The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-02-12
NUMBER 50
"Hush, mother, there is young, lad,
down stairs.
ttA ra,,nrloJ, Erant9n

"Hush, mother, there is young, lady
down stairs. sa--<
"a young lady, Frank" -
''Yes, mother expressed on to old
Harrington, the rich merchants, from
Iowa. He sailed for Europe this morn
ing, and she is entirely alone. Mother,
she looks like poor Blanche, and I knew
you wouldn't refuse her corner here
until she could find something to do,
Mrs. Evans went to the door and call:
ed cheerily out: :
"Come up stairs, my dear, you are as
welcome as flowers in May Frank, you
did quite right; you always do.'' e
The days and weeks passed -on,T and
still Minnie Harlan remained aninmats
of Mrs. Evans humble dwelling. s'It
seems as though she had taken our dear,
blessed Blanche's place" said the cozy.
little widow 'and she is SO useful about.
the house. I don't know hcw I managed
without her" g.
'Now, Minnie, you are not in earnest
about leaving US to morrow
81 must, dear Mrs. Evans. Only
Think have been here two months to-
morrow-and the situation of governess
is advantageous 4t
every well; I shall tell Frank how OBJ
stinate you are." =
dearest Mrs. Evans, please don't.
Please keep my secret
"What secret is it that is to be so re-
ligiously kept?" asked Mr.. Frank Evans,
coolly walking into the midst of the dis
cussion, with his dark hair tossed about
By the wind, and his hazel brown eyes
sparkling archly. 2
"Secret!' repeated Mrs. Evans ener-
getically, wiping her dim spectacle glass;
es. why, Minnie is determined to leave
us tomorrow.
"Minnie!' sisR
''I must, Frank; I have no right to
trespass further on your kindness.
"No right, eh? Minnie, do you know
that the house has been different since
you have been here? Do you suppose
we want to lose our little sunbeam?"
Minnie smiled sadly, but her hand felt
very cold and passive in Franks warm
grasp. All g
"You'll stay, Minnie2'
"No," she shook her head deterinin.
edly.
"Thcn you must be made to stay, said
Frank. "I've missed something of great
value lately, and / hereby arrest you on
suspicion of the theftr
"Missed somethingp' Minnie rose,
turned red ard white. aOh, Frank, you
can never suspect me?"
"But / do suspect you. In fact, I am
quite sure the article is in your pesses'
sion"
"The artielel''
"My heart, Miss Minniel Now, look
here; I love you, Minnie Harlan, and /
will be true and good husband to you.
Stay, and be my little wife, z q asE
So Minnie Harlan, instead of going
out asa governess, according to the pros
gramme. married the dark-haired clerk,
in Ellison's Express Office.
They were very quietly married early
in the morning, and Frank took Minnie
home to his mother, and then went calmly
about his business in the wire cage, an
der, the gas light. sess a9s8
@Evans!"
Eyes, sir. ' ~
Frank with his pen Sehihd his ear, as
of yore, quietly obeyed the behest of tho
gray headed official. esas,
"Do you remember the young woman
who was expressed on from Millington,
Iowa, two months since?' y
"Yes, sir; I remember her. = 81
A tall, silver haired old gentleman hero,
interposed with eager qtickness. :,
Where is she? / am her Uncle. Wal
ter Harrington. | have just returned
from Paris, when the news of her arrival
reached me. want her; she is the only
living relative / have .,sz
"Ah but, sir, you cannot have her.
said Frank.
"Can't have her9 What do you mead?
Has anything happened?"
"Yes, sir, something has happened;
Miss Harlan was married to me this NOR
ming"
Walter Harrington started. :
'Take me to her," hesaid hoarsely; II
can't be parted from my only relative for
such mere whim." -sea
81 wonder if he calls the marriage
service and wedding rings mere whims,
thought honest Frank; but he obeyed id
silence 4Ia age
Minnie said the old man in faltering
accents, "you will come to me and be the
daughter of my old age? I am rich,
Minnie, and you are all / have in the
world. - ~ 97ssr
But Minnie stole her hand through
her husbands arm. ss,i
'"Dearest uncle, he was kind to me wheh
was most desolate and alore. I cannot
leave my husband, Uncle Walter1T love
him. s i
"Then you must both come and be my
children," said the old man, doggedly-7
Sand you must come now, for the great
house is as lonely as tomb"
| Frank Evans is no longer an express
clerk, and pretty Minnie moves in velvets
and diamonds but they are quite as hap
ply as they were in the old days, and that
is saying enough. Uncle Walter Har.
Ir:ngtoh grows older and feebler every
day, and his two children are the sun.
shine of his declining life
l pressed her gentle form to me. and
whispered in her ear if, when I was far,