The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-24
MISTAKEN.

Mr.. Mopsleigh was an aspiring man.
His motto was Upward and onward"
And, to a certain extent, he had lived
up to it; for, beginning life with no
greater capital than ragged coat, a
shoe-block and box of backing, he
had succeeded in amassing fortune
Of something over hundred thousand
dollars. He had never married, be-
cause he had been too busy In his
younger days, and now that his means
would admit of such luxury, his
hopes and aspirations were all CEN
tered in his only nephew, fine young
fellow, just one-and-twenty. years Of
age.
You're all l have In the world,
Dick" said he. And you shall be my
heir, if you only marry to please me-"
But Mammon and Cupid are almost
Invariably ranged in opposition to one
another in this woodland in full view
of the unparalleled idiocy Of such
proceeding, Dick Avenel fell in love
with a pretty girl who hadn't penny
to bless herself with, and one day he
sought his Uncle Mopsleigh.
"Uncle," said Dick, I'm in love-"
"The deuce you are" said the old
gentleman.
with the sweetest girl in the
world" avered Dick.
"And who, pray, may she be?" de-
manded Mr.. Mopsleigh.
Her name is Clara Cleveland. She's
nursery governess in Mrs. Van Vorst's
family"
"Then," said Uncle Mopsleigh,
you'd better get out of love with her
as quick as you can. want no beg
carly governesses in my family! Be-
sides, I've already picked out wife
for you!"
"Eh!" said Dick.
Miss Clementina Etherege, the heir
ess! Just come to visit her aunt, Mrs.
Major Doddington. Worth a quarter
Of a million in her own right! And
they tell me she is as pretty as pink!
That's the sort of wife for you, my
p}.J. ..
Il beg your pardon, SIR" said Mr..
Avenel, with dignity. Were she as
rich as Croesus, and beautiful as We
nus, she would be perfectly Indifferent
to mel"
Don't be an asst" said Mr.. Mops-
leigh.
Come with me at once, and call on
Mrs. Major Doddington. See for your
SELF"
"Of course I will do as you please
about this" said Dick, mentally steel
ing himself for a stiff combat. And,
inwardly more determined than ever,
he got his hat and accompanied the old
gentleman.
Mrs. Major Doddlngton lived in a
pretty Mansard-roofed villa just out of
town. There was a fountain in front
of the yeranda, and perspective view
Of blue-silk furnished drawing-rooms
through the open French easements.
Mrs. Major Doddington is not at
home" said the little maid in a white
apron and pinkribboned cap, who
came to the door. would the gentle
men walk in and see Miss Etherege?"
But. Mr.. Mopsleigh declined this. He
didn't quite like to face the heiress
without the advantage of Mrs. Dod-
dington's presence. He handed out his
card. on which he hurriedly penciled
beneath his own name, that Of his
nephew, and said that he would "call
again"
But as they passed the corner of the
house, themselves hidden by a minia-
ture thicket Of rhododendrons, they
had an excellent view of one Of the
blue silk rooms, where slender, pref
ty young lady, also in blue, sat writing
at desk-a young lady with long eye
lashes, an oval face and rose twist
ed in the coils Of her blue black
hair.
That's she, sir!" said Mr.. Mops-
leigh, grasping his nephews arm, and
gesticulating toward the unconscious
note writer with the forefinger of his
disengaged hand. That's the heir
ess! Look at her! Isn't she beau
ty"
"She is, indeed, SIR" said Dick, who
stood transfixed in the middle of the
rhododendrons. "But are you sure"
"Of course I'm sure" brusquely In
terrupted Mr.. Mopsleigh. who else
can it be? Dick, look here! You shall
marry that girl"
Il will, sir!" avarred Dick, with
equal sincerity.