The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-07

exactly my positien, Uniess1 work and
earn inoncy VA Shan't have -.
wMr. Marchanti This sl6borats ruse ID
one that I have heard Of before. Awonil
an like myself doesn't i've In this world
. for-wcil, a certain number Of years for
nothing"
"Nob said Mr.. Merchant. "It costs
money, I know.
"That Is not at all what mean. But
when you came back from the Cape few
weeks ago and limited that you had only a
few hundreds, could SEQ through 1t at
once. II was--this Is q dreadfully slangy
expression-too thin. But the dear girl,
Of course, didn't see through 1t, and conse-
quently you may feel quite sure that she
will love you for yourself alone. That's
all you wanted, isn't itS"
"That certainly is all that wanted,
butt se. l..., d..
3 "And, fortunately enough, to confirm
my suspicious came across a letter adj
dressed to friend Of mine--she didn't
know that saw 1t, but managed to do
SO all the same--from your partner, Bur
chison.''
Really" Mr. james Marchant was
suddenly interested.
"And Mr. Burcbison said that you and
he had made pile--such an odd express
sion isn't'it-of ego, 900. And he said that
he thought you would both stay on for a
few years, but, as we know, you sensibly
enough came home"
Mrs. Beckett looked triumphantly across
at her angular daughter opposite, who was
bawling Information about the weather to
q deaf archdeacon and then at Marchant.
She shook her head waggishly at the man
from the Cape.
"Can see that letter." he asked sharply.
Fortunately have 1t In my pocket,
but really don't know whether / ought
to show it to you. You see, 1t is private.
"Is that why you took it, Mrs. Beckettf"
"Come, come, Mr.. Marchantl Don't be
too severe. One has to keep ones eyes
open in this world" ,S
She found the letter with some difficulty
for the pockets in Indies dresses are re-
mote and difficult of access-and under
ambush Of his plate Marohant read 1t.
"Mrs. Beckett" he said excitedly, "you
have, without knowing it, done me very
great service. Burchison declared to me
that he had invested our gains, and that
all tho money had been lost 1t seems
from this letter that he has behaved shame
fully and 1 shall make him disgorge every
penny that belongs to me. shall go back
to the Cape by the next boat s-
"This is very unsatisfactory, declared
Mrs. Beckett aggrievedly. "You can't
! very well get married before next Satur-i
day." .5
= "The dear girl will wait" he answered
confidently. % ,4sg e!st
"I'm not so sure of that, !" said Mrs.
Beckett, with some snappishness. Dear
Madeleine is not so young as she was"
so should judge. But what has she
to do with the affair? Is she to be brides
maidS" ,...s r.-
Madeleine has been bridesmaid often
enough" said Madeleine's mother "This
time, providing this money affair of yours
comes out right, she will be the BRIDE"
Whose bride, Mrs. Beckettf"
"Why, bless the man, !" cried Mrs. Beck
EFT, ''yours." 5 ir
II don't see how that can be managed
with convenience. There's law against
bigamy, Believe. Besides, only want to
marry your stepdauahter"
''EllaS" cried Mrs. Beckett amazedly.
"If you don't mind. ;"
Mrs. Beckett laid down her fshknifo and
fork and stared distractedly around the
table ut the other guests Finally her eyes
rested on Madeleine, and she frowned SO
much at that young lady that Madeleine
asked across the table in an audible tone
If she were Ill. ,,
"Ill?" echoed Mrs. Beckett tartly. II
have uncommonly good cause to be. To
think that l have taken all this trouble
Cor the sake of poor Mr. Beckett's ridicu-
lous little daughter by his first Wife Why,
she isn't WORTH 4..,...r
Excuse me-" interrupted Marchant
promptly. "You will remember, please
that you are speaking of lady who is to
be my wife,
"Bah!" said Mrs. Beckett. Chambers
journal.