The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-23

"Oh, / dunno. Miss Hartford, she's
been gettin' ready TO be married, this
long time" said Jonas, hoisting the
colonel's luggage on the back OF the
wagon. "And dressmakers and mil
liners they will talk. you know, though
Pm told Miss Hal took great pains to
"Did sheq' aside: ''The darling. J
''And q fine woman she is, colonel" "
efficiously added Jonas, as he pushed in
the last iron-clamped trunk. "a fine
woman, considerinf her age. wonder
she amt married long age"
Colonel Blossom opened his sleepy
black ayes wide.
"why. man. who in the world are you
talking about%
WHY Miss Hal Hartford, to be
sure"
"Hiss Halcyon or Miss Halliana?"
.'There amt no Miss Halliana," said
Jonas. "They're both the same name;
but We cali the aunt Miss Hal and the
niece Miss Halcyon. My daughter she's
lady's maid there, and I'd orter know,
II any one does.
"And which of them is it thst is GO
ing to get married?" breathlessly quer-
1 led Blossom.
"Why, the old Jun, in counsel Beg
| pardonP hurriedly added Jonas. 81
mean Miss Hal. Polly she tells me
there are twenty-four different. gowns
ordered, let alone the jackets and para
soils and ten:button kid gloves fit to
make you hair stand on end
/ nAnd Miss Hslcyon-the young la
| dy, cried the colonel-"she is engaged,
| tool"
"Not as any one knows on. That all,
colonel2 Got your telescope bag? Then
we'd better be movin'."
ColonelB pondered seriously all
the way up to Hartford Cedars, obliy-
| ious of Jonas's incessant stream Of talk.
Could it be possible2 No, that was ut
tor nonseneel And yet =
He strained his eyes as he approach
ed the house. Surely golden.haired Hal
cyon would be there, smiling, to meet
him!
But no. In her place stood a middle
aged charmer, rouged and powdered,
with hair cleaning meretriciously, and
teeth Just size too large for a thin
Tipped mouth.
In one hand she held his love breath
ing letter, in the other his photograph,
And in that second his heart sank like
lead.
He did not know-ah, how much
more difficult would 1t have been to
bear had he known!-that Halcyon
Hartford's eyes were .surreptitiously
watching him from the honeysuckle
garlanded easement beyond.
Dear Charles" the elderly dame
said, lyon are here at last"
He set his teeth, drew one long
breath, and allowed her to slip ca
ressing hand through his arm and lead
him into the house, muttering some
hoarse acknowledgment OF her coquet-
fish smiles.
'Tve brought this upon myself" he
thought, land must endure it The
lady is not 10 blame-no, she is not to
blame"
HE is a hero" Halcyon thought
eyes, q hero"
And the burst into passion Of tears
and ran upstairs to her own room.
"But now I've got you fairly here"
lisped Aunt Hal, more determinedly
youthful than ever. "I'm really afraid,
dearest Charles, that there's great dis
appointment in store for you"
"EhYt
The Young man had sat down in a
listless manner. Aunt Hal held on to
his hand, still all his teeth and smiles.
"And may as well tell you at once"
said she, shat am engaged to Judge
Flostroy of the Superior Court. OF
course, II had known OF your attach
ment in time, there's no saying-"
ooh, pray don't let me interfere with
any existing arrangements, said Bles-
son, jumping up eagerly. Perhaps,
under the circumstances, you will let
me have my photograph back"
Just then there came ring at the
at the door below as the maid announc-
ed:
Judge ,Flostroy, miss, II you please"
Before the slow and ponderous steps
of the approaching visitor could reach
the room, Aunt Hal had thrust the pho
tograph into Blossoms hand.
"A:hem-m-mp sonorously coughed
the luminary OF the superior court.
Aunt Hal tripped smilingly forward.
-"Glad to see you, Judge, she cooed.
"This is my old playmate, Colonel Bles-
son, Just arrived from India. Idare say,
Colonel, you'll find Halcyon somewhere
about the house"
"Disposed OF in short order" NUT
tered Colonel BlessoR. "Great heavens
What have 1 done to deserve such
lnck2"
Two hours atterward the young low
ers sat on the veranda, watching the
evening star rise over the hills, while
the Judges basso profundo voice srill
rolled in the sitting room like distant
thunder.
"But wasn't it a narrow escaped"
gasped the young colonel, holding the
girls slim hands in his.
"Wouldyoureallyhave married her|
Halcyon asked.
"As a gentleman there was no escape
for me under the circumstances"
"But would you really have married
"Yes, I would!" with sternly set teeth
and knitted brows.
"Then I'll marry you, Colonel Bless
son" whispered Halcyon, because you
are genuine hero, and because" with
an arclf glance, ~ really think you need
wife to take charge OF you"
"After the episode Of to-day" said
Colonel Blossom, ~ really think do"
THE BIRTH PLACE OF JAS G. BLAINE
a FnnnEvlvaniR MAny othar great men amI.