The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-08-17

man, that you have simply played into the
girls hands. Your aunt has long been
afraid Of some such disaster happening to
you.n
II wish my aunt would be good enough
to lot my affairs alone" cried Dennis
sulkily. "I shall have to tell her So"
Upon my word you must not quarrel
with your aunt, said Mr.. Battleyboy, for
it is to her that you will have to look,
Dennis for extrication from this mess.''
"What do you meant"
"Meanr' Mr.. Battleyboy shrugged his
shoulders expressiyely. II mean that you
of money, and who Is to find the money
except your auntf You have no capital.
Your salary at the foreign office hardly
covers your expenses. No; it's your aunt
that will have to pay"
II don't think I can apply to my aunt"
exclaimed Dennis, aghast at the notion.
"But am afraid that is what you will
have to do. said Mr.. Battleyboy decidedly.
"And IL you take my advice you will call
at Cromwell road today"
After much demurring Dennis at last
promised to do So but not until Mr.. Bat
tleyboy had painted In very unpleasant col
ors the probable result of his refusal Mr..
! Pugsnip, tho clerk who sat In the outer
office, and who had done so for the last
ten years, escorted tho young man to the
street door. Dennis was too much ab-
sorbed in his own vexatious affair TO notice
him, else he would have detected o look Of
decided interest on Mr.. Pugsnip's usually
wooden face.
A fortnight later Dennis Deroyt called
on Ma Battleyboy in state ofoonsiderable
excitement.
hT aav ~ he aaid 30 ha aali,itr, ne .ao..
as they wero alone, "whom do you think I
saw at tho Empire last nightf'
"Miss--er-Linkley perhaps " suggested
the other, eying him keenly.
Yes, yes. But whom do you think she
was WITH Why, your clerk, Pugsnipp'
Mr.. Rattleyboy seemed neither surprised
nor disconoerted by this intelligence, over
which Dennis was so excited. He just
laughed in a knowing way and said: "Ah,
yesl 1t Is rather amusing, Pugsnip had
q hint from me, you seel,'
"A hint from your don't understand"
cried Dennis.
"Well, it was this: Your aunt naturally
did not wish to pay more than was neces-
sary. So Pugsnip-who is something Of
lady's man-ha, hal--had hint to entan-
gle the girl in little affair of the heart
while we protracted our negotiations.
Fugsnlp was emlnontly successful. fancy
he saved your aunt something like e100.
But the amusing part Of It Is that the en-.
tanglement has takensa serious turn, for
Pugsnip has fallen in love with the girl.
and l believe they arc already engaged.
But talking of engagements, Dennis, your
aunt has given me great pleasure by advis-
ing me that shall shortly be required to
draw your cousin Lottie's settlements,
congratulate youp'
Thanks" said Dennis, coloring, and
looking absurdly happy and elatod. "It
is-er-an-er-old affair, you know"
(which looked at one time like never
coming off. However, all's well that ends
we'll And, once again, Dennis oongrat-
ulate you."
In the course Of the summer two we'd
dings took place, one of which was not re-
ported in The Morning Post. But Pug
snip and Miss Linkley did not court pub,
hcity. They had been well paid to keep
secret tho fact that they had co-operated
with Mr.. Battleyboy and Dennis aunt In
a little plot to secure that young gentle
mans happiness-by giving him a good
fright SO it was generally understood
that Pugsnip had little windfall, In the
shape Of n legacy, which enabled him and
Miss Linkley to start housekeeping after
q lengthy and protraoted engagement.--
Exchange.