The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-08-21

position and a handsome income" Mr..
Godfrey began, land I have submitted
to 1t without a struggle. What be
the motive for such extraordinary con-
duct as that? My precious friend,
there Is no motive"
NO motiveT" 1 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 I shall never press her
again intoxicates me like strong liquor.
The thing seems impossible-the thing
can't be. And yet there are the facts,
as I had the honor Of stating them
when we first sat down together in
these two chairs. l have lost a beau
tiful girl. an excellent social position
and a handsome income. and l have
submitted to it without a struggle.
Can you account for 1t, dear friend?
It's quite beyond me.
How time fiies!' he exclaimed. II
shall barely catch the train"
1 ventured on asking why he was In
such a hurry to get back to town. His
answer reminded me Of family DIM
culties that we're still to be reconcfled
and Of family disagreements that were
yet to come. q
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. I must tell him
what has happened between Rachel
and me. His heart is set on our mar
rage. There will be great difficulty, l
fear. in reconciling him to the breaking
of of the engagement. / 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 o N my side l ran upstairs
to compose myself in my wi be-
fore meeting Aunt Ablewhite and
Rachel at the luncheon table.
The next day Aunt Alleviate was as
near to being astonished as her nature
would permit by the sudden appear
ance of her husband. He had barely
been a minute in the house before he
was followed, to my astonishment this
time, by an unexpected complication
in the shape of Mr.. Brun.
"This is a pleasant surprise, sir"
said Mr.. Ablewhite. addressing him.
self with his deceptive cordially to
Mr.. Bruff. when 1 left your Office
yesterday l didn't expect to have the
honor Of seeing you at Brighton to-
day"
II turned over our conversation in
my mind after you had gone," replied
Mr.. Bruf. And It occurred to me
that / might perhaps be of some use
on this occasion"
Having given hat explanation. he
seated himself by Rachel. I retired
modestly to a corner. Ny aunt sat at
the window, placidly tanning herself
as usual. Mr.. A~blewhite stood up in
the middle of the room, with his bald
head much pinker than I had ever
seen 1t vet. and addressed himself in
the most afectionate manner to his
niece.
Rachel, my dear" he said, II have
heard some very extraordinary news
from Godfrey. And I am here to in
quire about it.
"Some weeks ago my son informed
me that Miss verinder had done him
the honor to engage herself to marry
him. Is it possible, Rachel, that he
can have neutrality-suspicious. presumed
upon-what you really said to himT"
Certainly not" she replied. II did
engage myself to marry him."
II am to understand, them" he said,
that your marriage engagement Is
broken OFF,"
you are to understand that. Mr..
Ablewhite, II you please"
II am also to take 1t as a matter of
fact that the proposal to withdraw
from the engagement came, in the first
instance, from you?"
1T came, in the first instance, from
me. And 1t met, as l have told you,
with your sons consent and approval"
"What has my son done?" persisted
Mr.. Ablewhite. II have a right to
know that. What has my son doneT'
She persisted just as obstinately on
her side.
"You have had the only explanation
which / think 1t necessary to give to
you or to him." she answered.
"In plain English, it's your sovereign
will and pleasure. Miss Verinder, to jilt
my son?
ITO be ~eontinusd.l