The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-18
CHAPTER vi.

CHAPTER VI.
AS the story was unfolded to him an
expression of grim despair gathered
over Forrester's face.
You see 1t will be impossible to
fight against such proof" said Dixon,
sympathetcally Il an awfully sorry
for you, my dear fellow. The only little
bit of possible good in the whole affair
is that your kinswoman may let you Off
the debt you unConsciously incurred TO
her estate.
My Godw cried Forester, starting
up and beginning to pace the room.
1T is an awful blow! | am hard hit in
more ways than one. | have asked the
sweetest girl in the world, as | think,
to marry me, and l hoped to hear her
say yes tomorrow or next day. Now
marriage is too wild an imprudence. |
dare not drag her into an abyss of pow
erty."
"A girl! What girl?" exclaimed Dix
on, impatiently. You don't mean TO
say you have been such an idiot"
Yes, | have! | know what you
mean. l have followed up my acquaint-
ance with my travelling companion,
and to give her up will cost me more
than any other loss-fortune. station,
anything"
Good heavens! how incredible it
seems to me-" said Dixon, as if to him
self. Forester continued his troubled
walk without needing him.
Give me pen and paper" he eN-
claimed after few minutes silence.
IL will write and ask her to see me to-
morrow. Then l can explain all to
her and she will decide what's TO be
done" Dixon pushed over the blotting
pad to him and Forester wrote few
lines rapidly, then, as he addressed and
fastened the envelope he said: Il leave
myself entirely in your hands, Dixon.
l suppose the best thing l can do is to
get back 10 my regiment as soon as
can. Thank heaven l did not send in
my papers. It's all like my cursed
luck" He wrung his friends hand and
was gone.
Somewhat to Dixon's surprise For
roster did not appear next day, and in
the evening when the former. who felt
rather uneasy about him, called at his
hotel he was informed that Captain
Forester was out-had been out all
day.
He has been running his head into
some moose, have no doubt was Dix
on's mental comment as he took his
way to his snug bachelors quarters in
Victoria street. and spent the evening
expecting u visit from his unlucky
friend He was disappointed. however.
1t was not till noon next day that
Forester made his appearance. He
looked haggard and depressed. but had
evidently endeavored to pull himself
together and spoke with more COM
posure than at their last meeting.
Here is a note | received this morn
ings," he said, handing # to Dixon.
Rather startling. eh, ! suppose l had
better keep the appointment"
Dixon read as follows:
Dear Sir: I should very much like to
speak to you respecting the property We
both claim, as I cannot help feeling for
the disappointment you must have had.
VIII you meet me tomorrow a. Messrs.
HendersOn's Office about o'clock2 If you
will not or cannot, please address to ne,
their care"
These lines were written the day be-
fore and bore no address.
Cor cried Dixon, handing back the
note, "of course you must go. Why
don't you go in for the heiress? 1t
would be a splendid solution of all diff
ficulties and she may be a tolerably
looking girl"
Thank you. I don't fancy the un-
derbred niece Of a housekeeper," said
Forester, impatiently. "Resides |
am not a free man until I have come
to an understanding with the lady I
asked to be my wife. | have just come
from her place. I was SO puzzled and
worried at having no answer to my
note yesterday that I went up to Kill
burn this morning and found she was
laid up with a bad cold. Still she might
have sent me a line in reply"
Probably she has heard that you
have lost or are likely to lose, your
fortune
mo. That cock won't fight, Dixon.
She can know nothing Of my affairs.
She is among a totally different set of
people. However, / will see this Sell
wyn girl, though I can't see the use of
an interview. one must not be un-
civil"
mo. certainly not" returned Dixon,
and they continued to talk of Forrest
er's affairs for d considerable time,
Dixon perceiving with grave uneasi-
ness what strong hold his frlend'spas-
sion for his fascinating travelling COM
panion had taken upon him.
At last it was time to start for Par
lament street, where the Office of Hen
derson was situated.
Forester walked ththcr in sort of
dream. 1t was cruel hard lines to be
robbed of love and money by one fell
blow. What different aspect lifa
bore today from what it did two days
ago. Why did Angela avoid him?
1t looked like avoidance. If she loved
him and would wait for him, there was
something still to hope for but how
pale and dim compared to the vivid
colors hope wore for the last month.
Yes, Miss Selwyn is expected" re-