Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-02-06

And while the impulse was upon h,m
he wrote. He wrote vaguely Of BIZ
income and said nothing of his ase, but
craved an interview. If he explained
his precise position, he feared she mieht
fancy it was too insecure to render him
eligible; but If he could sec her. he
hattered himself that the charm Of his
conversation and personal presence
would dazzle her and divert her atteu.
ton from his less pronounced monetary
qualifications. lie signed bis own
name: vt. Cottle," because, If the nero.
tlations came to anything, II misht
shake her confidence when he had to
acknowledge that he had approached
her under false name; at the same
time, as she had withheld her surname
and address, he felt justified in request
ing her to direct her reply, in tho aut
instance, to the post Office in Bayswater
Road, to be left till called for.
II can look in for it the next time I
go to see uncle" he reAectd. III II
turns out frost, l needn't tell Merrows
anything; he'd only grin about it. I'll
get the letter off before he gets in"
And he ran out and posted it at once.
He half regretted his impetuosity
when he contemplated what be had
done in the cold light of the next
morning.
nevertheless, couple of evenings
later he journeyed to Dayswater and In.
quircd at the post Office for his letter.
but it hadn't arrived, so he walked on
to see Uncle Cottle, but as his uncle
was not at home, he told them to say
that he had called, and wouldn't wait,
His interest in his rash matrimonial
project had cooled considerably; but
going to see his dncle on the following
Saturday afternoon, he inquired cos
ually at the post Office again, and was
not altogether displeased that there
was still no letter for him. He decided
that his epistle had not created o salts
factory impression, and that he should
hear no more of it.
Turning the corner little beyond the
post Office, he was surprised to run into
Uncle Cottle, gorgeous in new white
waistcoat and with flower in his but
tonholc.
Tin, my boy" he CIRCULATED, i've
been expecting you daily. Sorry was
cnt when you called last--I was out on
particular business"
"Oh!"
Tim had dim premonitions Of disas-
ter; he upbraidcd himself for neglect.
ing the affairs of Miss Holt.
yes"
Uncle Cotte winked his left eve and
smacked his nephew on the shoulder
exuberantly.
u was arranging 10 get married."
ITO Miss llot?" faltcrcd Tim.
"No,' laughed Uncle Cottle. "You'll
ne,erguess. It's the widow--Mrs. Net
ley You remember, we wrote to her?
She answered my letter that evening,
an hour before you called"
Tim was too confused to grasp what
he heard
"But you said," he stammered, that
If Miss Holt rejected you you'd know
there was curse on you, and"
81 haven't asked Miss lIolt-besides,
it's three months since l wrote to tho
widow, so, in any case, she has sort
Of prior claim over the
"rhe other curse" suggested Tim,
bitterly.
"llere's her letter." said Uncle Cottle,
disregarding his Interpolation. "Read
it for yourself"
DEAR SIR: II you care to call on me Il
shall be pleased to see you. regret you
did not give me your own address, as I
should have thought 1t implied either q
want Of confidence In me or candor In your
self, had 1t not been that we are almost
neighbors, and had the pleasure Of meet
Ing you few months ago, and know YOU
by reputation Under the circumstances
you will appreciate my preferring to send
this to your private address, which have
taken from the directory. Yours truly,
MAUD NErLEy."
That's all right, lin, amt it?"
chuckled Uncle Cottle.
Tim realized in flash that this was
his Maud" and it was his letter she
was answering, not his uncle's; but be
could not see his way to saying so.
What does she mean about your I'd.
dress?' he said.
"Why, was nervous when wrote
that letter, and must have forgotten
to put my address in; that's why she
didn't answer before; she couldn't.
And it's just occurred to her to look in
the directory. See? meant to have
asked her about it, but she was so nice
and amiable and smiling, and l was 10
-so-well, hardly know how was-
but there didn't seem any need to apollo
gize, and, in fact, Inever thought about
it till was coming away"
rs she young?" asked Tim, for the
sake of saying something.
81 thought at first she was nearly 40,
but she's only 20-she told me SO her.
self. showed her my bank book anda
list of my securities
"'0h, that's all right, she says laugh
ing.
"'rhen when's it to be-? saysI.
And it's going to be next month"
Next"
Month. I'm going around to the
Wears now to put up. the banns-you
come with me. And, l say! she's an
orphan, so we want you, my boy-age
don't matter; it's only q matter Of form
to be father to her at the wedding,
and give her away"
Tim was gloomy and reckless, and
said he would. Why shouldn't he? He
had given away his prospects; he had
given away his uncle; he might just as
well do the thing thoroughly and give
away the widow as we'll; then he would
have nothing and nobody left to keep
but himself Tit-Bits.