The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-31
THERE'S MANY A SLIP"

T am sorry to have to cause you this disappointment, MT. Neal. I esteem and thank you for you offer, but my pledge is already given to another
 And that other is-' exclaimed the young man, involuntarily, and with out removing his intent gaze from the girls beautiful face.
 A vivid blush suffered Pennies fair cheeks for a moment; then her lips parted in a frank, happy laugh.
 T do not mind telling you, MT. Neal, since you will know so soon. I am en- gagged to Roscoe Farnhani."
 For the first time Nears eyes dropped away from hers; but the look that flashed through them during that brief interval was as quickly yelled as he said, in tones whose slightly tremuious accent seemed quite natural under the circumstances:
 Accept my sincere congratulations, Miss Lawrence!'
 Then with pressure of the hand, he was gone.
 Once outside of the house, however. the mask fell from his countenance.
 "So,' he hissed between his set teeth, Roscoe Farnhanl, the only rival I feared, has supplanted mel But let him beware! his apparent success in no way weakens the force of my determination to win Rennie Lawrence for my wife. He has a pledge, but he has not yet the lady; and the old adage holds good, that there's many asslfp twixt cup and lip. What luck has won, craft may de- spoil him off,
 But no threatening of the secretly vowed revenge was apparent for time The young men met each other on ap- parently the most friendly terms, and Neal had promised to be best man at the prospective ceremony.
 Calling upon Mr., Lawrence one even- ing, Neal desired private Interview at the close of which Rennie was sum- moned to the library.
 My child" said her father, with manifest excitement; you have bestow- ed your affections upon man devoid of honor or principle. Tell her. Neal Spare me, MT. Lawrence" said Neal, averting his face. You tell her. I will assist you if necessary | Between them the story was told.
 How Neal, in consequence of alleged suspicious, had been investigating MT. Farnham's antecedents, and had learn ed that his love affairs in various places were quite notorious. | That, just prior to his engagement to Rennie, he had cruelty broken a prev ious betrothal and finally that his em- ployers were even then Investigating grave charges against him, which were likely to lead to his dismissal from the | firm.
 1 Now, my daughter" said MT. Law renee, in conclusion, will you wait to be publicly involved in this mans in- evitable disgrace, or will you act the part of wisdom by dismissing him at once?"
 Rennie had listened without word or sign but now she raised her beautiful head proudly
 ''I will do this" she answered quiet | ly. T will send him a letter by James this very night, and by his own answer will I judge him. If he is indeed dis honorable and unworthy, no letter that | he can write, no matter how skillfully worded, can hide it or disguise it from mel"
 And without another word she left the room.
 Twenty minutes later William Neal took his leave, walked a few paces away from the house, then returning, concealed himself at convenient point and waited.
 Presently a servant emerged from the lower part of MT. Lawrence's house followed by a rosy checked chamber maid.
 "It is too bad, sending you all the way down there tonight" the girl was saying You could have dropped it in the post-office just as well.'
 Miss Rennie says it's to go straight to his lodgings; and if you had seen the look on her face you would have known | she meant it." answered James. 'II