The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-05-14

''in 1t" to let things take their own
course and to await developments. He
talked about America, he told the most
improbable tales about California, and
proflting from the confidence reposed in
him by Charles Berner on board the
steamship he told q tolerably straight
story respecting his alleged family af-
fairs in San Francisco.
He saw the impression he had made
on the heart Of the unsuspecting Marie,
who never took her eyes of his face
while he spoke, and his conscience smote
him. He was filled with remorse for his
deceit; but, alas, it was now too late.
He resolved to disclose the whole thing
on the following morning.
A kind fate favored the discharge Of
this onerous task. Toward evening the
old "uncle" made the proposition that
the young people should take walk in
the surrounding gardens in order to, as
he indulgingly expressed it, give them
. chance to become ''better friends''
Henry did not let this unlocked for
opportunity escape him. He told her all,
he asked her pardon for the deception,
and he called her as witness how little
chance her father had given him for an
explanation.
The shock was too much for the poor
girl. She grew pale, and a tremor shook
her whole frame. She stood dumfound-
ed and like one dazed; she could not at
all comprehend the meaning Of what she
took to be cruel joke She pressed her
hand to her heart and sobbed pitifully.
But, now, convinced from the depth
Of her sorrow that the dear girl really
loved him, it was not very difficult
matter for Henry to pacify her by tell
ing her unhesitatingly the entire story
Of his meeting with her American cous-
| in; what the same had said regarding
his feeling toward her; that he was not
at all in hurry to go to NJ, and SO
forth. In short, when they wended their
| way homeward, Marie not only par.
doned the ''cruel deception" but had
bashfully confessed that since she had
been so weak to give her heart away at
first sight to 80 "cruel deceiver" she
| would leave it in his keeping, if only
to teach her truant and wayward cous-
in lesson.
|
ordeal to face on the morrow.
''Mr Moller," he said feelingly,
"when yesterday entered your house
had not the remotest idea that the
most important moment Of my life was
30 near at hand. I came as a total
stranger to you, and you received me,
not as such. but as if I were the future
husband, the accepted lover, of your
lovely daughter. !"
(which you are, Charlie. Why do
you make SO many unnecessary words?"
"But, dear sir, give me chance to
explain"
"Or was mistaken, after all? Do
you not care for our daughter? Is there
in all America a girl like our sweet
Marie?'
"On the contrary, dear sir, all de-
sire is to be considered worthy of such
a prize
"By thunder. Charlie, have you TAX.
en- leave Of your senses? Are all Ameri-
cans affected in like manner when
proposing? Have not told you plainly
that I'VE do not object? And"-turnine
to his daughter, who had just entered
"Marie, do you care enough for this
young man. who has SO many confound-
ed objections to make against you, to
marry him?"
"Indeed I do, father, with all my
heart" the maiden replied frankly.
"There! That ends the matter. Nc
more nonsense now. Such matters ought
to be settled quickly. Oh, know what
I am talking aboutl Never would I have
believed that practical American could
be such circumlocutionisti Quick,
now, the betrothal kiss, and here is our
blessing to boot. One, two, thru
He was just going to say "three''
when the door slowly turned on its
hinges and stranger entered, who stop.
ed for moment ON the threshold, and
then broke out into pleased laughter.
"You here, friend Becker?' he ex.
claimed. II thought you had inspected
your mines long ago and were safely
back at Hamburg!" Then, turning to
mine host, he extended his hands.
Here am at last, dear uncle" he
said. "Iknow tarried long on the way,
but I had a very important matter to
settle in Berlin, and could not possibly
get away earlier Everything is in tip
top condition at home in San Francisco,
and father and mother both send theil
best regards"
"Sir, who are you?" gruffly asked the
landlord Of the Blue Lion.
"Who am I? What an odd question to
ask of me! Why, to be sure, an
Charles Berner, very much at your serv'
ice, and the son Of your cousin Berne,
Of San Francisco"
The dazed old man leaned heavily
upon a chair, looking bewildered from
one to the other. His lips opened, he
gasped for breath, he tried to say some
thing, but could utter no sound. HI
sank fainting into the next chair.
Three months have passed since tht
events narrated above, and our fail
readers have undoubtedly guessed how
it all ended. The genuine" Charles
Berner had been detained by very i'm