The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-02-10

HlhldHu. Tie man VINO na0 come to
marry Mabel, and rob him of his love,
who had been his since they both
wore pinafores.
But though he made many attempts
| to breach the subject, and though he
had never disgraced piece of can
yass with a worse daub than he put
on that morning, the hours slipped
! by. and the old gentleman rose to re-
turn, without his having said one
word to let him know that Mabel was
not free to be wooed by him.
Now, desperation made him escrow
his courage to the sticking point, :"
and with very red face and falter-
ing voice, he said:
''Sir, have most-that is, want
to say would speak to you in pri-
vate, if you please
eyes," answered Mr.. Falkland,
looking surprised but quite uncon-
scious. II shall be most happy to
hear any communication you please
to make; and, as / cannot invite you
to Walton Lodge, being only visitor
there, and as there is no one to hear
except the birds and squirrels to
overhear our conversation, perhaps
we can talk now?''
Eyes, certainly; I came on pur-
pose," stammered Bob, growing more
and more nervous; II want to tell
that is, you must please understand
that -you-you-in fact, you can't
marry Mabel Walton, and what's more,
you shan't!''
Bob's sudden and defiant conclusion
arose more from rage at his unfortun-
ate loss of words, than from any
other cause.
'sSir!'' said Mr. Falkland, looking
at him with displeasure mixed with
the slight alarm as if he had been an
escaped lunatic. ''Will you kindly
explain yourself?''
s'There is nothing to explain, sir;
only wish to accept the fact, said
Bob, now thoroughly exasperated by
| the others GOODNESS. II was engaged
| to Mabel Walton, with the full con-
sent of both our parents, when I was
| heir to my uncle's fortune. But he,
enraged because would not marry
his adopted daughter; left her his for
tune and me only fifty pounds per
annum. Then Mrs. Walton told me
| Mabel should not marry a pauper,
and so broke off our engagement
though it was for Mabel's sake l lost
my fortune
'sBut really, young man, I think
you have acted very meanly; you
have persuaded girl to wait for you
when you have no prospect of marry
ing her; and you encourage her to
disobey her parents, who very prop
erly, wish her to accept the richest
sutton. This is very sad.'
''You wicked old hypocrite! Ifyou
were my own age, you would soon
have my fist in your face! However,
as you have no honor, l can't appeal
to it; only, if you dare worry my poor
girl, I'll make you repent it."
And in fearful wrath, Bob picked
| up his easel, and strobe away.
stop, stop, young man! One mo-
ment;.I cannot let you go like that, :"
cried Mr.. Falkland; and Bob did
stop, and as he glared at the old gen.
tleman with savage eyes, the latter
suddenly burst into a loud peal of
hearty laughter.
''It's very amusing, no doubt, :"
sneered Bob, longing to hit him on
the head with his own fishing can.
cit is amusing, sir. It is the best
joke l have heard for many long
day. So Mrs. Walton had match
making on her mind when she in
vited me down here for quiet fish.
She really thought / was likely to
marry that pretty little blue-eyed
girl, did she? A girl several years
younger than my own daughter. Ha,
ha, ha! Excuse me, young man. Ha,
hap
''Really; sir, if / have been mis-
TAKEN" began Bob, feeling fool
ish, yet delighted.
| ''My dear young fellow, you never
were more mistaken, do assure you.
Now you mention this, I can see it
may possibly be the old lady's idea,
| but, believe me. nothing is farther
from my thoughts than marrying any
one, still less that sweet child. But,
come, accept my apologies for not
undeceiving you at your expense.
Will you walk back with me, to prove
your forgiveness?
Bob readily assented, only too glad
of any excuse to go near Mabel's
home.
Then the old gentleman drew from
him an account of his unsuccessful
attempts to get a livelihood, and, in
return for his confidence, made a
proposal which gladdened his heart,
and caused his hopes of marrying
Mabel to rise again.
Il have great business as a mer-
chant; my ships are on every sea, and
I have no son to help me. Ny only
daughters husband is an independent
gentleman, with an ample fortune OF
his own. There is absolutely no one
to take to my business when I am
gone. If you find all the fine arts
positively closed to you in getting a
living, what say you to making a
trial Of merchandise? Will you come
into my Office for month, and if you
like it, and show the aptitude neces-
sary, would do great deal for the
daughter of my old friend, who is as
sweet an English rose herself as ever