Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-12-01
borhood about us!"

sommon people sayl" replied Mrs. Wyl
with her nose elevated.
"You men don't know anythinKl
want Mary to meet Mr.. John Lsste
You know he Is the best catch in TIL
part Of the state. Besides, he Is hanC
some, a good lawyer, and is related I
the Johnsons and will inherit forum
from his uncle Hiram"
Didn't you tell me that Lester an
Miss Ellen Austen are engagedw
Yes; they are-engaged; but"
"Wyly looked up from his paper an
caught the significant glance OF hi
scheming wife, and in q contsmplativ
tone asked:
What do the neighbors say? Hav
the Austen children come back her
to live, or are they only on visit to thsi
eousins-the Wade's?"
"Octavia says they are here only 70
the summer. But II they do stay It will
make no difference-witho our affairs!
Each looked significantly at the othe
both were thinking Of the same thing
Since the death of their parents the,
would inherit"
Nonsense, Samuel! The will Of Mrs
Scarborough cuts off their parents. anC
now how can these children inherit theil
Grandaunt's plantation
"Yes; the will! The will throws then
ali outl And, besides, the Austen chill
dren have no money to fight the case,
If they should bring suit"
"These children don't know anything
about the estate, only what we have told
them-that it was ,nsolVent. And they
have examined the will"
Maybe Lester has told Ellen Sons-
thing. The neighbors have talked 4
great deal, and he may have heard II!
They all know that we had nothing,
and"
Don't talk that way, Samuel It Il
only neighborhood gossip. anyway /
have invited Lester to the reception.
He is poor; Mary is rich. Perhaps II
it was known that we intend to give
Mary 100000 as bridal prestnt-well,
sometimes people change their minds!"
you are a diplomat" said Wyly,
smiling. 81 can give him some legal
business, and that will help him to build
up practice"
"And invite him to dinner frequently,
and he will soon forget"
"That is another good idea, Sarah"
The WHY mansion was brilliantly
lighted, and crowded with guests. The
rich planters of the Bayou Macon set
tlement," with their families, were in
attendance, and also all the village peo-
pie, rich and poor. IL was the greatest
event in the social history OF Monu-
cello.
Miss Mary was dressed in the latest
fashion, which attracted the attention
of all and the envy of the young ladies.
There was only a slight inclination OF
her weIl-poised head, and meaningless.
mechanical smile on her face as she re-
ceived introductions to the guests. She
greeted each with a commonplace cx-
preston. which meant nothing or a
great deal-according to the recipient.
ooh, l am so delighted 70 meet you,
Mr.. Lester!" said the debutante, in
very ELUSIVE manner, as her match
making mother brought the rising
young lawyer" to where Mary stood,
surrounded by number Of young men,
who were rivaling each other In paying
compliments to the new belle.
Mothers looked on with envy, and their
manageable daughters appeared to be
Indifferent to the progress OF Miss
WHY.
The reception was over, and Miss WHY
had made an impression.
Speculation Of the village gossips
came to an end with the veri1cation OF
the truth of the rumor that the engage
ment between Miss Ellen Austen and
John Lester had been broken. AS usual,
1t was said that the young lady had
changed her mind; but, the more think
ing ones saw in the broken engagement
the designing hand of Mrs. WHY.
Lester loved Miss Austen with all the
ardor Of a young man whose attach
ments have been few. Yet, like most In
experienced lovers, he was attracted by
this new face, and he mistook passing
fancy for love, The winsome smiles OF
the beautiful Miss WHY, her articles
and her dashing manner, made her so
different from the plain country girl,
Ellen Austen, that he could not under
stand how he had brought himself to the
belief that he had ever loved her.
Testers mother foresaw the inevitable. |
and pleaded with her son. do not
marry social butterfly, my son! Ellen
will be q good wife, and with her you
will be happy. Mary is tickle. She ls
brilliant and pretty. but her education
is superficial. If you hope to advance IL
your profession, my son, do not marry a
woman of fashion"
"Then you wish mo TO marry house.
keeper?"
"Your father married housekeeper,
replied Mrs. Lester, reprovingly.
The advice was unheeded, and the en- J
of Lester and Miss WHY was
formally announced.
Extensive preparations had been
made for the brilliant wedding. Every
one in the settlement and the village
was present One familiar face was abb
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