The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-09-07 00:00:00

C,lArrft 111.

That wie a very happy time for Amy, despite Hrs.
Steward's teasing remark% only understood by her to
whom they were addressed. Amy seemed to
Steward butter, now his friend drew him out of his dandy.
ben ; awl no one could doubt I..ut what Sidney enjoyed
himself and sought Amy's somety at every opportunity.
Miss Selina liked hint very touch in every way ; he was a
frank, jovial. light-hearted WWI, who never lust trouble
half way, awl this quality
_was ba,ed on a finn reliance
on God's goodness in all things. No doubt but what his
good health had something to do with his faith, as the
state of the body haa such an influence over the mind.
Mies Selina seemed in a little trouble; Amy noticed it,
and watched for a favourable opportunity to question her
sencerning the matter.
Itts. Steward was in no enviable frame of mind. She
had made • groat ruistake in bringing Sidney to the house
I for she fully intended—Amy being the acknowledged
heiress of Mies Selina Carey—that she Rhould be Harry's
wife, and now the prospect 11311 very, very far off, Indeed,
rapidly fading (nen view. But she determined that her
son shout,' not lose a rich wife if Ale f.. 1111.1 help iL
I 1,11.1111114 it not ! joi ll ill Si.lney,
who W.oe walling tip and ilowit it, thinking very plea...mit
thoughts, if 01141 might iii•ldo IT hi* isaiiiienanee,
•• It it, and beautifully labl out. I t .ay It reflect..
voat Cre.lit 011 the Mil,e4 I 'arry'. It iiiirerent
when one takes a lieroonal intere.t in a garden, then emelt
flower sass.- Ilk' a f11c11.1; and, I thi.k, jou will often
find that wheh one superintends it, you may by it
her climacbm.
"Yea, I allpla,6ll WI. MY. oxisin Selina does love her
tk,v,,,r, very much, seine dunk ratiaer foolishly, Indeed.
I may say, in confidence of course, that she very much
Istartled us 14.31ndfear yeare ate, when the wee ei.jung at
our house, by Itrinton4 11°.10.1 th mrtY beggar girl who she
; fonwl in the street; you 1,11.01. what a 1111 l uher of relations
those kind of people usually have, and
.how they cling to
0110 like limpets. Selina seems worried now, awl who
can wosoler at it poor ilear. 111 cow.: Amy i.us tory Hien
girl if To tell )011 the truth. I want your
Weiss about her."
"Maui? Thank you, but it would not be wuitli much."

_
1 ' But it would, or you could help me. lam afraid that
Harry is falling in love with her, end I should be sorry if
he did, not for the girl s sake --''.
"Miss Amy i'arey, I presume. you mean r'
" Yes, for I do Out dislike her; but when one remembers
the low relations coining and begging for money it makes
oue rather afraid. And I think that she likes harry: and
for a poor creature like her the position would he good."
" Most certainly. But lam rather of the opinion that
oho would wish herself back is her old one with her
beloved friend. (jod morning; I have a little business to
which I must attend," and he bowed stiffly and withdrew,
leaving tho lady in no pleasant mood. She saw Harry
drawing near cud went to meet him, to his Intones,
as tonishmnt A
e asking him if he cared for my,
"Of course I do."
" Wutild you like her for a wife r
" Yes."
" Why don't you ask her then r
" There's plenty of limo."
" No there is not, for your friend Sidney is smitten with
her, or the money that she will possoss."
" Well let him have her."
"Harry, you are a greater fool than I thought you. Don't
you know that we Lave not got anything to give you I
What you have you must get • and the best way is to get
a rich wife. You have nt got brains enough to get it any
othFr. way. You had hotter ask her at the first upper-
: : ..

ttanity."
" ery well," he muttered, and walked off, and so Le
did; and was most decidedly answered —that she did not.
love him, and therefore could never be his wife.

Cl!AP:1:611 IV.

Amy told her aunt of Harry s proposal. That lady
thought that she had done quite right; but added with •
sigh :—" I should like to see you well married, my dear."
"Why do you Aigh ab.mt it, aunty doer?"
" Hew can I help it at the thought of parting with my
little lie?',
But something else makes you sigh, I know it does; for
I have watched you very much lately. And now you
must toll me please. I should be so sorry If you did not.
Now aunt)',
dear,
aunty, I am listening,"
W I suppose that I must tell you; it Is hard
"
though. I have lost very much of my money, I will not
trouble to tell you how and it will make a great
difference to US. I must tell Mr. and Mrs. Steward to-
morrow. We must leave our dear house."
Never mind, aunty, I AAA work, you know that, don't
you? We Weal he as happy as ever, with God's blaming
on our efforts."
Bless you, my darling, what could I do without you I "
Naturally rather strong-minded, Amy was really mistress
of the home, superintending everything. And Miss
Selina rested on her; sho seemed much better now that
she had relieved her mind by speaking out.. That was a
momentous day for Amy. She had left her aunt talking
with Mr*. Steward, while she went into the garden ; and
there she WAS joined IT Sydney. He walked with her to
a more retired part, and then lie asked her to be his wife,
telling her how very much he hived her.
" But, Mr. Groves, you do not know who you are asking
to be your wife. I am only • poor girl whom my dear
Miss Carey has educated out of charity."
"1 know it—know it all. But that does not make any
difference. I love you. Do you love fuel" Poor Amy;
she did not know what to answer. Miss Carey's dis-
closures concerning her loss of property had altered all her
plans—her as hob, course of life; for now she inset try and
repay the debt that she owed her, and work and wait on
her dear friend. She was in a whirl of thought; but at
last said:—" I feel grateful for your offer; but I cannot
answer you now. Will you let me give you my answer
to-morrow. My. aunt's circumstances are very much
altered now
" But, Amy, that will make no difference. I should
never part you. ;lee ins an answer now,! pray. Why if
I saw you eny where I should love you—answer, do. I
cannot let you go w.lthout knowing. Only answer do you
love ins? Yes or no."
" Yes ; but—"
" Never mind any buts, my own dear Amy." We draw
• curtain for • few minutes. They had walked together
for some time when Amy again spoke, "Do not mention
this to anyone uutil to-murrow."
" Why not, my pet I There is nothing to conceal. Who
cares for the Stewards' opinion, I don t. Harry will be
glad."
"Rut promise me, please," and so he gave the promise
very reluctantly.
Amy stayed awake very long that night writing. The
letter cost her seine tears although she bravely tried to
repress theta. She sow Sidney • few minutes after
breakfast and gave toni a letter. "Fox me, little one I'
hon.ked.
. . . . .

and her lips troubled at the pet name. How
strangely quick those pet names rush front the heart, and
tell a little of its joy. Joy bells, we might call them.
Sidnej went to his room. and °pellet' the letter, wondering
very ouch what it was about, lie read as follows :
_

.7'l/o:Sidney,
live you very much as I told you; but yet I am
going to send you away from me for one par. It will test
parr love and It will 4.31 t mile. if you loot MC you will leave
PS once and come back In • y.r'e time. Put If you gaol that
you Mad° a mistake you arc frec to chtruse manlier.
My determination is unalterabis.
Aar."
lie was very angry, and vowed at first that he would
not X. Ilut he read her letter again, and found that be
must. Ile heard wheels, and went to the window and
saw Amy just going for a drive. Down he rushed and
very much startled her by his appearance. "Amy, you
are cruel."

"No lain not, Sidney, only just," sho returned sweetly.
Ito pressed her hand earnestly, and said no more, but
when he returned he hml gone, and Amy went to her
room, cud actually bad to bathe her red eyes before she
left it.