The Penn's Grove record., 1894-03-09
AN USHER'S FATE.

doir, if such an anomaly can exist tho
time, late in the evening, when conf
dcnces find easiest expression; the PEG
pie were the boudoir's owner, in {
neglige compounded of dress clothes
and a smoking jacket, and the friend
of his bosom, somewhat similarly at
tired, with the comfortable abOmina,
ion of a cigarette between his fingers,
"SuSt let me read it to you again.
iaid he of the smoking jacket, straight.
ening himself in his chair, and taking
worn-looking paper from the table.
"Something may suggest itself to you.
l want to have it all right, you know,
SO that when the notice is mentioned
shall be ready with a good suggestion.
Now, then, listen: Authorization.
On Wednesday, the 2Sth inst, al
the Church of the Seven Angels, by
the Right Reverend Arthur St. John
Fobes, d. D., assisted by the Reverend
Francis Willard Mason, George North
rup Miller aud Alkaline Bell, daughter
of the late Major-General Sylvester
Waldron, United States Army How
s it? Does it go?"
SO? | should think so! All those
capitals will sparkle like diamonds in
the sun. But, Miller, l wish you would
count inc out of the affair. How many
weddings do you think / have played
asher for this spring? Six-no less
''\Nell, make it seven. There's luck
III odd numbers"
"There wouldn't be i'll this case. /
was just ready to swear off from all
social designations, and go into train
ing ill fall, for the Sake of my health.
There's Green, he's good fellow have
him"
Miller shook his head. "T WONT
have Greene nor anybody else" lie
said, clasping his hands behind mis-
head and throwing himself back in his
chair. "Ill have you. I'm sorry If
you're feeble, | wish Xou could be
hest n There's plenty to get and
little to do iii that situation; but Ada ;
broiher-confuupd him.-I had to ask
him"
''Of course. don't grudge him the
honor; Int you know "Wednesday 3
drill night for me, and"
"Ill pay your fine"
"lIang the fine"
"With pleasure; but you don't mint,
the fine, I'm sure / don't See why YOU
mind cutting. They will work You
harder than | shall. l won't oblige
you to carry a gun"
"ThanEs Pin equal to the gun | be-
lieve."
am tell you what it is, Brooks, YOU
have been in no, end of "a Sulk since
there was Il doubt of Miss Towards
being maid of honor. j must say |
think it's shabby of you to desert me
on that account. Still, / will be mag
unanimous, and tell you the news, al
though it would serve you right if |
didn't. She has accepted, after all;
her father has consented to her coming
TO town for the occasion. Why he
wanted to refuse at all / can't imagine.
But it is like him; everybody knows
what he is"
Brooks laughed with a more inter.
ested manner than he had Shown here
tofore. 81 DON'T" he said, "what is
he?"
"Why. haven't you met him?"
ayes, but only once or twice, ~
then not for more than a minute. lie
is a handsome man.
ooh, iron-gray hair gives any man d
distinguished look, and he is tall and
straight, which helps out the idea, but
he is a perfect tyrant. | have heard
that he is positively cruel to his daugh-
ter; that he bought this place out OF
town purposely to keep her shut up,
and that he won't let a man look at
her. Now there was Radford. 1t
seems that he went out there to offer
Miss Howard his hand and heart, and
was fairly rushed off the place by hi
most"
"Sensible man. Who told TRAD
ford?"
81 don't know; 1t was told. l adj
nit that, excepting financially, Rad
ford is not much Of Il catch. lie hasn't
as much strength of character as little
wee monkey; but must say | think
that he might have been declined with
thanks. | suppose it sounds heartlcss,
Jul HtGltllul dilN lIlLttStS utlpll2 W a d
girl who hasn't any father"
Brooks rose to his feet and droppcd
his cigarette end into a receiver; then
turning an animated countenance to-
ward his host, he grasped his hand and
shook it warmly. I'll see you through,
Miller, he said, off it takes the last
prop of my failing constitution"
After this the wedding preparations
went merrily on. One evening, how
ever, hardly a week before the great
day, the happy bridegroom sought out
friend Brooks, with Il wrinkle on
brow and a troubled sympathy in
his manner. dts all up, old man,
he said, with desperate ~frankness.
"Great heavens! what do you
nean?' exclaimed Brooks, aghast.
"Miller laughed a little. "Oh, ii
isn't as bad as that" he said, "only
Miss Howard can't come; she has
sprained her ankle. Lucky it was no
She was thrown from her
Her father must be an idiot to
let her ride horseback, l suppose liz
wanted her to break her neck
Brooks laughed in spite of his dis.
appointment. ''Oh, you're not your.
elf at all, Miller dear, Miller dear"
lie said; "and small blame to YOU.
However, as you say, it it lucky it is
40 worse"
eyes: but What will you do?'
81? ! shall send her some flowers
md a note to sayI am sorry"
Miller looked relieved. "And you'll
pc on hand yourself all the same2" he
aid.
''Do you take me for a child?" an
iwered Brooks with some asperity
OF course l will"
He was as good as his word.
"You're a trump, Brooks" Miller
aid to him, in a hasty aside at the re-
"You have outdone yourself
o-night."
"Don't say a word" returned
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