The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-10-04

title as the third son Of a marquis,
that his niece's future was more I'M
portant than his lordship's dignity.
He must eat mud for her sake, and
willingly withal.
Various firms of solicitors set to
work, and, marvellous to relate, Lord
vanstone was able to write and Inform
his half sister that certain speculations
In which he had invested her fortune
were turning out well. A cash pay
ment of $4,000 would be made to her
at once, and she possessed an assured
income of at least 1880 per annum
during the remainder of her life.
The poor lady had heard these fairy
tales before. Indeed, some such story
Of more gorgeous proportions had con-
verted her consols into waste paper.
But a lawyer, not Lord Vanstone's,
sent her check for the larger amount
and at subsequent interview affirmed
the statements made by her unreliable
relative.
So she went back to her caste, and
her caste welcomed her with open
arms, and the dear woman thanked
Providence for the decree that her
daughter might now accept the atten-
tons Of any man, no matter how rich
De might be, for she saw the drift Of
Philips wishes, and, If Evelyn were
married to him, surely all their pre-
vious trials might be deemed fortunate.
She little dreamed that imperious
/ hnI Ii.
way.
1t was not to his thinking that his
bride should come to him from the
genteel obscurity of Mazda Crescent.
He would give her great position,
worthy of the highest in the land, and
1t was better for her that he should
WOO and win her from the ranks of
her order.
1t should not be imagined that he
was hasty in his decision. To his mind,
Evelyn and he were known to each
other since they were children. 1t was
not by the maynard caprice Of chance
that he met her on the night of the
meteor's fall nor again that he came
to her assistance second time after
the lapse of years.
1t was his mothers work. He was
faithful to her memory - she to her
trust Never did his confidence waver.
On the day that Evelyn consented to
marry him he showed her his mothers
photograph and told her his belief.
The girls happy tears believed the
picture.
"A good son makes q good husband"
she murmured. Mamma says 1 have
been a good daughter, and will try to
be good wife, Philip"
Apparently these young people had
attained the very pinnacle of earthly
happiness. There was no cloud, no OBJ
stacle. All that was best in the world
was at their feet.
Some such thought fitted through
Philips active brain once when Evelyn
and he were discussing the future.
"Of course we will be busy" he said,
laughing. you are such an industri-
GUS little woman-what? Well, such
| an Industrious tall woman that the
days won't be long enough for all you
will fnd to do. AS for me, / suppose
| ! must try and earn a peerage. Just to
| give you your proper place in society,
and then we will grow old gracefully"
"Oh, Philip" she cried, placing her
hands on his shoulders, 1--WE met once
as children for a few minutes! Fate
ordained that we should meet again
under strange circumstances. We were
separated fer years. Can fate play us
any uncanny trick that will separate
us again.
"Well, sweetheart, fate, in the shape
Of Vale, is coming for me at 6. I'm
less you wish me to send for my man
and dress here
Sometimes I cannot quite credit my
good fortune" she said softly. ''Tell
me, dearest, how did you manage to
live until you were twenty-five with
out falling in love with some other
grip
"That is ridiculously easy. Tell me
how you managed to escape matrimony
until you were twenty-five and you
are answered"
"Phlip, II liked you that night
saw you In the square. You were
woebegone little boy, but you were so
brave and gave me your hand to help
luC lIOih Tic CuIIidSC Will tuC VI a
young lord"
"And l have cherished your face in
my waking dreams ever since. You
looked like fairy. And how you stuck
up for me against your uncler'
"Tell me, what did you think of me
when you saw me standing disconso-
late in the park?"
Tell, tell. tell-it was nothing but
sweet questions and sweet assurances
that this pair Of turtle doves had been
seeking each other through all eternity.
Their wedding was fixed for the mid
die of July. Sharp work, 1t may be
said, but what need was there to wait?
Mr.. Abingdon was greatly pleased with
Philips choice and urged him to settle
down at the earliest possible date.
Mrs. Atherley, too, raised no protest.
The sooner her beloved daughter was
married the more rapidly would life
resume its normal aspect. They would
not be long parted from each other.
The young people had no housekeep-
ing cares. Philips mansions were re-
plete with all that could be desired by
tho most foctidious facta lIis voobt