Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-08-11

first at the seashore quite by. .acciden
there was little accident, in fact
but she said she wouldn't distress yor
about it. Ard our acquaintance
rapidly ripeneu. When she came
back to town, I met her at various
places, sometimes quite by accident
and later on by-by appointment. L
wasn't right, sir, but II was very
deeplyin love.
''The little mink" cries the Older
man. "Why, she never breathed q
word of this"
so she told me, sir, and that-ant
that makes my present task all the
harder"
"Well, never mind that You are
not her dearest friend-and yet I sup
pose you think you are. Come, are
you sure she. loves you?"
"I have her word for it, sir. She
sent me to you"
"Well, well, and so quiet and de.
mure."
"Wh-what did you say, sir?"
81 say, why didn't Helen tell me?"
Because she wanted to keep it q
secret. ,"
"And she was in it too?"
"Sir?"
"Well, well, she is a good girl and
you must make her happy"
The two men shake hands solemnly,
the yopneaI; mans fafs h,eaming with 33
goes to the safe that stands in q cor
ner. From it he take large envelope.
'tShe'll not come to you exactly
empty-hauded, Torrance, he says as
he looks the contents of the envelope
over. GIVE put aside from time to
time certain securities for her, and I
see that they now amount to something
like 800, 900. Of course when I leave
there'll be more
He puts the envelope in the safe and
comes back to his desk.
"She is a very good girl" he COLI
times, "a sweet tempered, dutiful
girl. Really, L couldn't think more of
her if she were my own child"
''Not your own child?" gasps the
young man.
Certainly not. She is my brother
Edwards daughter. When her parents
died ten years ago I took charge other.
I've brought her up like a daughter,
but she is my niece. You look sur
prised." ;"
"I am" replied the young man. "I
I thought she was your daughter. i
"She didn't tell you so, did she?"
"Why II think she led Inc to be.
believe that such was the case"
astonishing! And you've been
courting her all this time in the belle!
that she was my daughter. Perhap:
but, no, L won't say it. I believe
you are an honorable man. You surely
wouldn't wreck her happiness for thu
sake Of the paltry dollars. No, no
rll-I'll add to that $40, 000."
"Sir,' says the young man, his fac'
all afame, II would marry your
your niece if she didn't have dollar.
''Spoken like man." cries the oil
gentleman. "I'll double that $50, 600.
The young man stirs uneasily in hi
chair.
"Wait," says the old man. IT can
understand about this little piece O
deception. 1t isn't bit like Mary.
"You mean Helen, says theyounge
man.
"No, Mary"
"Helen.'
"Mary"
The young man pushes back his chat
q little.
"She-she never told me her nam
was Mary" he gasps.
"Who never told you?"
"Helen."
The older man leans back in hi
chair and shakes his forefnger at Rober
Torrance.
"Will you kindly tell me wha
Helen has to do with this muddle?
he asks.
"You mean Mary"
"No, Helen"
The young man rises and takes nj
hat.
"Mr. Tinsley," he says. 'I cam
here to ask the hand of your daughter
and you tell me she is your niece
You even insist that her name is some
thing else. II don't know what t
think, sir. I have fear Tve"-hi
voice trembles, and he stops.
"Hark," murmurs the older man.
A voice comes to them from u
passageway=a sweet and timid voic.
ooh, is he engaged. Then II
wait.
''That-that's her voice" cries Her
bert
"Not-not Mary's voice" gasps tn
older man.
"No, no, Helen's voice"
The gray haired head drops bac
against the cushion.
"Heien!" he cries. Good Lord!
He stares at the young man rs
fascinated.
"And Helen loves you?" he gasp'
"She says so" replies Herbert.
'But she threw over all EARL"
"But she didn't love him, say
Herbert.