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

news She therefore. assented Ian.
guldiy TO the proposal
Then that's settled. and I'll dror
In myself after dinner tonight and tel
her, Wen fix the wedding for this
day seven weeks. and who knows what
may happen between this and then
fIhere, my love. l knew you would
soon get reconciled TO the idea"
but Mabel was very far in reality
from being reconciled TO Il. and, aa she
icft the study she felt her heart rise
IN bitter revolt against IT, But what
could she dor She had always been
accustomed to obey her father In every
thing and she did not feel resoMie
enough to withstand him now.
Nothing in the whole scheme had
wounded her so much as the bringing
INTO " OF Dundas' name AT the mere
thought OF Il. her checks were dyed
with deep blush OF shame, and the
idea or his ever getting wind OF IL
made her nearly frantic.
However, she had agreed TO the plan.
and II was too late to draw back now.
me only thing left for her TO do was
TO prepare herself as well as she could
i9r the many unpleasant interviews
which she foresaw would have 10 be
gone through.
True to his resolution, clifford sal
ned forth that night to the gossip
monger and returned IN high gioc AZ
the manner In which his plausible story
had been received.
Miss Worbolse was delighted" he
said, and consulted me Immediately
as to what l recommended FOR a pres
en-, she is coming round tomorrow
| morning to talk Il over with YOU ao
mind and prepare yourself for any
| emergency" '
MT. Clifford had not miscalcuIated
| When he said that Il would be ouite
unnecessary to do more than tell tho
news 70 Miss Cynthia. In less than a
| Week the whole town was discussing
the enlargement, and Mabel had re-
eeNed calls of congratulatlon from all
her friends, Her father. wishing 10
| hurry up matters, had fixed n DIV.
some SIX weeks hence, and had sent
out DAINTY invitation cards to their
| whole circle.
As he expected, on their being sent
out stream Of presents. steady
enough to realize his most snnpIilnc
hopes began to flow in. and he more
IMAM once congratulated himgrlf and
ms daughter on the success that had
met their scheme.
MABEL. however, had often great dif-
meully IN explaining away some dis
her care. Va
Ilme passed on, tn at. last but ono
Week remained before the date fixed
tor the eventful ceremony. Mr.. CLIFFORD
had Just been consulting Mabel as tn
lhe bropriety of announcing the sud
~, aSn lnulsposition OF the bridegroom.
Wnen Miss Worboise paid her usual
morning call.
oh Nab. darling, you didn't tell
me put knew YOU would like to talk
II over, SO / called In early. Naughty
man 20 combine business with pleasure
What do you mean?" asked Mabel.
with apprehension.
You Know MS well as /. / really
w y,na.o you let him. IT'S hardly re-
What is hardly respectable7" tho
CIR, asked, a horrible fear SELLING her.
here the very day before his mnrrie,yc
nlint you lSnow?--but OF course You
uSid-he has promised TO give am extra
Lecture to supplement his coursew
On, yos-I Know" said, or rather
gasped, Mabel, "Of course-I have
rather n headache this morning. and !
would You excuse me?"
MISS Worb0ise, of course, took the
hiht ana left, with many expressions
father.
What shall we do?" she pnnted
ne - coming here before he crosses
the Atlantic - actually here In five
1ays-ne must hear OF lt-and IL shall
die Of shamer
lit Is deuced awkward" said Mr.
GlHord, perpleNcd but never mind
II,He brought you into this mess, aud
~ get you ont. Now. sde here. hi
wire az once and get him to dine and
stay the night with us-in fact, we'll
keep him entirely to ourselves, and be- |
won't get hint Of It. In the morning
ne II leave by en- early train--we cnn
say his mother Is suddenly taken hi |
ThGre' ISN'T that all right"
mabel assented, doubtfully. Nothing
could be done now except walt and
hope for the best
MIR. Dundas, duly invited wired HIS
acceptance, and on the appointed dny |
was met ut the station and conveyed |
home By Mr., Clifford. Mabel awaited /
his arrival with a beating heart, and |
could hardly hide her confusion on firat
meeting him. Whom five o'clock, the /
hour appointed for his lecture, arrived |
she professod herself slightly i'll. and |
Dundas found himself, 10 his disgust,
relcBated to the care OF her father,
VINO received strict iniunctions from
Mabel not to allow the lecturer TO In
terohange greetings with anyone.
"They might congratulate himl'' she
said. How very awkward that would
bel'
Dinner passed Off without mishap
Mabel was shy and constrained, and
spoke little; but as Clifford was In high
everything had passed or, and Kept
the conversation chiefly in his own
hands, his guest did not notice the
unusual preoccupation and silence OF
his daughter.
But, alasl the best laid scheme may
fail sometimes. No sooner were the L
three established In the drawing room
than the door bell rang sharply, and
few moments later The servant an
Mics WorboiseW
Poor Mabel gasped and turned pale.
She had no time. however, 10 say any
Thing, for Mics Worbolse ran forward,
"Oh. Mabel. my darling,
what do you think7 My cook has had
a fit--positlvely a it--I left her with
her head in the kitchen coal boxi The
ioctor Ia expected every minute, but
couldn't stay--such a scene, you knowi
am SO upset. Might l spend an hour
1r two with your
Mabel, nearly dlstrated. managed at
Inst to welcome the very unwelcome
guest, and then sat down on thorns.
waiting in n kind Of despair for what
she might say.
II Know" said Cynthia. archly, 'that
L ia rather an inconvenient time to call
You must be 80 very busy--such a lot
II preparations M you must have TO
make before tomorrow. haven't you.
Mr.. Dundas2'
~ No" said Dundas, rather sur
1rised II really have no packing to
speak Of. and that's done already, as
am leaving by an early train"
AN early train! But surely you
Won't miss the reception?"