The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-09-13
The old man looked up at the fair

face bending over him.
"Why, who are your" he cried.
Il am Alice Mitchell" said the young
girl.
MITCHELL" repeated Abel duly.
"M-my sons wife! And WHAT But
the ugly words would not come He
could not utter them In the light of
those gentle eyes. "Will you be seat
ed2' he lamely added.
''rhank you, no." said the girl. II
have but few words to say; they will
not detaln you long" Abers gaze
dropped to the letter and the will, and
sarcastic smile twisted his mouth.
mo, no. the girl quickly added. Il
have not come to plead with you. You
are quite wrong To Imagine such a
thing. And you were quite wrong, too,
TO insult me MS you did In that letter."
He looked up again quickly. There
We're tears In the gentle eyes. And
| there was n CLINT of fire In them too.
| You lnsulted me and you insulted my
| dear father. l have no mother" She
| paused n moment. "When you insinu-
| nted that my father was mercenary in
this matter. you did him cruel wrong.
He was bitterly opposed to our marry
Ing without your consent. l disobeyed
my father too. But 1t was not for your
money. This letter viii bring us no
surprise"
The old man dropped his eyes be-
meath her reproachful gaze.
perhaps | was hasty," he slowly
said "but the provocatlon was great"
l.
as you did that l opposed the wedding,
and your father opposed 1t. too, why
did you permit yourself TO marry my
boy ~
81 could make 1t clear to you,
think" said the girl gently. "if You
loved your boy"
The old man trembled. II he loved
his boy! All that was near and dear
| TO hlm-all that was left to him of
kith and kin. The babe TINT dying
wife had solemnly placed in his pater-
nal arms. If he loved his boy! He
drew long breath and stared hard ut
the blank envelope on the desk before
| him.
"And now" said the young girl, Il
only want to add that l think Jim was
quite wrong In crossing your wishes.
He might have waited. | wanted him
TO wait But he Is so proud, so self
willed. l am very sorry that l should
be the means of separating you, and
II am quite sure | am not worth the
great sacrifice my dear-my husband
has made"
Abel was quite sure there were tears
| In, hut IA, u
UP.
"Where is Jim now?" he asked. Then
he smiled grimly. "And why nre You
not enjoying your-your wedding
tourT
"Therc was a vacancy In the bank
where my father Is employed" said
| tho girl, "nnd father secured 1t for jim
| His duties began today. Perhaps we
will take our wedding journey later.
We have to look out carefully for the
main chance now, you know"
"And you didn't expect to fall bnck
Isddiia.sgs1ass : y" SAID the old man.
mot penny of them," quickly re-
piled the girl.
The old man fldgeted In his chair.
"And why not2" he asked
Il think you understand" said tho
girl, and her gaze dropped to the let
ter on the desk.
| docs Jim know you are hereY'
"No. AT least he didn't know | was
| coming. Father will tell him to meet
me mt the corner mt o'clock. | must
GO"
walt" said the old man quickly. He
looked ut her scarchingly. She met his
gaze with n smile Her mind was on
jim.
Abel deliberately put the will back In
Its envelope and the envelope In Its
plgeonhole Then he picked up the
letter In It's unaddressed envelope, tore
1t into minute particles and tossed
them into the waste basket.
'1'ye changed my mind" he softly
| muttered.
He pulled down his desk cover with
bang and reached for his hat
"There," he said, "I'm ready" Then
he added, "Wll You give me your arm
my dearY As they passed through the
| doorway he paused.
II think. Alice" he said, that you
| and are going TO be very good friends.
And now we must hunt up Jim and
take him home with s."-Cleyeland
Plain Dealer.