The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-07-02

sister, VINO was unfortunately absent.
That Mr.. Rhodes had once felt q
strong attachment to her, she could
not doubt; that he had continued to
cherish, as sho had done. tho recipro-
cal feeling, she had not ventured to
hope. But as it was evident that the
proposition of Mr.. Rhodes was not
from any sudden impulse, Miss Nor
gan resolved to signify her assent to
proposition 30 worthy of considera-
tIon on oil accounts.
In less than two hours Mr. Rhodes
irove up to the door again, fastened
his horse, and was readmitted to the
little back parlor, which she had oc-
eupied in ar earlier part of the day.
"Miss Morgap," said Mr.. Rhodes,
''before receiving your answer, which
/ trust ycu arc prepared to give in
favor of accepting my proposals, l
wish to state 90 you that have con-
sidered oil ihe circumstances OF my
situation and yours, and find myself
better able, from some previously un-
considered matters, to keep my part
OF the arrangement than thought my
self, when l ventured to make the
offer SO that the kindness, if you will
have that word used in this matter,
is all on your side"
"Under present circumstances-I
moan those OF our long acquaintance
and our family intercourse, though OF
late rather interrupted" said Miss
Morgan, "and my right, by years (she
added, casting glance at looking
glass that showed only matured wo-
manhood), to speak for myself, have
concluded to consider your proposal
favorably."
"Consider! Miss Morgan, consider
favorably! May ! not hope you moan
that you will accept it !"
Miss Morgan gave no answer.
"Nay. then it is accepted, said Mr..
Rhodes, with q vivacity that Miss Nor
gan thought would have brought him
to her lips-her hand, at least.
& "How happy you have made me"
said Mr.. Rhodes; ''having now dis
posed of this matter, there are ten
days allowed"
"That's very short, said Miss Nor
gan; "only ten days; you seem to be
in haste unusual to you at least"
SIT is the attachment, and not l,
that is Imperative.
"You speak rather abstractedly, Mr..
Rhodes"
''But truly, very. truly, Miss Nor
gan."
''But why limit us to ten days?"
s'The attachment requires it.
81 thought" said she, smiling, "tho
attachment would be for life."
Mr.. Rhodes looked exceedingly con-
fused. At length he started suddenly
toward the lady.
"My dear Miss Morgan, is it pos
sible that for once in my life, / have
blundered into the right path? Can 1
have been 30 fortunately miscon-
ceived?"
''If there is any mistake" said Miss
Morgan, 81 hope it will be cleared up
Immediately. / can scarcely think
that Mr.. Rhodes would Intentionally
offend an unprotected orphan, the
daughter of his former friends.
Mr.. Rhodes hastily pulled from his
pocket his writ of attachment and
showed it to Miss Morgan.
"This is certainly your name, and
this property"
els the disputed possession" said
Miss Morgan, "of my sister-in-law OF
the same name, Mrs. Susan Morgan. "
Mr.. Rhodes stood COMPOUNDED. He
rf hn
matter was likely to take.
$50, Mr.. Rhodes, you see the at
tachment was for this property. Now,
as it is not mine, and as, indeed. l
have little of my own, you, of course,
have no claim upon my person"
II beg your pardon, my dear Miss
Morgan, beg your pardon. You have
not the property, indeed. for me tosat-
tach. but be pleased to read lower
down on the writ! you. will see-look
at it, if you please-'for want thereof
take the body"
"But, Mr.. Rhodes, the promise was
extorted under misapprehension, so
that am released"
''Not at all; you are required only
to fulfill the promise just as you in
tended when you made it. And as to
the attachment for the widow and her
property, I'll serve that by deputy"
In ten days the clergyman, and not
the magistrate, was called in, and the
whole arrangement was consummated.
And Aunt Arabella, who was SO care
full about the tenth commandment, de-
clared that it said nothing about COW
citing neighbours husband, and if it
had, she did not think she should vio-
1o4