'If you are wise you will think better of
this" said Mrs Clyde, though in a milder
tone, for she saw plainly the poor girl was
painfully agitated. "But will leave you
now; do not, however. forget what have
said, Miriam-do not forget the past" and
Mrs. Clyde turned and left the room.
"Forget the past!' repeated Miriam, ex-
citedly, as the door closed behind her
mother; show can I! how can II With
Hugh lying there-so near-and I cannot
see him; dare not even ask how he is-but
must see him; see him again before we
part forever!''
She wrung her hands and paced up and
down the room in terrible emotion; and in
the meantime Mrs Clyde was talking to
her father gravely and uneasily about her.
81 cannot understand her." Mra CLYDE
was saying; 'for the last few days she has
looked extremely ill, and now to induce Sir
James to delay the marriage seems to me
extraordinary"
(7o be Continued neat Sscsday)
Copyright, 1894, By Dors Rsssaal