The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-20

oamo hack 20 town, 1 met her at various
places. sometimes quito by accident and
later ON by-by appointment. It wasn't
right, sir, but IL was very deeply In
love-"
"The little minx!'' cries the older man.
"Why, she never breathed word of this u
$50 she told me, sir, and that-and that
makes my present task all the harder"
"Well, never mind that. You are not
her dearest friend-and yet suppose you
think you are. Come, are you sure she
loves your"
II have her word for it, sir. She sent
me to you"
"Well, WELL and so quiet and demure. Z"
"Wh-what did you say, sir?"
II say, why didn't Helen tell me?"
"Becauso she wanted to keep 1t secret "
Sand she was in 1t too?"
"Sir?'
swell, well, she Is good girl and you
must make her happy"
Tho two men shake hands solemnly, the
younger mans face beaming with delight.
Then Mr.. Tinsley rises and goes to the
safe that stands in corner. From 1t he
takes large envelope
"She'll not come to you exactly empty
handed, Torrance" he says as ho looks the
contents Of the envelope over. "I've put
aside from time to time certain securities
for her, and see that they now amount to
something like $40, 900. OF course when !
leave there'll be more"
He puts the envelope in the safe and
comes back to his desk.
"She is very good GIRL" he continues,
ga sweet tempered, dutiful girl Really,
couldn't think moro of her IL she were
my own child"
"Not your own childp" gasps tho young
man.
Certainly not. She Is my brother Ed
wards daughter When her parents died
ten years ago, took charge of her. I've
brought her up like daughter, but she is
my niece You look surprised
II am" replied the young man. "I-I
thought she was your daughter"
"She didn't tell you 30, did shss"
"Wby, IL think she led me to believe
that such was the case"
Astonishing! And you've been court.
ing her all this time in the belief that she
was my daughter. Perhaps--but, no,
won't say 1t. / believe you are an honor
able man. You surely wouldn't wreck
her happiness for the sake of the paltry
dollars No, no. I'll-I'll add to that
SEQ, ,OOO"
''Sir," says the young man, his face all
aflame, 81 would marry your--your niece
II she didn't have dollar"
"Spoken like a man." cries the old gen.
tleman. ''I'll-I'n double that $50, 0O0!'
The young man stirs uneasily in his
chair.
wait" says the older man. 81 can t
understand about this little piece of de-
ception. 1t isn't bit like Mary"
"You mean Helen" says the younger
man.
"No, Mary"
"Helcn."
"Mary" p.
The young man pushes back his chair a
little He looks dazed.
"She--she never told me her name was
Mary" he gasps.
''Who never told your"
"Helen.''
The older man leans back in his chair
and shakes his forcfinger ut Herbert Tor
rance
"Wil you kindly tell me what Helen
has to do with this muddles" he asks.
"You mean Mary"
"No, Helen"
The young man rises and takes his hat.
"Mr. Tinsley," he says, II came here to
ask the hand of your daughter, and you
tell me she Is your niece. You even insist
that her name is something else. II
don't know what to think, sir. 1 fear
Pve'-his voice trembies, and he stops.
"Hark," murmurs the older man.
A voice comes to them from the passage.
way--a sweet and limpid voice.
"Oh, IL he engageds Then III wait"
"That's-that' her voice" cries Her.
bert
"Not-not Mary's voice. gasps the old
er man.
"No, no; Helen's voice.
The gray haired head drops hack against
the cushion.
"Helcnr' he cries Good Lordr'
He stares at the young man us il fasci-
mated
'And Helen loves yous" no gasps.
"Shc says So, replies Herbert.
"But she threw over an carl"'
"But she didn't love him. says Her.
bert
'And 1 thought all the time 1t was
Mary, y murmurs the old man.
IL Idon't know any Mary, says Herbert.
Mr.. Tinsley rises and walks toward the
door. As he passes Herbert he taps him
lightly on the shoulder. A smile breaks
across his face.
Not word about that SEQ, ,000," ne
whispers.
Come in, dear" he calls at the door
way.
And Helen enters with much rustling of
skirts and charming blush. She mods
shyly to Herbert and puts her arm about
her fathers neck.
"You know now the price you have to
paw" she murmurs.
Yes, my dear"
"And IL can have what 1 wants"
eyes, my dear"
She kisses him gently and he stretches
out his disengaqed hand To the young man.
"You and Herbert must be very good
friends" laughs Helen. He has some
excellent qualities. He saved my life last
summer
"You didn't tell me that, says the old
or man az he looks reproachfully At Her
bert.
II had something much more Important
on my mind" murmurs tho latter.
"Thcre, there" cries Helen, that
wasn't bit pretty" Then she adds
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