Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-12-27

-
time when she had finished, and as she
hurried out to catch her car at the next
square she was overtaken by the storm
which had been impending for hours. IL
was q cold, driving rain, and she had no
umbrella. A mile from home, one car
lost, and fifteen minutes before another.
Here was predicament.
If | had only an umbrella | would not
mind, but l shall ruin my bonnet she
thought desparingly. But at this juno
ture who should come round the corner
but Mr.. Camden and Mr. Weymer? Hand.
some Harry had his arm linked in Mr..
Weymer's, and he was walking under Mr.
Weymer's umbrella, while he carried his
own closed under his other arm. lie
stopped suddenly at sight Of Hope.
'Out in this rain, Miss Bell How for
tunate that should meet you. for you
have no umbrella. and you see have an
extra one, thanks to Weymerl Will you
take this2' aud he handed his extra one
to her. and bowng with his cavalier grace,
turned to Weymer again.
A queer look came into Hopes face at
this, and. glancing accidentally at Mr..
Weymer, she saw her queer look reflected
rs IL were; and in the next moment the
latter gentleman had put his own umbrel-
10 into Harry's hands, and approaching
her with an ALLOW me Miss Bell2 Aud
almost before she knew IL he had her arm
in his, aud be was carrying her two or
three troublesome little packages, and
holding the umbrella over her head.
Hope gave little laugh, which was
partly embarrassment aud partly amuse-
ment, and Mr.. Weymer met 1t with a
smile which frightened his grave face
wonderfully.
She had always liked Mr.. Weymer. but
had never quite understood him.. She
had thought him q gentleman certainly,
but one who has little wanting in aiia.
bility aud graciousness. And the con.
trast between him aud Harry Camden just
now was curious, If nothing more. And
how his face had lighted ut her Taught
Something possessed Hope-I think il
must have been her good angel, though
she did not know ito follow up this
laugh with flow of her oasiest, happiest
talk. Mr.. Weymer, 10 her astonishment
met her moro than half way Ia this at
tempt. lilo was 80 genial aud pleasant that
Hope was astonished, aud she forgot her
shyuess aud pride enough to say gayly. as
they approached her home why, Mr.
Weymer, think never got acquainted
with you before to-day.
And he answered, quickly: IL wasn't
my fault, Miss Bell.
Hope blushod, for she knew how she bad
always looked the other side of Mr.. Wey.
mer when handsome Harry sat there, aud
Ii mortified her a little 40 think OF IL nov.
But Hope was greatly puzzled at llaray
Camden's demeanor. Shortly amor ths
street encounter she suddenly seemed 70
have become more valuable In his eyes,
aud he treated her with much moro en-.
pressm,at One day ,he secret came out.
| won't lot IL come out here, but wait un.
iii Hope iud- out what was In her stock.
ings Christmas morning.
Only four weeks 10 that Christmas
morning, aud Janey talked every day
about Il, aud quoted Miss Hope at every
turn. And you must be sure aud hang
up your stocking, Miss Hope, for am go.
ing to put something Ia II, she said, with
a great air Of mystery, one night at the
table.
Aud 10 satisfy her, Hope promised
laughing us she caught Mr.. Wcymers eye,
aud asking misehloyously; You're sure
you don't think I'm too old, JaneyT
No, indeedl Is she, Mr.. Weymorg
But Mr.. Weymer only smiled, yet his
eyes looked at Hope as IL he might have
paid her compliment, ifit was IN his way
TO pay compliments; aud Hope blushed at
tho look more than she would at any
words.
Hope was getting better acquainted with
Mr. Weymsr every day now, and she found
him the kindest OF friends; and certainly
not wanting, as she had thought, in aiia
bility or graciousness, though he was not
such an elegant us Harry Camden. Harry
Camden, you soc, still held Hopes fancy
in a measure; for Hope was imaginative,
aud he looked so like hero she couldu Z
give up the idea that he must be one.
Twenty four years old, and not inexperi-
euced she thought herself, yet Hope was
making some strange mistakes.
Mrs Bell had never got over that
worry about Hopes future, though she
didn't speak OF il again. 1t was always
in her mind what would become of her
daughter IL she would become awey. And
between this worry. aud that other worry
Of pleasing twenty different people, the
poor lady actually got sick ut last Of q
fever.
Hope came down stairs the morning her
mother gave out with heart us heavy as
lend, aud face that betrayed her heart,
Harry Camden met her with his gracious
speeches, aud never noticed her depres-
sion Aud when she told him that her
mother was sick. with that low. stifled toue
Of apprehension, handsome Harry was
very sorry, very sorry indeed, aud he said
so two or three times in the incest phrases
imaginable; but somehow he seemed an
endless way off to Hope then, and his nice
phrases. made her inpatient. And then il
was, wien she felt desolate and aching for
some sympathetic word, that Mr.. Weymer
came up, unfolding his morning paper
with his grave face full Of serious inquiry,
earnestly: What is it--what is the mat
ter, Miss Bel?"
My mother is sick Three little words
sadly and very quietly said; but Mr.. Wey-
mer knew all they meant to Hope Bell
He too said, Il am very sorry. The same
words that Mr. Camden had said. but his
tone and manner we're so near and cordial
that she felt as il a hand had been stretched
out to help her over this dark way. And
I .. IL a