Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-06-21

beI, paying sweet gulneaS Tor your
fees to local lectures, and this is the
thanks get!"
II was at the last to-day" said his
daughter, coloring slightly.
"The lastl Then that lecturer fell
low-what's his name--Dundas, has
gone? Look here, Mabel Let him be
the bridegroom. He'll never hear of
it--he's not likely to even come back
again, and it would seem much more
natural for you to be engaged to him
than to stranger. There! | flatter
myself that have made really bril-
liant suggestion"
"Father, must tell you plainly"
said Mabel, flushing angrily, "Idecline
to have anything to do with the plan. !"
'Now, Mabel, dear" he said, in a
more wheedling tone, you will be
sensible, won't you? Surely you can't
see me trembling on the brink Of ruin
like this. and not stretch out hand
TO help me? Come now!''
Poor Mabel looked irresolutely be-
fore her.
O''If could do anything else, ",she said,
entreatingly. "But deceitful thing
like that-and think Of the exposure if
it should come out!'
No fear of it coming out, il only
you play your part properly, returned
her father, quick to detect the signs Of
yielding in her tone. "And, after
all, it's on ly a month or two at most.
There, knew you would be sensible. /"
''But don't like it at ALL"
"Pooh! You'll. soon get accustomed
to it. And now to set about prepare
ticns for carrying it out. l think, as
we want the thing widely known, we
cannot do better than give hint to
Miss Worboise, and let nature do its
work"
Mabel quite recognized the truth of
this assertion, for Miss Cynthia Wor-
boise, maiden lady of uncertain age,
and near neighbor of theirs, had a
well-merited reputation for gossip,
and was frequently made Use Of by heI
friends as an easy means of spreading.
She, therefore, assented lanauidly tc
| the proposal.
"Then that's settled, and I'll drop in
myself after dinner tonight and tel
her. Well fix the wedding for thi:
day seven weeks. and who knows what
may happen between this and then.
There, my love, knew you would
soon get reconciled to the idea"
But Mabel was very far in reality
from being reconciled to it, and, as sht
left the study, she felt her heart ris,
in bitter revolt against it. But VIVA
could she do? She had always beer
accustomed to obey her father IL
everything, and she did not feel reso
lutte enough to withstand him now.
| Nothing in the whole scheme hat
wounded her so much as the bringing
into it of Dundas' name. At the mer
thought of it, her cheeks were dye'
with deep blush of shame, and TIN
| idea of his ever getting wind of it mad
her nearly frantic.
However, she had agreed to tn
plan, and it was too late to draw bacl
now. The only thing left for her t
do was to prepare herself as we'll a
she could for the many unpleasant in
terviews which, she foresaw, woul
have to be gone through.
True to his resolution, Clifford sallie
forth that night to the gossip-mongei
and returned in high glee at the man
ner in which his plausible story ha
been received.
"Mis Worboise was delighted" h
said, land consulted me immediatel
as to what recommended for pres
ent. She is coming round to-morro,
morning to talk it over with you, s
mind and prepare yourself for an
emergency"
Mr.. Clifford had not miscalculate
when he said that 1t would be quite vi
necessary to do more than tell tn
news to Miss Cynthia. In less than
week the whole town was discussin
the engagement, and Mabel had re
/ ceived calls of congratulation from q
. her friends. Her father, wishing t
, hurry up matters, had fixed day som
six weeks hence, and had sent on
dainty, silver-written invitation card
to their whole ircle.
AS he expected. on their being ser
& out, stream of presents, stead
enough to realize his most sanguir
: hopes, began to flow in, aud he MOI
, than once cong ratulated himself an
his daughter on the success that ha
. met their scheme.
II Mabel, however, had often great di
ficulty in explaining away some di
crepancies which did arise in spite {
: her care.
Q Time passed on, till at last but or
r week remained before the date fixe
0 for the eventful ceremony. Mr.. eli
S ford had just been consulting Mabel ,
0 to the propriety of announcing til
t sudden indisposition of the brid
E groom, when Miss Worboiso paid he
/ usual morning call.
: "Oh, Nab, darling, you didn't tie
' me, but knew you would like to tai
e it over, so called in early. Naught
d mani to combine business with plea
/ ure like this!"
g what do you mean?" asked Mabe
S with apprehension.
v You know as we'll as l. real
0 wonder you let him. It's hardly r
n spoctableI"
s what is hardly respectable" Il
" girl asked, horrible fear Selling he
"Why, Of course, letting him lectu
here the very day before his marriag
e Didn't you know?-but of course yc
y did-ne has promised to give an ext
e lecture to supplement his counsel"
r "Oh, yes-I know" said or rath
gasped, Mabel. ''Of course-I ha'
d rather headache this morning, al
I would you excuse rneP"
-