Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-06-26
THE REASON WHY.

Well, my DEAR" / asked, as l threw
myself comfortably back in my cor
ner of the carriage that was bearing
my niece and myself from the Wal.
tons garden party, which, after l
had been abroad for nearly three
months, [ had come home in time to
attend, when is it to be? Slocombe
is so very slow, and generally un-
matrimonial, that the prospect of a
marriage must set you all alive"
"Why, auntie, what do you mean?'
laughed Tony, her baptismal name
was Antonina. 81 see you are as
cynical as ever, Slocombe is Slo-
combe still. AS far as l know, there
is rot even the faintest rumor of an
immediate wedding in the air."
"Not immediate, but only in the
dim and distant future ?n | remark.
ed. "That's it, is it? A long
courtship? ?"
NO." merrily shaking her head.
Gas far as / am aware there is moth
ing Of the kind going on at present
in Slocombe. There is not even an
engagement"
"Really Well, there soon will
be one," I said decidedly.
"Who do you mean, auntie Be-
tween whom ?"
"Why, that young Clarence Moore
and my favorite, Sissie Walton. If
ever l saw love in mans eyes, my
dear, / saw it in his, as he looked
at Ter while she sang that song.
Now, what do you say 2"
Tony, rubbing the tip of her pref
ty little nose, refectiyely, merely at
first said, "Humph,' then she add
ed:
"Do you think so, auntie ?"
"Mv dear, if l had not, l should
not have said SO, I asked your opin-
ion. Who is Clarence Moore p
"The only son of his father"
laughed Tony, "and he is a widow
err, which he has beer for nearly
eight and twenty years. They, the
father and son, for not only is he
the only son, but also child, live
over there at that picturesque, but
rather solitary house, Moat Lodge
with q middle.aged, motherly house.
keeper, who devotes herself to theil
habits, and fosters them. Jack calls
them the two old bachelors"
"One isn't bachelor, and the
other will not be so long, l said
"When I catch Miss Sissie alone,
I'll ask her to let me into her conf,
dence."
II don't think l would, aunt;e,'
rejoined Tony, looking quite grave
"Do you know 1 fancy third parties
sometimes are apt to do harm by in.
reference"
"That's a lesson for me, Miss
Tony" laughed. "But I reckon
you have cause for so speaking"
"Indeed, nothing but surmise, y
she replied hurriedly. of Clarence
Moore marries either, of course it
will be Sissie; but 1 have suspic-
ion that Kate cares for him.
kate !" calculated. "Why she
is years older than he."
ooh, yes, five or six, l should
think /; but you see the way he has
lived has made him of a grave and
sedate nature"
"But he is not more than thirty
l broke in, $50 Sissie is more suita-
BILE; besides which, he loves her.
I'm positive OF til would wag-
En-
"What auntie z" cried Tony, gaily
clapping her hands, Il do SO delight
in betting"
"Mere shame for you child. But
there, l am so certain, that I'll wag.
er you new racquet against new
spectacle case, that before two
months are over, we shall hear of
Clarence Moore and Sissie's engage
ment."
"Done, auntie,' said Tony, "only
on no account now must you hint at
anything to Sissie, putting the idea
in her head, as it would not be fair =
"Certa inly mott I agreed, as the
carriage stopping, We alighted at
home.
Some few years previously, my
brother had settled with his family
at Slocombe, and on the death OF
our father-Our sole survivinU nor.