The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-06
AN ENGAGEMENT.
ny SIR RoBERT PEEL.
Copyright, 1889
PART /.

That Arnold Hopotoun was honestly
in love admitted no doubt and Miss
carstairs was supposed to rcciprocate
his attachment. His very intimate as
sociates wondered why they DID not
marry, for Miss Carstnirs WIS not wen
on, and HopetOur's salary from the
foreign office. II II would not provide
her with house In Green street ana
broughnm, would ut least offer an I'M
pruvement on the position she was &C.
cupying at present.
When HOpetoun met her ond fell
prey TO her destinations, she had been
staying, us was her annunl custom,
with some cousins OF her late fathers
the Mnrrabels, OF Morecomb-sand be-
fore her visit terminated they were en-
gagged.
That was twelve months ago, and to-
day they were engaged still.
Hopetoun was an ardent lover, anu
would have committed greater follles
than mRtrimony on 600 year Tor the
sake OF her beauX yeuN. What then
was the explanation OF the delay? Had
Bella Cnrstalr5 mistaken her feelings!
Had she given a hnsty promise, OF
which she had subsequently repenteIf
Not ut all; she was waiting for his POSI-
ton to improve.
Five hundred a year seemed to the
girl who had started life with the eN'
pectation OF marrying the son OF duke
preposterous and absurd. She was fond
OF Arnold, even very fond, but she was
tired, inexpressibly deadly tired, OF
poverty.
wished she did not. Limited as her op-
portunities were. narrow as was her ex,
Ia mt
she might have done better than Arnold
Hopetoun, after all, she told herself
Had Il not been thRt there was the IKE
IIhood OF Lord DrillInghRm doing
something" for his nephew, the engage
ment would have been broken week
after II was made; she would have re-
covered her freedom, and awaited Tor
the fairy prince anew. But there was
the chance. -
Why was the wicked uncle 80 dlla-
tory? Arnold had been importuning
him with requests for months!
She was thinking these thoughts thls
nfternoon-secretly hating the Nnn-
known peer-when Hopetoun was an
nounced. She welcomed him with u
radiant smile.
You are early" she said.
81 was Impatient" he answered.
"How pretty! Is there any news, Ar
No" he said. II don't know that
there is any news. but want to talk to
you. Bella. I-I-look here. darling, !
can't 20 on waiting for you any longer!
Let us marry. and take the goods the
gods provide"
Child she murmured. The gen.
tleness OF her rebuke was adorable.
~ ON not u child" declared Hope
toun; "ln fact. ] believe ! may lay claim
to being tolerably practical. and you
may be very certain that ] mean 10
work Drllilngham's interest for all II ls
worth. But we can do thnt after mar
ringe! Trust yourself to me, and take
my oath that sou shall never have oc-
casion TO regret It."
DO you imagine" she said, do you
imagine 1t Is only for myself am think.
ing when say waltz am thinking OF
You
"of me?"
"of you, OF myself little, yes, be-
cause am not baby; but of you too;
OF you chiefly indeed, for II 10 on you
that the burden OF the step would fall
''Ill chance Il" said Arnold. stoutly.
And you would never reproach mel
know that But I will not let you
chance IT. II would not be n chance,
disaster, Of which you would have to
bear the burden! 1t sounds bad. does:
MT Il? The sound Is nothing compared
with what the reality would be! Ar
mold. you have never had TO bear pow
erty-I have! ! know what you do not
II know the awfulness OF striving to
keep up appearance; OF endcavoring to
make a pound do the work OF two.
know how terrible you would find the
life you are proposing 80 confidently
/ am too fond OF you TO condemn you to
1t. / WON'T"
II was tenderIy put Even she be-
lleved great deal Of what she said
herself while she was speaking. He
did not protest any longer: man has
only certain amount OF argument. and
many conversations OF u similar nature
had exhausted much of Hopetoun'S
power OF remonstrance, She gave him
ten, and her mother came In and pres
emily he took his leave.
He was not In high spirits. Thor
oughly as her lover may appreciate
common sense In u woman, he is apt TO