The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-03-19

be thought no nu excellent sign ihAt 40
should wiah 90 please Miss Blo1bnm
by little attentions 90 her friend. On
The whole, no was satisfied with The
way things wcro goiug-or 90 ho told
himseli-and he could not understand
why no found q hitherto unknown
difficulty In sounding Miss Bloxham
on the subject, and gently preparing
the way for jacks suit.
OF course, Jack was In love with
her how could no fail 10 be, knowing
her 80 we'll az no now did2 Why, even
he, tho Major, was more than half IN
love With her himself, as ho owned,
with q sigh, 70 his cigar; end he was
old enough 60 know tho folly Of iti
how, then, should a young fellow like
Jack escape2 No, give them timoj
nothing bat time was needed now
aud very little more Of his iudic!ous
managemout-to bring the matter 20
n successful conclusion, and transform
Miss Nellie Bloxhan into Mrs. Mack
intosh-Mrs. Jack Macintosh. Alb,
what difference that one little word
made
The Major called himself an old
fool for his pains, and refused to think
OF what, perhaps, might have hap
pened, had no only been a dozen or
fifteen years younger; but for him-a
man Of hity-oh, no. 1t was out OF
the question
And so the FIRST week OF jacks visit
came 10 an end.
The little expeditions, however, did
not come TO an end +; on the contrary,
Major Macintosh redoubled his ox-
ertions, for no was growing extraor-
dinarily anxious to have the affair
settled and the more he saw Of Nell
lie, the more he was convinced that
Jack would DO tine luckiest fellow in
the world if he won her. And he must
win her The Major felt that his
reputation was at stake, for he had
never labored 10 make any match as
he had labored for this. Oh, he must
speak seriously to Jack about it AS
to Miss Bloxham, she must surely sus-
pect something Of his hopes, and she
had not discouraged them she always
agreed readily to oil his plans, and
treoted him with marked considera.
ton and, OF course, it must be on
Jacks account To imagine anything
else would be-oh, no he wasn't quite
such a fool as that
"Jack, have you thought over what
] said to you?" he asked abruptly one
day, as they we're walking back to
their hotel.
"What about? You've said a good
deal at different times"
ooh, about settling, you know"
'To be sure l have There's a lot
in it." THIS was distinctly encourage
ing, yet the Major felt his heart sink
unaccountably. "In fact, l think l
shall act on It,"
You're thinking seriously of set
thing, my boy?"
"Most seriously, to tell the truth !"
And there was q twinkle in Jacks eye
as he spoke. 81 was just going to tell
you that I've already asked-some one
to settle me, and she's promised to
do it."
There was q moments silence. Then
the Major pulled himself together, and
wrung jacks hand.
II congratulate you with all my
heart, my boy !" he said husllily.
"Thank you. She's a dear little
girl, and thinks no end of you. She
has no father, you see, and So"
eyes, yes, 1 quite understand u
The Major felt that this was little toe
much. 81 think she must know how
I've set my heart on it" he added.
"Nct bit of it'll She feared yoU
had quite other views for me. In
deed, it WAS all Miss Bloxham and
could do to persuade her"
"Her? Whom?"
"Why, Mile, of course. She fear
you'll play the cruel uncle, and obiec
to my marrying her"
"Millie. Marrying Millie"
eyes. Surely you must have seen
''And what does Miss Bloxham sa,
to this?"
ooh, she's delighted We are al
such friends, you know"
"Friends Marry Milliel And but
for that little malplot you might have
married Miss Bloxham-"
''Not q bit of 1t. You are mistaken
thore. Even had I ever wished it, sh
wouldn't have had me-"
"Who told you 500"
Nobody; but I'm not quite fool
, any more than you are quite a hun
dred, because-Uncle, Mile is no
| the marplot, but-quite another pei
son!" significantly.
"By Jove !" exclaimed the Major.
, He was silent for some moments
When next he spoke it was in yer
} different tone:
"Do you think I've any chance
Jack?"
) Jack laughed, not unkindlY.