The suburban citizen., 1902-09-06

Aile luuCuiue anu, pEluEluS IL lOINuIu
laid 1t on the old mans desk. Abe
glanced 1t through.
"a beautiful copy" he said, and kni
his brows.
The girl at the end Of the desk ey
tended her hand.
''If you have no objection" she quiet
ly said, II will deliver it to him in per
SON."
The old man looked up at the fal
face bending over him.
"Why, who are you" he cried.
81 am Alice Mitchell said the youni
girl.
"MitchellT repeated Abel duly
'M-my sons wife? And what"
But the ugly words would not come
He could not utter them in the ligh
Of those gentle eyes.
"Will you be seated?' he lamel!
added.
"Thank you-no," said the girl.
have but few words to say. The!
will not detain you long"
AbePs gaze droppel to the letter ant
the will, and a sarcastic smile twisted
his mouth.
mo, no." the girl quickly added. /"
have not come to plead with you. Yol
are quite wrong to imagine such I,
thing. And you were quite wrong, too
to insult me as you did in that letter
He looked Up again quickly. There
We're tears in the gentle eyes. Ant
there was CLINT of fire in them, too.
"You insulted me, and you lnsultet
my dear father have no mother"
She paused a moment.
when you insinuated that my father
was mercenary in this matter you die
him a cruel wrong. He was bitterl!
opposed to our marrying without you
consent. I dlsobeyed my father too
But it was not Cor your money. This
letter will bring us no surprise"
The old man dropped his eyes be
meath the reprcachful gaze.
Perhaps l am hasty" he slowly
said, "but the provocation was great
Then he added quickly: But know
ing as you did that l opposed the wed
ding, and your father opposed, it, too
why did you permit yourself to marry
my boy?'
II could make it clear to you, ]
think" said the girl gently. 'lf yor
loved your boy"
The old man trembled. If he loved
his boy! All that was near and deal
to him-all that was left to him of kltt
and kin. The babe that a dying wife
had solemnly placed in his paterna
arms. If he loved his boy! He drew Q
long breath and stared hard at the
blank envelope on the desk before him
"And now," said the young girl, 81
only want to add that 1 think Jim was
quite wrong in crossing your wishes
He might have waited. l wanted him
to wait But he is so proud-so self
willed. 1 am very sorry that 1 should
be the means of separating you, and l.
l am quite sure 1 am not worth the
great sacrifice my dear-my husband
has made"
Abel was quite sure there were tears
in her eyes again, but he did not look
up.
Where is Jim now?" he asked. Then
he smiled grimly. "And why are you
not enjoying your - your wedding
tour?"
There was a vacancy in the bank
where my father is employed" said the
girl, "and father secured it for jim
His duties began to-day. 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 back
on my sovereigns," said the old man.
mot a penny Of them" quickly re.
piled the girl.
The old man fdgeted in his chair.
"And why not?" he asked.
Il think you understand" said the
girl, and her gaze dropped to the letter
on the desk.
docs Jim know you are here"
"No. At least he didn't know I was
coming. Father will tell him to meet
me at the corner at o'clock. 1 must
60"
wait" said the old man quickly.
He looked at her searchingly. She met
his gaze with a smile. Her mind was
on Jim.
Abel deliberately put the will back
in its envelope and the envelope in its
pigeonhole, Then he picked up the
letter in its unaddressed envelope, tore
1t into minute particles and tossed them
into the waste-paper basket.
"Ive changed my mind" he softly
muttered.
He pulled down his desk cover with
a bang and reached for his hat.
There" he said, "Tm ready" Then
he added: "Will you give me your
arm, my dear"
AS they passed through the doorway
he paused
II think, Alice" he said, "that you
and l are going to be very good friends.
And now We must hunt up Jim and
take him home with us.'-New York
News.
u.V