The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-27

sary to do more than tell the news TO
Miss Cynthia. In less than a week the
whole town was discussing the engage
ment, and Mabel had received calls %:
congratulation from all her friends. Her
father. wishing TO hurry mp matters. had
fixed day some six weeks hence and had
sent out dainty .silVer-written invitation
cards TO their whole circle.
As he expected. on their being sent out.
a stream Of presents. steady enough TO
realize his most sanguine hopes. began to
flow in, and he once more congratulated
himself and his daughter on the success
that had met their scheme.
Mabel, however, had often great difficult
ty in explaining away some discrepancies
which did arise in spite of her care.
Time passed on, till at last but one week
remained before the date fixed for the
eventful ceremony Mr.. Clifford had just
been consulting Mabel as to the propriety
of announcing the sudden indisposition OF
the bridegroom. 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 mani to
combine business with pleasure like this"
What do you mean?" asked Mabel. with
apprehension.
You know as well as I. I really won
der you let him. It's hardly respectabler
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 10 give an extra lecture to sup
pement his courser'
"Oh, yes-I know" said, or rather gasped
Mabel. "Of course-I have rather a head
ache 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 At
Enthusiastically herein five days-he must
! hear of it-and II shall die Of shamer'
1T is deuced awkward" said Mr.. elf
ford, 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, wen 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 ILL., There, isn't that all right?"
Mabel assented. douptrully. Nothing
could be done now, except wait and hope
for the best
Mr. Dundas, duly invited wired his nc
ceptance, and on the appointed day was
met at the station and conveyed home by
Mr. Clifford. Mabel awaited his arrival
with a beating heart and could hardly
/ niue neT confusion on HISt meeting nlIn
When o'clock, the hour appointed for
his lecture, arrived she professed herself
| slightly unwell. and Dundas found him
/ self, to his disgust, RELOCATED to the care
| of her father, who received strict injunc-
lions from Mabel not to allow the lecturer
to Interchange greetings with any one.
"They might congratulate him.! she
said How very awkward that would
| be-
Dinner passed off without mishap. Ma
bel was shy and constrained, and spoke
! little; but as Clifford was in high spirits
/ at the success with which everything had
passed off and kept the conversation
chiefly in his own hands, his guest did not
notice the unusual preoccupation and 81
/ lence of his daughter.
But, alas! the best laid scheme may fan
| sometimes. No sooner were the three
tablished in the drawing room, than the
| door, bell rang sharply, and a few mo-
ments later the servant announced Miss
| Worboise"
Poor Mabel gasped and turned pale. She
! had no time, however, to say anything.
! for Miss Worboise ran forward. exclaim-
! ing: "Oh, Mabel, my darling, what do you
| think? My cook has had fit-positively a
! ft-I left her with her head In the kitchen
coal box The doctor is expected every min
ute, but / couldn't stay-such a scene, you
know! 1 am so upset! Might 1 spend an
hour or two with your"
Mabel. nearly distracted managed at last
to welcome the very tiresome guest, and
then sat down ON thorns, waiting in kind
of despair for what she might say.
Il know" said Cynthia, archly, that 1t
! is rather an inconvenient time to call. You
must be so very busy-such lot of prepar
ations as you must have to make before
! tomorrow, haven't you. Mr.. Dundas."
/ Il? No" said Dundas, rather surprised.
/ II really have no packing to speak of, and
! that's done already, as am leaving by an
/ early train"
IAN early train! But surely you won't
| miss the reception"
Good gracious"' thought the young man
/ ARE they getting up a levee for me?"
| But aloud he only said: We'll, I'm afraid
| 1 shall unless it's very early"
(which reminds me" said Miss Wor-
| boise, mabel, darling, you forgot to say
! at what time we are expected to come"
/ and then. to the girls infinite horror. she
produced from her pocket her dainty invi-
tation card.
"Confound that womanr' thought Cliff
| ford savagely, and then, Jumping up, ne
! exclaimed eagerly, "see here, Miss Gym
thia I must have your opinion on some
of Mabels presents in the next ROOM and
| against her will. hurried her out Of the
! room, but not before he saw that the mis-
! chief was done, for Dundas had stopped
/ politely to pick up the card which had
fallen from MaDel nerNeieSS hand, ana
/ in doing so could not avoid seeing what it
was. His name on the card arrested his
attention, and he read II through, scarcely
realizing its meaning. Then. too amazed
/ to speak, he looked toward Mabel for an
explanation hut. seeing her pale and
! speechless. spranG toward her fearing she
/ was about to faint. His touch, however,
recalled her to herself. and, waving him
back with an effort, she rose and faced
him.
/ You had better know the WHOLE she
! said. and then, as calmly and .collectedly
I as she could, she told the humiliatine
story.
Half an hour later Mr.. Clifford re-entcr-
/ cd the drawing room, telegram in his
hand. He stood for a moment on the
| threshold, and then, advancing, said: