Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-07-14

| become bankrupt Your Uncl,
| George 10 such Il miser that II he
| heard the fainteSt rumor that | was II
difficulties through extravaganza he
| wouldn't leave me farthlng. far less
| give me nnythlngl In fact, II Is partly
on his account that | am so anxious
| to raise this money quickly, for If ] am
| gazetted before he dies Che doctors say
| he hasn't two months to live) my name
| VIII be cut out Of his will"
After pause he went on:
u wish some rich follow would come
| and marry you, Nab; that would pro-
| vide for you, at lenst, and you might
be able TO spare n few halfpence for
your poor old father"
Mabel laughed. rAt least you could
have the wedding presents In that
case she said,
CLIFFORD suddenly stopped short In the
midst Of his peregrinations. 1.-THE very
thing he exclaimed.
what do you mean?'
quite simple Send out invitations
to your wedding to some person. i'm
aginary, If you like. Then, when you
have got a fine array of wedding pres
ents--well the event can be postponed--
sudden Illness Of the bridegroom-any-
thing. Meanwhile the presents are CON
verified into ready money. / am once
more solvent, Uncle George dies hey,
prestol everything in a flourishing con-
dition again.
but, father, think of the deceit
Why, 1t would be like robbing peoplel"
"Pshawl We're desperate, and all
Is fair in such cases. Besides. IL every
thing does turn out well and Uncle
Georges money comes 60 us all right,
why, then we can get the presents out
OF pawn and return them--engagement
suddenly broken off, you know. What
objection can there be TO that?"
But the whole scheme is 80 pre-
posterousl No. father 1 really can't
do it,"
80 you won't even do that little ser
vice for me? Well / might have ex-
shaving all these years"--tMabel looked
slightly incredulous)--"den myself,
paying sweet dollars for your fees to
local lectures, and this Is all the thanks
II was at the last today" said his
daughter, colorlng slightly.
'The last Then that lecturer fell
low--what's his name 2-Dundas. has
gomez Look here Mabel Let him be
the bridegroom. He'll never hear OF
lt-hes not likely to ever come back
again. and It will seem much more
natural for you to be engaged to him
than to a stranger. Therei l fatter
myself that | have made a really brill
liant suggestion
Father. / must tell you plainly" said
Mabel, filhhinE nngrily. II decline to
have ANYTHING to do with the plan"
Now. Mabel. dear" he said. in a
more wheeling tone, you will be sem
sible. won't vou7 Surely you can't
see me trembling on the brink OF ruin
like this. ana not stretch out a hand
to help me2 Come. nowl"
Poor Mabel looked irresoluteiy be-
fore her.
III ! could do anything else" che
said. entreatingly, but deceitful
thing like that--and think OF the ex-
posture II II should come outi"
EMO fear OF II coming out, n only
you play your part properly" returned
her father, quick TO detect the signs
Of yielding In her tone. And. after all,
it's only for a month or two at most
There. | knew you would be sensIbIe.''
but ! don't like Il at ALL"
"Poohi Youll soon get accustomed
to II, And now 10 set about prepa-
rations for carrying Il out. / think
as we want the thing widely known.
we cannot do better than give a hint
to Miss Worbolse. and let Nature do
its work"
Mabel quite recognized the truth Of
this assertion. for Miss Cynthia Wor-
boise. a maiden lady OF uncertain age,
and near neighbor Of theirs. had