The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-11-08
CHAPTER II.


Tom was decidedly uncomfortable
when he left the table. His discomfort
increased as the day OH which Miss Mar
garet was to arrive drew nearer. He was
very nervous when he went to the station
with Sander to meet her. He had hoped
to meet her before it became necessary
to announce the engagement, but she
was delayed in her preparations, and it
was nearly Christmas when she reached
the city. All engagements must be an
nounced before the first day of Decem-
ber or the bachelor was not relieved
from the necessity Of paying the matri-
monial tax
As Tom paced back and forth in the
little waiting room he thought what q
notorious joker Sander was and Won
dered at his own folly in trusting his
happiness for the next three years in the
hands Of any one but himself. Suppose
Sander had INDUCED his passion for
playing practical jokes and arranged an
engagement between himself and an an
cient specimen of humanity who would
gladly give up her right to pension for
the sake of posing before the world as
the object of man S affections Sander
had declared that she was stunning, but
with Sander that might mean anything
Or nothing He would have remembered
that at tho time of his proposal had he
not been SO worried over his financial
affairs. If Daisy should prove to be
what the fellows called "ap ugly back
number" how they would laugh at
him-the elegant Tom Wainwright,
who had always prided himself on be-
ing first i'll the estimation of every
young lady whom the other fellows
raved about!
The train came shrieking into view,
and Tom felt the pressure of Sanders
hand upon his arm. He walked with
him TO the side of the day coach, arriv-
ing just in time to see Sander help la
dy to alight and then press kiss upon
her cheek. She had come. Tom could
not doubt it, for he head hard Sander
call her Daisy. She had come, and she
was a stunning caricature Oh humanity.
1t was worse-a hundred times worse
than his worst fears had pictured Tom
could scarcely suppress groan. He felt
himself growing pale to the lips, when
he heard his name spoken i'll a soft
voice and realized that Sander had intro
duced him to the woman who held his
written proposal. He stammered some
thing by way of reply to her greeting
and mentally vowed to break off the en-
gagement if it cost him every cent he
had i'll the world. He told himself that
beggary was preferable to being seen
for three long years in company with
such a nightmare Of femininity. But he
must not be rash. He had just sense
enough left to realize that. There were
two ways of doing everything, and he
was noted for always finding the pleas
anter He allowed Sander TO escort
Daisy to the waiting room, and, al
though he walked beside her, he tried
to appear more like an acquaintance of
the lady than her promised husband.
Arrived in the waiting room, he MUIR
INJURED something about being very sor-
ry, but a most pressing engagement
81 saw that man for you this morn
ing, Tom, )" interrupted Sander, with
determined expression on his happy
face. II told him you had previous
engagement, which you had doubtless
forgotten, and that he need not expect
you until later in the day y
"Ah! HIM, ahem! Much obliged,
I'm sure, stammered Tom, He saw
that Sander understood his little dodge
and also that he would brook no trifling.
Don't mention it, ~ replied Sander
cheerfully IN go out to see if the
carriage is ready. You bring Daisy in
the course of five minutes. 1 suppose
you will be glad of an Opportunity to
be alone with her, "
Sander bowed gracefully and left
them together. Tom felt that Daisy was
scrutinizing him sharply, but that did
not disturb him so much as the fact
that he was also subject to the scrutiny
of several of his friends. Whatever hap
pened, he must not let them see that he
was not entirely satisfied. He must ap-
pear so well pleased with his companion
tlIat they would not dare to mention
her in his presence. Giving himself a
mental shake, he managed to smile into
her spectacled eyes as he asked her if