The Republican., 1897-10-14

gan to realize how free l had been with
a complete stranger, and wondered
what mother would think of it all. So
l said l would not get into the gig
again, but would walk home and make
my explanations as best | could.
My friend would gladly have accom-
panied me, but this | refused, and shyly
holding out my hand, said: "Good-by;
you have been very good to me, and l
thank you for helping me to-day"
But he ouly laughed, and said: 1T must
not be good-by, but only good-day, for
l will be engaged with the agent at Cliff
Court for about a month, and | hope
you will let me call on your mother and
yourself" He watched me out of sight,
and as | neared home | wonder how |
could tell Uncle Thomas of the disaster
to my bicycle; but there was no need
of explanations, for on reaching home
! found poor uncle had met with sad
accident, having fallen from a ladder
he had mounted in order to fasten
climbing rose tree above his bedroom
window One of his legs was badly
broken, and he had received other Sc
rious injuries. Still, he managed to
ask me if | had had ga happy day"
when | stood crying al his bedside. "Oh,
yes, dear uncle" replied, "the happiest
| day in my life, | am sure" on hearing
which he smiled feebly and then lapsed
into unconsciousness. He was in great
danger for weeks, and when my knight
of the picnic called l could onlvAsee
| him for a moment or two. Tte l&-s,fIs
| card for mother and the name on it
was "Mark Urquart." Well, it became
daily thing for him to call to inquire
how our invalid progressed, and some-
times | sat in the old summer house
with him; but did not understand the
hold he had got on my heart till he told
me he would be leaving in another
week, his business with the agent be-
ing over. Oh. how my heart ached
| when | thought of him going away;
and he must have seen my grief in my
face. for he told rue he could not go
unless I went with him. In vain
spoke of my uncle's illness, my mothers
| loneliness He would insist on speak
ing to my mother that very night, and
after quite a prolonged interview my
mother called me in and. greatly to
my surprise. told me she was quite
willing for me to be married privately,
on account of her uncle's illness. She
said Mark had quite satisfied her as to
his ability to keep wife. So the next
week we were very quietly married in
a neighboring town. and then went to
the WeStmoreland lakes for a week.
We had arranged to stay with mother
for another week before taking up Il
house for ourselves; but as we travelled
homeward Mark asked me if knew that
Sir Frederick, Sir Walters successor,
was to arrive that night to take pos
, session of Cliff Court. I said no, and
that it would be delightful for us to
, mix with the crowd that would be
= waiting to welcome him before going
on to the cottage. SO Mark being agree
. able. we took fly from the station and
arrived as a light was being put to an
2 immense bonfire on the hill. Mark said
we would go in by the side gate and es.
r cape the crush, and we reached the ter.
S race without difficulty. The peacocks
2 should have been gone to roost, bIt the
g noise had evidently reused them, anl
> they were strutting about just as they
t had been that other day. Just as ! was
] going to remind Mark of that time 8
great cheer went up, and crowd came
rushing around us CRYING: Long live
Sir Frederick" and Mark said: For
give me, Kathie darling. for deceivins
YOU; | am Sir Frederick"
Then before | could realize what h
really meant Florrie came running "
and said: Didn't l say that other da.
that YOU were Just like the owner re
ceiving your guests? and now you real
ly are part owner. | wish you muci
happiness" Oh, dear, it had all COM
to me so unexpectedly that I felt faint
and asked Mark Cfor l could not cal
him Frederick to take me to mother
He told me she and uncle, who had i'm
proved very quickly, were waiting il
the court for me, SO | fastened in AM
found them i'll a cozy, quiet mornin!
room. Mother clasped me in her arm
and asked my forgiveness in aiding
Mark, who had told her his real position
the night he proposed to me. But Will
+ she was speaking, we heard Mark say
l. 'Is it possible that you are Uncl
IS Thomas?" You see, owing to uncle
IS accident, he had not seen him before
" My uncle laughed and said: 81 suppos
e my little game is up" and while mothe
j. and | looked from one to the other fo
IS some explanation, Mark said: 81 fin
Or that after all it is | who must introduc
o Uncle Thomas to you. We are ol
IT friends and travelled together fror
o. Frisco. He is The famous America
d millionaire, Thomas Clifford Banks, tn
It latter name he adopted some year
20 ago" So it turned out that Mar
If (whose name was Frederick Mark ha
not married poor girl after all, thoug
70 he thought he had, for l am uncle's sol
, heiress, and he gave me bicycl
10 worthy of a millionaire as a marriae
no present.-Belfast News.
lS The Locomotive Whistle.
n The railway whistle-who has nj
IN heard its piercing shrek ?-was inven
e. ed because of the destruction of loa