The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-18
He TOLD A WH0PPER.
~ W"
but Helped Hia Sister to
Get Rid Of the Man She
Didn't Love and Marry
the Man She Did Love.


When old Mr.. Bevans died at Niche
conk, Nathaniel Muddicombe. his grand
son, was the only heir. He was born and
brought up in England and had never
seen his grandfather. Six months after
his death Mr.. Muddicomte appeared at
Nicheconk and took possession Of the old
homestead where his mothers ancestors
had lived for generations and where
many Bevanses were born only to die of
and make way for the son of the dead
mans daughter. whom he had repudiated
because she married an alien and whom
he had cut off in will which he destroy.
ed the very day Of his death, the man in
whose favor 1t was having borrowed one
of his dogs to 90 hunting and accidentally
shot 1t. So the property went to the re.
pudiated daughters only child, she her
self having died few months before her
f6ther..
Mr. Muddicombe found that his grand.
fathers estate held mortgage for s., 900
on the farm Of Squire Culver near by,
and interest was overdue. So he went to
see the squire about it and was bewitch-
ed By the squirrels daughter, Grace, as
sweet o country lass as ever managed q
dairy. Muddicombe said not word
about the interest either on bis first call
or any other, but he began to make love
to Grace, who was in a sad quandary.
She was just 20, and three years before
Frank Layton, to whom she had plighted
her troth, had started for the Klondike,
aud from that time she had never had
word from him, but had learned from the
newspapers that the vessel In which he
sailed was lost and that nearly II not all
OIL board had persisted.
Her father didn't know Of her engage
ment to Frank, and therefore he en-
couraged Muddicombe. He was rich and
was putting the old homestead in splen-
did order and exercising excellent taste
in preserving all the quaint Characters
tics of the house. He was good
enough fellow in his way, but he was 40
years old, bald and sedate as a deacon.
Poor Grace didn't care just one little bit
for him and let him see 1t in as polite
way as she knew how. Nevertheless he
persevered. and the squire was happy,
for he saw how his daughters marriage
to Muddicombe might not only wipe out
the mortgage, but make her mistress of
the fine old homestead and the wife Of
rich man.
The time came when Muddicombe
spoke to the old man, who consented
cheerfully to his paying attentions to
Grace. Grace, knowing how her father
was situated, didn't say no, but asked
time to consider his offer, with which
she expressed herself as greatly hatter-
ed and SO forth. But to her 12-year-old
brother Ned she communicated her de-
csion to run away rather than marry the
solemn, shiny pated, stupid old fellow,
and Ned encouraged her, vowing that, if
the worst came to the worst, he would
go with her and before doing so help
himself to some Of tire old mans cash
and rifle.
Grace put off Muddicombe week after
week until another six months interest
on the mortgage became due, and Mud
dicombe, finding he wasn't advancing
much in his suit, limited to the squire
that he was short of ready money and
that IL months interest would soon be
due. Thereupon the squire insisted that
Grace should hurry up and accept Mud
dicombe, and so the very next day she
said yes, and Muddicombe expressed a
desire that the wedding should take
place within month.
Three weeks passed, during which time
Muddicombe got lots of new furniture
into the homestead, Only another week
was left and moor Grace was in n dread
mi srote of mind. Ned went to the
nostofica everv DIV IN see IL there
was a letter, but there was no sign Of
Franks existence. At last, however, he
came info the house one day lust Mt
dark, drew his sister into her room. clos.
cd the door and said in a gasping whis.
per:
MFrank,s outside IN the lane" As
soon as II was dark Frank and Grace
met. and. oh. how sweet It was! Water
n thirsty Observation-Disclosures to a
sb,nwracLej so;Ior-food IN starving
outcast-salyation to a sinking soul?
Take vour choice. Nav. nut them all to.
gather and then Won NAV imagine how
Grace felt.
As anybody who knows anything Of
human nature in petticoats and love
must admit, it is hardly necessary Tor
me to say that Frank and Grace under
the shadow Of the hills renewed their
VOWS and made them as much stronger
as words could do 1t. When Frank told
Grace that he mad MADE a pig maui ID
the Klondike and had over 100000 de-
posted In bank, she was not sorry and
never for moment experienced dread
of his leaving her for some fine lady.
She understood the value of that pleas.
ant sum and told Frank how she appre-
ciated 1t and also intimated that he must
at once produce enough of 1t to pay the
interest on the mortgage.
1.-THE interestT be said. why, Ill
pay off the whole principal as WELL"
That being settled. she told him about
Mr.. Muddicombe and how she had prom
Used to marry him, believing FRANK was
dead and where tney nelther marry nor
are given In marriage.
But said she' DID It TO save papa
and now that you've come III nihg MN
overheard and take you IN spite OF al
your wealth. Come nsht INSIDE now ana
III tell papa ana In JUST Us sure US ain
That I love you that papa won't say .
word against my taking back my prom
Use TO Muddicombe,"
"Of course" said Frank, ut would be
much simpler for me to shoot him, but
as you might object to that course as
being too Klondikish I'll agreed to your
proposal."
40 they went inside and surprised the