The Ekalaka eagle., 1915-08-20

position and a handsome income" Mr..
Godfrey began, land have submitted
to it without struggle. What can be
the motive for such extraordinary con-
duct as that? My precious friend,
there is no motive"
NO motiyey' l repeated.
''Best of friends, exert your intellect
and help me-" he proceeded. "a month
ago l was pressing her rapturously to
my bosom. An hour ago the happiness
of knowing that shall never press her
again intoNcates me like strong liquor.
| The thing seems impossible-the thing
| can't be. And yet there are the facts,
as l had the honor Of stating them
when we first sat down together in
these two chairs. I have lost beau
tiful girl. an excellent social position
and handsome income, and l have
submitted to it without a struggle.
| Can you account for it, dear friend?
It's quite beyond me.
''How time f1iesv' he exclaimed. II
shall barely catch the train"
/ ventured on asking why he was in
such a hurry to get back to town. His
answer reminded me of family diff
cultics that were still to be reconciled
and of family disagreements that We're
yet to come.
II have heard from my father" he
said. Business obliges him to leave
FriZinghall for London today. and he
proposes coming on here either this
evening or tomorrow. l must tell him
what has happened between Rachel
and me. His heart is set on our mar
riage. There will be great difficulty,
fear, in reconciling him to the breaking
off of the engagement. I must stop
him for all our sakes from coming here
till he is reconciled. Best and dearest
of friends, we shall meet again"'
With those words he hurried out, In
equal haste on my side l ran upstairs
to compose myself in my own room be
fore meeting Aunt Ablewhite anc
Rachel at the luncheon table.
The next day Aunt Ablewhite was al
near to being astonished as her nature
would permit by the sudden appear
. ance of her husband. He had barrel.
, been a minute in the house before Ii
, was followed, to my astonishment thi
time, by an unexpected complication
| in the shape of Mr.. Bruff.
"This is pleasant surprise, sir,
, said Mr.. Ablewhite, addressing him
self With his deceptive cordiality t
!, Mr.. Bruff "When l left your offic
yesterday didn't expect to have til
< honor of seeing you at Brighton tC
day.
II turned over our conversation i
/, my mind after you had gone" reptile
Mr.. Bruff. "And it occurred to M
} that I might perhaps be of some us
on this OCCASION
Having given that explanation, b
r seated himself by Rachel. l retire
@ modestly to a corner. My aunt sat ;
the window, placidly tanning herse
n as usual. Mr. Ablewhite stood up
# the middle of the room, with his ba
head much pinker than I had eyt
i, seen it vet. and addressed himself
the most affectionate manner to b
= niece.
"Rachel, my dear" he said, "I hay
,. heard some very extraordinary new
q from Godfrey. And l am here to il
;, Qllire about it.
"Some weeks ago my son informe
: me that Miss Nerinder had done hi
the honor to engage herself to mari
:, him. Is it possible, Rachel, that l
can have misinterpreted-or presume
upon-what you really said to him?"
" .Certainly not" she replied. II di
engage myself to marry him.
II am to understand, then,' he sal
:. "that your marriage engagement
- broken OFF,"
~ You are to understand that, NJ
- Ablewhite. if you please"
= II am also to take it as a matter I
=. =. fact that the proposal to withdra
= from the engagement came, in the fir
instance, from you:"
'It came. in the first instance. fro
= me. And it met, as l have told 70
u with your sons consent and approval
What has my son done?" persistt
~ Mr.. Ablewhite. II have right
u know that What has my son done?'
She persisted just as obstinately {
her side
y You have had the only explanatit
which l think it necessary to give
~ you or to him." she answered.
u I'm plain English. it's your soverei,
ne will and pleasure, Miss Verinder, to j
ne my son?
'e ITO be continued
he
ed