The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-04-23

of the family"
Mrs. Beckett gave her little sackle of
self-approval and general satisfaction
and went on as they seated themselves
Mt the table:
ii have noticed it all along, do you
know, and ! am so delighted. Quite
enchanted really. And my influence with
the dear girl will make her like you.
/ dare say you may have thought her
little-what shall say-cold ?-but,
as a matter Of fact, it has only been
o, bless my soul, thick soup. please
what is the expression? It has only
been-it has only been"
"Maidenly reserve?" suggested Mar
chant
"Pre-ciselyl Precisely what was
trying to say. How clever of you, dear
Mr.. Marchant. can understand now
how 1t was you got on so well in South
Africa. And your assertion that you
had come home with very little was,
I could see, only pretense to try u.s.
Yes, sherry, please"
II want to speak to you about that,
Mrs. Beckett. I'm afraid you don't
realize what l mean when say that
haven't brought much home with me-"
"Now, my dear Mr.. Marchant."
you must allow me, please, to tell
you exactly my position. Unless
work and earn money we shan't have7
"Mr. Marchantl This elaborate ruse
is one that have heard of before.
woman like myself doesn't live in this
world for-well, certain number of
years for nothing"
"No," said Mr.. Marchant; "it costs
money, know"
THAT is not at all what mean. But
when you came back from the Cape a
few weeks ago and limited that you had
only few hundreds could see through
it at once. It was-this is dreadful
ly slangy expression--too thin. But
the dear girl, of course, didn't see
through it, and consequently you may
feel quite sure that she will love you
for yourself alone. That's all you
wanted, isn't it?"
THAT, certainly, is all that wanted,
but"
"And, fortunately enough. to confirm
my suspicious, ! came across a letter
addressed to a friend of mine she
didn't know that ! saw it, but man.
aged to do so all the salne-from your
partner, Burchison."
Really" Mr.. James Marchant was
suddenly interested.
"And Mr.. Buchison said that you and
he had made a pile-such an odd eX
preston, isn't it-of 100000. 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 oppo-
site, who was bawling information
about the weather to 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 it in my pocket,
but really don't know whether ought
to show it to you. You see, it is private"
us that why you took it. Mrs. Beck
ett?"
Come, come, Mr.. Marchant. Don't
be too severe. One has to keep ones
eyes open in this world"
She found the letter with some diff
fculty-for the pocketsinladies dresses
are remote and difficult of access--and
under ambush of his plate Marchant
read it.
Mrs. Beckett, he said, excitedly," you
have, without knowing it, done me a
very great service. Burchison declared
to me that he had invested our gains.
and that all the money had been lost.
1T seems from this letter that he has
behaved shamefully, and | shall make
him disgorge every penny that belongs
to me. shall go back to the Cape by
the next boat"
"This is very unsatisfactory" de-
clared Mrs. Beckett. aggrievedly. You
can't very well get married before next
Saturday"
''The dear girl will watt" he an
sWered, confidently.
I'm not so sure of that" said Mrs.
Beckett, with some snappishness.
Dear Madeleine is not SO young as
she was"
80 l should judge. But what has
she to do with the affair? Is she to
be bridesmaid"
Madeleine has heen bridesmaid often
enough" said Madeleine's mother
This time, providing this money at
fair of yours comes out right, she will
be the BRIDE
Whose bride, Mrs. Beckett?"
"Why, bless the man." cried Mrs.
Beckett yours"
II don't see how that can be managed
with convenience. There's law against
bigamy, believe Besides, | only want
to marry your stepdaughter."
"Ella?" cried Mrs. Beckett, nmazedly
IF you don't mind"
Mrs. Beckett laid down her fishknifs
and fork and stared distractedly
around the table Mt 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 i'll
"Ill?" echoed Mrs. Beckett, tartly; ~
have uncommonly good cause to be. To
think that have taken all this trouble
for the sake of poor Mr.. Beckett's ride.
, ulous little daughter by his first wife
Why, she isn't worth"
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.-Chan.
hArc' Jod,rpoI