The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-08-11

| 20, Mr.. Birmingham; how can you
say so? I think they're just lovely"
81 mean just what say. There's no
sense in them"
i "Nor on them, I suppose, you might
add"
Eyes, since you've put it that way"
80, my; how ungallant. But 1 ven
ture you'll be riding one yourself be-
fore long"
Then a wicked CLEAN comes into Jen-
MES eyes.
Il ride one of those things! haven't
quite lost my senses yet, Miss Wyck-
off,
The wheel is repaired now.
"Please Try it, Mr.. Birmingham; just
for my sake"
o, those eyes of Jennie.
\ man is astridc wheel.
Look out! I'm going"
mo, you're not. Hold steady, hold
steady. Don't hold the handle bars so
tight
keep away from that hill; keep
away from that hill. For heavens
sake, woman, keep away from that
hill"
80, dear, can't hold you. There you
go! Hang on to the handle bars; put
up your feet and coast!"
"God help me!'
At the foot of the hill there's help
less heap of wheel and man.
"There! If that isn't just my luck to
have my wheel all broken to splinters.
But" there's little twinkle in the
bright eyes-I've come pretty nearly
muzzling the beast
"Mr. Wyckoff wishes to sec you, sir"
How are you feeling to-day, Mr.. Bir
mingham?"
Hum! Feeling? How would you
expect a man to feel who has made
toboggan slide of himself? Feeling,
sir? Why, feel as if Id been in rail
way wreck or mine Disaster
We'll, I'm very sorry, sir; very sorry,
can assure you; and l called to see if
there isn't something l can do for you"
NO; l believe there's nothing"
"Now, word, sir, about that other
matter"
"What other matter?"
"Why, the marriage to my daughter"
"IIum-ah-hum! Your daughter?
Hum-I've already married, SIR
what! Married, and lost that for
tune?"
Hum. No, sir, married and secured
that fortune"
"Why, how can that be, sir? A
Wyclloff must marry q birmingham.
According to the provision of the
will it,
Hum! a Wyckoff has married
Birmingham. l am a Birmingham
and"
but where is the Wyckoff, sir?"
"You ought to know Mrs. Birming-
ham, Mr.. Wycllotf, for she is, or rather
was, a Wyckoff. Your older brothers
daughter, Julia, you know"
"Why, my brother and his wife were
lost off the coast of Ireland forty years
ago"
"Yes, sir, that is true. They We're
lost, but their daughter was saved"
1t is not quite half a mile to the
Wyckoff homestead, but the way seems
long, and the sun is hiding behind the
naples, when an old man climbs the
steps.
"Well. if that isn't just Jennie's luck"
SIS that you, Jennie?"
"Yes, papa. Come right in, James;
come right along in."
y big, handsome fellow of twenty
three, well formed and athletic, stands
by Jennie's side in the library.
Papa, this is Mr.. Norton--Mr. James
Norton-Mrs. Norton's son-you know
him.
"Yes, yes, of course. How are you,
Jimmie? l used to call you Jimmie
when l saw you around a little chap.
And where do you come from?"
From the university, sir; just
through"
but, Papa; you know his name isn't
really Mr.. Norton, although, of course,
everybody calls him that, because that's
his mothers name, you know"
us that so? What is your name, sir?"
birmingham, sir"
birmingham, did you say?"
"Yes, sir"
"Whose son We're youW
civilian Birmingham's."
"The same, as l live. Why, thought
that old Birmingham down the road was
the son of William"
80 we all thought until few days
ago, sir. Now, it turns out that he was
an adopted son. My mothers first hus-
band was William Birmingham. He
died when l was only baby, and-and
-and-wcll, he drank, sir, and my
mother never told me until the other
day that Mr.. Norton wasn't my own
until Jennie told her."
"Well, we'll, that is remarkable. Your
cousin, Julia, will be badly disappointed,
Jennie, to lose that fortune"
81 wanted to say word to you, Mr..
Wyckoff."
"Well, what is it, James--or Mr.. Bir-
mingham, l mean?"
You know the provision of that will, |
sir?"
"Yes."
swell, you know I am n birmingham
and you know Jennie-Niiss Jennie
Miss Wyckoff, l should say-that is,
your daughter-you know she's a
Wyckoff."
"Yes, she's a Wyckoff."
"Well, sir, WAS"
80, Papa, can't you see?"
"Yes, yes, child, l see. You want TO
marry NV dauUbter sir TS that II ."