The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-06-21

AAoDSAf AAO0 NFNAs huu VAsSh - 49, >~~
a ficulty in explaining away some dis
e crepancics which did arise in spite o
her care.
Time passed on, till at last but on,
week remained before the date fxeG
for the eventful ceremony. Mr.. Cliff
ford had just been consulting Mabel al
: to the propriety of announcing the
sudden indisposition of the bride.
: groom, when Miss Worboise paid her
usual morning call.
.'Oh, Nab, darling, you didn't tell
! me, but knew you would like to talk
it over, SO / called in early. Naughty
man! to combine business with pleas
ure like thisl', @
What do you mean?" asked Mabel,
with apprehension. M
you know as we'll as l. / really
wonder you let him. It's hardly re-
spectable!"
4 What is hardly respectable? the
girl asked, horrible fear Selling her.
why, of course, letting him lecture
here the very day before his marriage.
Didn't you know?-but Of course You
did-he has promised to give an extra
lecture to supplement his courser'
"Oh, yes-I know" said, or rather
gasped, Mabel. ''Of course-I have
rather headache this morning, and
would you excuse me?"
Miss Worboise, of course, took the
hint, and left, with many expressions
of regret, while Mabel sought her
father.
What shall we do?' she painted.
HE is coming here before he crosses
the actually herein five
days-he must hear of it-and II
shall die of shame'
at is deuced awkward" said MI
Clifford, perplexed; ''but, never mind.
I've brought you into this mess, and
I'll get you out. Now, see here. I'll |
wire at once and get him to dine and |
stay the night with us-in fact, we'll |
keep him entirely to ourselves, and he |
won't get a hint of it. In the morning |
he'll leave by an early train-we can
say his mother is suddenly taken i'll.
There, isn't that all right?"
Mabel assented, doubtfully. Nothing
could be done now, except wait and
hope for the best.
Mr.. Dundas, duly invited, wired his
acceptance, and on the appointed day
was met at the station and conveyed
home by Mr.. Clifford. Mabel awaited
his arrival with beating heart, and
could hardly hide her confusion on
first meeting him. When five o'clock,
the hour appointed for his lecture,
arrived, she professed herself slightly
and Dundas found himself, to
his disgust, relegated to the care of her
father, who received strict injunctions
from Mabel not to allow the lecturer to
greetings with anyone.
They might congratulate him. she
said. "How very awkward that would
bel"
Dinner passed off without mishap.
Mabel was shy and constrained, and
spoke little; but as Cliff ord was in high
spirits at the success with which every
hing passed off, and kept the CONVEX
'ation chiefly in his own hands, his
guest did not notice the unusul preoc-
,upation and silence of his daughter.
But, alas! the best-laid scheme NAV
all sometimes. No sooner were the
,hree established in the 6rawinproom
han the door-bell rang sharply, and
ew moments later the servant an
bounced: Miss Worboise!''
Poor Mabel gasped and turned pale.
'he had no time, however, to say any
hing, for Miss Worboise ran forward, :,
"Oh, Mabel, my darling, .
what do you think? My cook has had :
tit--positively a fiji left her with :,
Ter head in the kitchen coal box! The :,
octor is expected every minute. But 4
couldn't stay-such scene, you !,
now! am SO upset! Might spend !
n hour or two with you?"
Mabel, nearly distracted, managed :,
last to welcome the very unwelcome
uest, and then sat down on thorns,
vaiting in kind of despair for what
he might say. +"
II know" said Cynthia, archly, "that
is rather an announcement time to .
all. You must be SO very busy-such | n
lot of preparations as you must have I'll
make before tomorrow, haven't you, "
Ir. Dundas?' 1t
II? No." said Dundas, rather sur
rised. II really have no packing to al
leak of, and that's done already, as | 81
N leaving by an early train Pr
AN early trainl But surely you OF
ont miss the reception?" sv
Good graciousr' thought the young W.
an, ARE they getting up a levee for :,
e?" But aloud he only said: well, cn
m afraid l shall, unless it's very -,
.rly." "
Which reminds me-" said Miss :,
orboise, mabel, darling, you forgot sn 1
say at what time we are expected to Oh