The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-08-09
posing to you, and Lady Riversdale has

posing to you, and Lady Riversdale has
other views for he'd son."
But Miss Grant merely turned lit
tie sideways in her chair, and looked
the lawyer full in the face, while her
slasped hands lay idly in her lap.
And you are to buy me off? You are
too late"
by George! exclaimed winchester.
you don't mean it? And you have &C.
eepted him?"
why, Mr.-Winchester think you
gaid?-would not a girl earning her
own living be made to refuse such an
offer?" Unconsciously she used the
same argument as Lady Riversdale.
did you give him a final answer?
Confound it!' he thought, Il cannot
offer her money openly. would as
soon offer it to Lady Riversdale her.
self"
And my feelings? Are they not to
be counted in the balance?"
1--WE should be sorry TO think they
were seriously engaged" answered the
lawyer. But time, and-and change
of scene-and-and so Oh"
Miss Grant raised her solemn eyes
to Winchester's, and looking at him
straight, said, Exactly what | told Sir
Harold two days agoi l owe you an
apology, Mr.. Winchester, for playing
with you so long" this with ripping
laugh, but the situation was too fun
NY, and your evident dis, omfort made
1t all the funnier. / have refused her
sons offer of marriage"
you did? Then yor re a very re-
markable young woman! And on what
ground may ask?"
81 was not in love with him, that is
all. viii you allow le to make
amends by offering you cup of tea?
/ know nursie would send us some d.
rectly."
A little more than fortnight later
Lady Riversdale again sat waiting for
her man of business. who had at last
announced a satisfactory termination
to the delicate mission with which
he had been intrusted.
Il am dying with curiosity" were
the words which greeted his appear
ance. Your letters have been worse
than nothing-they hinted at so much.
How have you managed to arrange
matters? Did you buy the girl off?'"
Not at ALL She Is quite a lady.
found substitute"
"A substitute? It seems to me that
n substitute for my son would not be
easily found"
"One would think so. Yet Miss Craft
hesitated but little, and her new ad-
mirer managed to find her heart and
touch it in a wonderfully short space
of time"
THAT is at her own risk and peril"
4 N .l,I- l..
this volatile young lady to accept my
sincere good wishes and say / shall
have the pleasure of sending her we'd
ding present. And it shall be a hand
some one, in gratitude for the danger
averted. What is her name?"
Maud Grant" answered the lawyer.
"And the bridegroom's?"
Frank Winchester" said the gen.
tleman, quietly.
"Whatv exclaimed Lady Riversdale,
scarcely believing her own ears. Are
you in your senses"
81 firmly believe / never was so fully
possessed of them as when l allowed
myself to fall head over ears in love
with Maud, like boy of twenty, al
most at first sight. But how she came
TO give herself to me so soon | cannot
tell, unless my great love has touched
that electric current which they say ex-
lists between some souls"
Il think" said Lady Riversdale,
laughing, you owe me some thanks for
making you known to one another.
And, though | did say and still think,
it would be difficult to supplant my
son, you must allow me to congratu-
late Miss Maud on her choice Of A
Substitute. Edith Lonely in New
York Advertiser