The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-11-13

gan 10 realize now Tree udQ Deen Win
complete stranger, and wondered
what mother would think of 1t all. So
1 said I would not get into the gig
again, but would walk home and make
my explanations as best could.
My friend would gladly have accom-
panied me, but this refused, and shyly
holding out my hand, said: "Good-by;
you have been very good to me. and I
thank you for helping me to-day"
But he ouly laughed, and said: at must
not be good-by, but only good-day, for
/ will be engaged with the agent at Cliff
Court for about month, and hope
you will let me call on your mother and
yourself" He watched me out of sight,
and as neared home wonder how
could tell Uncle Thomas Of the disaster
to my bicycle; but there was no need
of explanations, for on reaching home
/ found poor uncle had met with sad
accident, having fallen from ladder
he had mounted in order to fasten a
climbing rose tree above his bedroom
window. One of his legs was badly
broken, and he had received other Sc
rious injuries. Still, he managed to
ask me if had had ga happy day."
when I stood crying at his bedside. ooh.
yes, dear uncle" replied, "the happiest
day in my life, 1 am sure" on hearing
which he smiled feebly and then lapsed
into Inconsistencies. He was in great
danger for weeks, and when my knight
of the picnic called / could only see
him for moment or two. He left his
card for mother and the name or it
was mark Urquart." Well, it became
a daily thing for him to call to inquire
how our invalid progressed, and some
times l sat in the old summer house
with him; but did not understand the
hold he had got on my heart till he told
me he would be leaving in another
week, his business with the agent be-
ing over. Oh, how my heart ached
when l thought of him going away;
and he must have seen my grief in my
face, for he told me he could not go
unless went with him. In vain I
spoke of my uncle's illness, my mothers
loneliness. He would insist on speak
ing to my mother that very night, and
after quite a prolonged interview my
mother called me in and, greatly to
my surprise, told me she was quite
willing for me to be married privately,
on account of her uncle's illness. She
said Mark had quite satisfied her as to
his ability to keep wife. So the next
week we were very quietly married in
a neighboring town, and then went to
the Westmoreland lakes for a week.
We had arranged to stay with mother
for another week before taking up a
house for ourselves; but as we Travelled
homeward Mark asked me if knew that
Sir Frederick, Sir Walters successor,
was to arrive that night to take pos
session of Cliff Court. 1 said no, and
that it would be delightful for us to
mix with the crowd that would be
waiting to welcome him before going
on to the cottage. So Mark being agree
able, we took fly from the station and
arrived as a light was being put to an
immense bonfire on the HILL Mark said
we would go in by the side gate and es-
cape the crush, and we reached the ter
race without difficulty. The peacocks
should have been gone to roost, but the
noise had evidently reused them, and
they were strutting about just as they
had been that other day. Just as was
going to remind Mark of that time a
great cheer went up, and crowd came
rushing around us crying: "Long live
Sir Frederick" and Mark said: "For-
give me, Kathie, darling, for deceiving
you; am Sir Frederick"
Then before could realize what he
really meant Florrie came running up
and said: Didn't say that other day
that you were Just like the owner re-
ceiving your guests? and now you real
iy are part owner. wish you much
happiness" Oh, dear, it had all come
to me SO unexpectedly that felt faint,
and asked Mark (for / could not call
him Frederick) to take me to mother.
He told me she and uncle, who had inn
proved very quickly, were waiting in
the court for me, so / FASTENED in, and
found them in a cozy, quiet morning
room. Mother clasped me in her arms
and asked my forgiveness in aiding
Mark, who had told her his real position
the night he proposed to me. But while
she was speaking, we heard Mark say:
us it possible that you are Uncle
Thomas?" You see, owing to uncle's
accident, he had not seen him before.
My uncle laughed and said: 81 suppose
my little game is up" and while mother
and looked from one to the other for
some explanation, Mark said: II find
that after all it is who must introduce
Uncle Thomas to you. We are old
friends and Travelled together from
Frisco. He is the famous American
millionaire, Thomas Clifford Banks, the
latter name he adopted some years
ago." So it turned out that Mark
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