The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-01

bis letters, trying 10 read their contents
By the reflection from his face.
NO lad or unplcasant news anyhow"
was her mental comment after studying
the signs.
Annie Taylor was rs beautiful as she
was Wild, willful and Uqtut5red in the
conyontionalities OF the world. IIermother
died when Annie was five years old. and
after that sad day she never knew a WON
ans watchlGl care, and her maiden heart
grew wild, Ike the flowers Of the field.
Afterthe death Of his wife Colonel Taylor
would have noe hut servants about his
house, and Annie was growing to woman
hood with no gentle hand to restrain the
inipulsive nature inherited from her father.
She had been away AZ boarding school, it
IS true, bnt there She found restraint Only
by rule. ana her waywardness was hedged
in: not cured. She was at home spending
the Winter loiiday 5 with her father, as had
been her yearly custom.
Having finished his last letter Colonel
Taylor low red bis chin. rolled up his eyes,
peered al has child over his spectacles rs If
he were q cjnn0isseur studying al article
Of yirtu. and merely snorted, "Humph"
Good news, papaf' asked Annie, re-
turning his ,.are over her coffee cup.
Yes" snapped tAe colonel sententiously.
Tb"n he made q charge ut the broiled
chicken on his plate.
"What?''
"Yol're not going back to school"
"NO.' Ii WAS an exclamation with a
rising infection. full of heavenly ecstacy
nod accompanied by clasp4l hands. a joyful
s-1i'e and q suppressed shrek Of delight.
you're criLe TO get married"
"NO,' This time the exclamation had
IL falling Infection. The clasped hands
dropped tut" her lap with IL duh, sickening
thud, as they say in the accident column
Of The mes papers, and she suppressed
shrie" Of teligh, gave way TO n suppressed
miX;ure OF mCaa and sob.
The colonel merely granted, scowled and
drauk deep If rae contents Of lis cup.
get marri-df Why, papa! Ivtnever
been in love, even once
Great scott, And what OF it? There's
plenty Of time f2r lOve-aiter you are mar
rieI. Why, you're only sereateen."
"Bpt-but-no young man has ever bad
q chance % show me any attention and
make love 10 me- she was saying earn
tcttN NAtt ift tfs"f't t44t'Af "JN'N WV -
bang on the table win his fist.
"Wcll, ! should say not. Young men
hercahout know your father too well TO
fool with Their lives III that say"
"Oh, papa, surely you DO not intend to
derive ne Of having some fan, rs every
Oiri has before shc marricS, by flirting wish
the boys"
"Fun, You call that fun" reared the
colonel. Il call il idiocy. \ sensible girl
Gets married when the right man turns
up. anl'-
"But 10 max at al mas turned uo for me
that | know" x,
"He hasn't, heyf Well, lie will I'll
nrodrr, the wight man. Don't trouble
vour li;tlo head about Il small thing like
that
'Oh. certainly not. if you are assuming
MI thc responsibilities. Bat might ] be
Iuowel 70 snow who he IS? Perhaps I've
never seen h,m."
'4Wcll-no. You have not"
"Tiat's oao comfort. An entire stranger
10 doubtt'
"Not ri all. rs your cousin"
"My cOusin:'
"Y0ur cousin-William Burnett, who
has been il Germany Ut school the last ten
years"
~Tbe original Of the picture hanging
above vour desk IL The library?'
"Ihe sane"
"a don't ike him"
"You don't know if you do or not you
never saw him"
"Nhy, his portrait"-
"Ycu are not marrying the portrait.
That WAS done three years ago. NO doubt
he has greatly improved since then. That
isa snnu uart Of the affair, however. a
piri can learn TO respect any man VINO l.
suited TO her and-has money"
"ThcG be is richT'
"Very." - .,;.
"Wben did you kindly arrange all this
"F4fteep years a:o his father and were
boso.n friends. When bis son was ten
vsars old and YOU were two we betrothed
our children. then took an oath that, 10
FAR rs my power extended, my daughter
shonId marry William burnett when she
grew 10 w~oInaabood. -
Annie s,ghed. Then she meekly asKed:
"vVhen am | to see this alianced nus
bandy'
To-day" ..r
cte eyshed and half started from her
chair.
"TOdayf ..u
.tlc ms written that he expects to call
and close all arrangement IN person ."
Jan. I; init is today
$50 Kind Of him. Then am TO unuer,
stand that these arrangements nave oeeA
forming between you for some timer
"Certainly; by mail" rsu,
at wasn't thought advisable 10 c'"'"'
me about them so,,no
WI no What was the use OF boring
non, ovcr preliuinaries' You and he can
mn little minor details which we may
have forgotten"