The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-27

. answer. af5i-i ~ ~
"ExceIlensly." he laugblagly answered.
sIn six months we will BE- able to pay
back the money yeu borrowed. and I'm
perfectly confident that we will have ev.
erything cleaned up BY the end Of say ID
months. Then the balance Of 1t will be
our own velvet"
"Good," she cried; Every good indeedl
You see, l wasn't mistaken In you. All
you needed was an arousing."
Il met Miriam Barnes on the street
today" said Ford.
Annabel looked up little anxiously.
Eyes" she said. "and Miriam smiled
on youT
"She did," laughed Ford. ''She gave
me one Of her old bewitchers. guess
papa thinks a little better Of Fordie."
"And your" inquired Annabel.
''Oh, gaye her one Of my courtliest
bows and passed right along. There's
no fascination in that quarter now"
Annabel looked up with a smile.
eve mustn't hug the shore too close
~" she abruptly said. I'VE can begin to
take few chances. We want Miriam's
papa to increase his good opinion regard
ing ms. What do you think Of taking
hold of the Summer tract In the East
Ends'
"WhatY' cried Ford. .nThat gilt edged
paradise! Why, we couldn't touch it
with circus pole. Don't you know that
there are 200 acres of 1t. with good half
mile strung along the avenue?"
"Good time to open it up, isn't It'll" in
quired Annabel.
"splendid." replied Ford. "But what
Of that?"
"That's something" laughed Annabel.
She paused q moment. "What do you
say to handling It on commission
"Great," cried Ford. But can WEI"
II think 80. happen to know that the
owner has confidence in our little firm"
"The owner lives out Of town." said
Ford.
"Our fame is spreading" said Annabel.
A week later Ford was busy making
piat Of the famous Summer tract to sub
init to the owner. He worked at 1t with
a wild enthusiasm. Here was piece Of
vacant land that hadn't its equal in the
county. The lots would be snapped up
like wildfre.
Never was there greater change in
man, Ford had lost his listlessness. He
laborcd like Trojan early md late. and
hard work thoroughly agreed with him.
The firm had been in existence just six
months, when he came into the office late
one afternoon, his face glowing, his eyes
sparkling
"Met Papa Barnes just now" he cried,
"and papa came at me with both hands.
1t was really laughable."
"And Miriam?"
"She wasn't with him today, but I've
seen her several times lately"
"Are you quite sure you are proof
against the old fascinations?"
"Quite sure. The more ! see of Miri-
am the more admire yon."
He blurted It out thoughtlessly, and
then, as he realized the bluntness of the
remark, he turned toward her quickly.
Her eyes were fixed upon the paper be-
fore her.
"You look tired" he gently said as be
moved nearer.
81 am tired" she answered. II really
think" she went on slowly, that ] will
have to give up the business altogether.
You are started now and do not need me,
and think some of going away"
uOiuS uWdy. ut DIuuNis CShocu'
"Why, what would, do without you?
You've made me the man nm. You've
put new life into me. II can't spare
you" He looked ut her with dazed
expression.
"Oh. yes, you can" she said, with
ghost of smile. you have learned to
walk alone very nicely. All you needed
was self confidence"
He came little closer.
"Annabel," he said very softly, IL
will not ask you to stay here as my part
ner, but as my wife"
She looked up at him with glistening
eyes. Then she family smiled.
'"The revised arrangement is in every
way satisfactory" she demurely muir
INJURED.
toward Annabel's boarding place, she
suddenly stopped him. I.
"Wnlk slower" she said. Il have
confession to make. want YOU to know
that l went into your service full Of the
idea of marrying You. 1t was all wrong
of course. but wait until you learn the
circumstances. Perhaps you may have
heard your mother speak Of an eccentric
friend Of her girlhood days whose name
was Cameron. He was very peculiar and
had the idea deeply rooted in his mind
that he had remained single on your
mothers account. He was my uncle, and
l was with him when he died. In almost
the last sentence he spoke he begged me
to come here and do my best to marry
Jennie's son, us he called you. promis-
ed him would try to crafty his wish.
He had done so much for me. l hope he
sees and knows that all is we'll" She
paused a moment, then she blthely add
ed: "But now that you know the depth of
my undetermined plot let's change the
subject. Where are we going on our
wedding Journey?
"But, dearest. dare l go awayT cried
Ford. "Therc's the Summer plat. What
will the owner think if run away in the
midst of my preparatory labors"
"Pooh" said Annabel softly. I'm the
pwner."-Cleyeland Plain Dealer.