The Van Buren press., 1895-07-06

sliehtly incredulous)-''denying my
self, paying sweet guincss for your
fees to local lectures, and this IL the
thanks l getl"
II was at the last today" said hts
daughter, coloring slightly.
1.-The lsstl Then that lecturer fel-
low-what's his name-Dundss. has
gone? Look hero, Mabel! Let him be
the bridegroom. He'll never hear OF
it-hes not likely TO even come back
again. snd II would secm much moro
natural for you to be engaged to him
than to . stranger. There! iatter
myself that Ihave made really bril-
liant suggestion"
"Father. l must tell you plainly
said Mabel, flushing angrily, "Idecline
TO have anything to do with the plan
Now, Mabel, DEAR he said. in .
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 nowl'
Poor Mabel looked irfesolutely BE-
fore her.
p"If I could do anything else, "she said,
cntreatinRly. But . deceitful thing
like that-and think of the exposure II
II should come out!'
No fear of 1t coming out, ii only
you play your part properly, returned
her father. quick to detect the signs OF
yielding In her tone. And, after
all. its on ly month or two at most.
There, / knew you would be sensible. u
''But don't like 1t at ALL"
''Poohl You'll soon get accustomed
to It. And now to set about prepara-
ticns for carrying It out. think, as
we want the thing widely known, we
cannot do better than give q hint to
Miss Worboise, and let nature do its
work."
Mabel quite recognized the truth OF
this assertion, for Miss Cynthia Wor-
boise, q maiden lady Of uncertain age,
and . near neighbor Of theirs, had q
well-merited reputation for gossip,
and was frequently made use Of by her
friends a. an easy means otspreading.
She, therefore, assented lanquidly to
the proposal.
"Then that's settled, and I'll drop in
myself after dinner tonight and tell
her. Well fx the wedding for this
day seven weeks. and who knows what
may happen between this and then?
There, my love, l knew you would
soon get reconciled to the idea"
But Mabel was very far In reality
from being reconciled TO 1t, and. as she
left the study, she felt her heart rise
in bitter revolt against 1t. But what
could she do? She had always been
accustomed to obey her father In
everything, and she did not feel reso-
lutte enough TO Withstand him now.
Nothing In the whole scheme had
wounded her 40 much as the bringing
into it of Dundas' name. At the mere
thought of 1t, her cheeks were dyed
with deep blush Of shame, and the
idea Of his ever getting wind o I It made
her nearly frantic.
However, she had agreed to the
plan, and It was too late to draw back
now. The only thing left for her tc
do was to prepare herself as we'll al
she could for the many unpleasant In.
terviews which, she foresaw, would
have to be gone through.
True to his resolution, Clifford sailed
forth that night to the gossip-monger,
and returned in high glee at the man
per in which his plausible story had
been received.
"Mis Worboise was delighted" be
said, "and consulted me immediately
- to what recommended for a pres
ent. She Il coming round tomorrow
morning to talk 1t over with you, &C
mind and prepare yourself for any
emergency"
Mr.. Clifford had not miscalculsted
when he said that It would be quite un.
necessary to do more than tell the
news to Miss Cynthia. In less than q
week the whole town was discussin g
the engagement, and Mabel had re-
ceived calls Of congratulation from al
her friends Her father, wishing to
hurry up matters, had fixed day some
ak weeks hence, and had sent out
dainty, silver-written invitation cards
TO their whole ircle.
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 more
than once congratulated himself and
his daughter ON the success that had
met their scheme.
Mabel, however, had often great diff
ficulty in explaining away some dis
crepancies 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.. Cliff
ford had just been consulting Mabel as
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, 80 called in early. Naughty
man! to combine business with pleas
ure like thisr"
what do you mean?" asked Mabel.
with apprehension.
You know as well as l. / really
wonder you let him. It's hardly re-
spectable!"
What is hardly respectable?" the
girl asked, horrible fear seizing her.
why, Of course, letting him lecture
here the very day before his marriage
Didn't you know7-but Of course you
did-he has promised to give an extra
lecture to supplement his course!''
''Oh, yes-I KNOW" said, or rather