The Portland daily press., 1893-08-10

mot with me, Arthur" she replied as
he placed his arm around her waist and
gently toushed his lips to her forehead.
''Eie saw something in the paper that an
noyed him. and he has gene away in hot
haste and in ans thing but good temper,
and could not but feel how unfortunate
that anything should occur to upset him
on the very morning when we arranged
that you should submit to him SO mo-
mentous question as to his consent to
my becoming your wife.
Nothing could be worse" said Ar
thur, his handsome face palng slightly.
seBut still we will hope that business
matters Will not affect his feelings toward
you or his willingness to enhance our
happiness. Besides, my darling Eva,
his anger will doubtless have evaporated
on his return"
ST pray it may" replied Eva, smiling
up in the face Of her lover, ''for should
be SO unhappy if he dashed our hopes to
the ground
GLOW happy, my darling, you make
me feel to hear you say SO, since it
proves, if proof / needed. how dearly
you love me-"
ssDid you ever doubt it, Arthur she
said as she wound her arms around his
neck and fixed her blue eyes upon his
own gray ones.
@Forbid it, heaven, never for an in
stant!" he cried as he drew her to his
breast and kissed her cheeks and lips.
81 have loved you long, loved you dear
ly, and come what may shall love you
to the last.
Her head sank upon his breast, and as
young man pressed his lips and cheeks
upon that wealth of golden hair the fig
ure Of John Grubber, the contractor,
strobe to the long open window and
stood between its panels, gazing with
thunderstruck amazement upon the
young couple so fondly folded within
each others arms.
1t took him some moments to COM
mand himself sufficiently to speak, and
when he did go his voice was tremulous
and husky with passion.
"What in the name Of fury" he cried.
stdoes this mean%
And as he spoke he STROBE into thecen
ter Of the apartment.
Startled by the tones the lovers started
from out Of each others embrace, and
with her face and neck crimsoning to the
hue G peony Eva gave utterance to a
gasping cry. and covering her face with
her trembling hands hurried from the
room.
"What," almost shouted the irate con-
tractor, sis the meaning of this scene
upon which I have come SO unexpected
~ and I have no doubt SO unwelcomeiy:
Since my ward has fed in shame from
my presence perhaps you, Mr.. Arthur
Linton, will inform me Of the reason OF
your presence here and the strange posi-
tions in which have surprised youp'
"Mr. Grubber," said the young man
calmly, stwhen entered this apartment
short time since I came to see you. but
found instead one I have long loved, and
one whose own lips have assured me
more than once that my passion is recip-
rocated, that my love is returned"
sIndeed," sneefed Grubber.
sYes, SIR" returned the other, paying
no heed to the sneers. "And came
here this morning with the full permits
sion of your charming niece to inform
you that we have long loved each othe,
and to ask your consent to permit me to
make her my wife, a happiness that we
have long looked forward to, and which
I am sure will never, either upon her
part or mine, be dimmed by sorrow or
regret"
ssIn plain words, you came to ask my
consent to your espousal of my ward and
niece" said Mr.. Grubber.
ST did," was the reply.
'.And pray, what have You to urge as
an inducement to me to grant your re-
questq' asked Mr.. Grubber.
"That myself and Miss Eva have long
loved each other; that my position in So
ciety isrespectable; that my income from
a high class business, though small at
present, will increase with time and per-
severance, and that no man could make
her more tender and devoted husband
than myself"
'sThat you are honorable, respectable
GAku d. I1SsIS lfOlApCl VI q IOO&C PAOICo-
sion I am willing to admit, but that is
not all I shall require, Mr.. Linton, to in
duce me to give my consent to my
niece's marriage with you or any other.
My ward has e20, 900 in her own right.
and with such dowry no man shall
marry her who does not possess 10 times
as much when he leads her to the altar.
When you can show me that your in
come can be counted by as many thou
sands per annum as it Is now counted
by hundreds, / may feel disposed to
listen to your prayers, but till then, Mr..
Arthur Linton, my ears are deaf alike to
your pleadings and hers. No words. I
will not listen to them. Our interview
is ended. Good morning."
''Sir," said Arthur, Il learned from
your niece that business had somewhat
upset you this morning, and as cannot
but feel that some annoyance under
which you at present suffer may have
much to do with your present answer to
my suit will not accept it as final, but
o,.o