The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-03

ately and place my proposition before you.
His name is Mr.. George Chillingworth.
RALPH WEsTBRooK.
Tho letter so long expected in the little
suburban villa had como at last, and In
the afternoon of the same day the maid of
all work announced Mr.. George Chilling
worth.
"You expected me, believe" he said
" "Yes," answered Mrs. Durant Let
mo introduce you to my eldest daughter,
Dora. These are Minnie and Grace Will
you take tho armchair, Mr.. Chilling
worthP' 49, or.
"I'm sure It's very kind Of you to have
come SO promptly" continued Mrs Du.
rant tearfully-she was q lady who went
easily and copiousiy. "As you may i'm
agine. am terribly anxious. To think
that, after keeping my own carriage. I
should come to this!'
"Mothorl' murmurod Dora In q tone
of distress
Mr.. Chillingworth murmured condo
lence, fumbled his hat and looked at Dora
under his lnshes.
Most men thought her worth looking
at, and lie was no exception to the rule, II
his face was an index to his mind.
Obviously he was unused to women and
a little frightened of them.
"The proposal am to submit to you 10
this" no said. "Ralph Westbrook is u
prosperous gentleman farmer, as I dare
say you know; also no is young, bach
elor and quito alone, and for some time
has longed for OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES home
In wider sense than that afforded by the
Ia nd En- no In lat.
words, he wants wife.
"a few months ago he received, with
the portraits of yourself and family, pho
tograph of Miss Dora here, and-well, he
fell In love with it. Very simple of him,
perhaps you think, but you must remem-
Der his great loneliness and lot that be his
excuse.
''Now come to thop point. II Miss Dora
would consent to marry him, of course shc
would then DO abo to make any arrange.
ment that seemed best to her as to tho
comfort Of her mothor and sisters. l am
about to return to the colony and would
take charge of her during the voyage, and
ON her arrival she could stay with friends
until the wedding"
"Travol thousands Of miles to marry d
man l have never Scent faltsred the girl
II never could do it-oh, couldn't!'
"Nonsense, Dora" said her mother.
"You should feel honored- 0attered You
will have kind husband-I am sure
Ralph must be kind. You will beprovided
for all your life, and shall be relieved of
this terrible anxiety. You cannot dream
of refusing"
"Of COURSE" put in George Chilling
worth slowly, "if Miss Dora has decided
aversion to the scheme, / am sure my
friend would be the last man to wish her
inclination forced in any way and no doubt
he would arrange some other method of
assisting you all. l may safely add that
he Is n good sort of fellow, and that If she
consented he would Le devoted to her and
spare no pains to recompenso her for trust
Ing her life to him."
Mother, do you want me to goY Would
1t make you feel safo and happy about the
futurof"
"Of course it would, Dora"
CITIZEN" said the girl, with a curious
hard note in her voice, since my mother
can do without me, will 60 Will you
tell my cousin. or shall II"
~ will. There Is no need for you to
write" answered Chlllingworth. "Ho
will BIO very glad.
The voyage WINS all but over and tho
girl who was on her way to an unknown
lover and tho man who was his friend
stood on tho dock together.
"In a few hours we shall land" she
said, land then
Shall you be sorry?' he asked. "Havo
these been happy days?"
81 wish they could last forever" she |
crlcd passionately.
dora, II you were going out to me in /
stend of to him, would you mind so very |
muchY'
1T would be paradise she said simply. |
She began to sob quietly, despairingly, |
and bowed forward on he taffrail In the |
shadow Of friendly cloud.
Don't, for heaven $ sake don't, plead
ed the man. "Dora, was n brute to mas.
querade SO long, but l wanted to sec you,
to study you-to be sure had won, not
bought, my wife. am Ralph Westbrook.
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