Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-12-07

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Keeri could indeed realize now what
mistake he had made by resorting tc
violence. II seemed to him, as he
glared after the couple, that he him
self was directly responsible for theiI
betrothal.
II should have knocked him on the
head and let the girl alonel" he said,
to himself, as he halted moment and
tried to peer into one Of the windows
OF the little sitting-room. "But ever
now there is way Of setting things tC
rights, II I can only get at 1t. There
are two weeks, II heard Alright, In
which to think and act, and l must be
poor fool, indeed, II In two weeks
cannot invent plan OF separating
them forever,
Unable to see or hear anything fur
Their, the envenomed rival took his de-
parture.
In the meantime the old sailor had
given general review Of the situa-
ton.
I'VE are all of us poor enough, " said
he, by way Of conclusion, "but we are
also rich enough to go through the
world with every necessary comfort.
Our little homestead here will not only
afford us o good home but good liv.
ing. Ashley can assist me In its man
agement during the remainer OF my
days, and afterwards work 1t upon his
own account. The program Is simple,
you see, but 1t Is enough for reason
able ambition. And, after all, 1t is not
wealth that makes our happiness, but
affection and contentment.
"By the way, said Ralph abruptly,
"is Mr.. Benning dead-Mr. Ashley
Benning, after whom you have named
me?"
"Why, of course, replied Bullet.
"Then can at least count upon keep
ing this name permanently" com
mented Ralph. 1T will matter little,
in fact, If l should never discover the
name to which | am really entitled"
"Of course not. II you marry Alma
under the name of Ashley Benning,
you will be just as legally her husband
as If you had married her under your
former name-the name you have for
cotton and lost, whatever 1t may be.
Even If your real name should be dis
covered after your marriage-and 1t is
to be hoped, OF course, that it will be,
sooner or later-why, even then there
would not be the least flaw In your
marriage with Alma-not the least"
The conversation was prolonged to a
sufficiently late hour, but Ralph at last
withdrew to his own room, and the
father and daughter then drew their
chairs close together.
"Caution" breathed the ex-sailor. 81
must have few words with you pri-
vately. You have really caught him.
yes, thanks to Keeri."
"He seems cold, however"
HE is cold-just like stone. He
offered himself to me merely from a
sense Of duty, or gratitude, or some
thing of the kind, and not from affec-
tion. But what do | care for the why
or the how of his proposal? It is
enough for me that he Is engaged to
me"
"Of course it's enough" assented
Bullet. 'The whole situation is lovely.
We must take good care that there's
mo slip betwixt the cup and the lip,
and that's all there Is about it, AS
soon as you are duly married to him
that is, within few days thereafter
shall suddenly discover that his real
name is Ralph Kemplin, that he, is the
only son Of the great merchant of
Chicago, that he is the heir of untold
wealth-in short, that the facts Of the
case are just what you and l have
known them to be ever since he was
thrown into our keeping. And then
all you and he will have to do is TO take
your true places in the world rs the
son and daughter-in-law OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Kemplin.
The glow that suffused Alma's cheeks
at this blissful prospect was almost
hectic in its coloring.
How lovely it all Isl" she breathed.
Lovely! Lovely's no name for it.
You've caught a prize that the richest
girl in the world might envy"
1t was with this rosy view Of the sit
uation that the couple finally separated
for the night.