Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-18

Dig mouse, alone with MIR. Deane and me
Are you never little homesck ?"
"No, Miss Ford" sne cried, and sh,
looked up with little smile; 81 am no
homesick, because, know that l shall q
home some day. One can always wait
you know"
81 don't quite understand" said, feel
ing perplexed as to the meaning Of hel
words. "It is all changed now. MIR
Deane wants you to live with him always
Your aunt would not wish to take yor
back, away from all that you have here
even If you should wish to leave Mr.. Deane
which is what you are thinking OF, / sup
pose."
81 shall go back to my old home somt
day" she persisted. But then she turned tt
her work, and would say no more.
She was not repellant or uncourteous, ant
yet it seemed impossible to know more
about her. What seemed her old habits
were kept up In her new circumstances
Nothing appeared to dazzle or surprise her
Day after day she sat down to her sewing, as
suppose she had sat down to it in her aunt's
little parlor. The yards of beautiful embroid.
cry which passed through her little hands
were beyond anything that had ever sup.
posed 1t to be possible for womans hands tC
compass, but she never seemed tired. After
time began to suspect that it went TO hei
aunt; it was finished, folded up, and then II
disappeared. Possibly she helped, as hith-
erto, to support the family by needlework.
Certainly she spent very little upon herself,
though her uncle behaved most literally to
her in respect of pock-money.
1t is true her wants were few. Her dress
was always plain and simple, but somehow
it suited her slight, childish figure better than
gay, bright colors, and did not wish to see
it altered, though, as rule, like to see
young people dress like young people. AS
To her reading, 1t was confined to fancy tales
oa weekdays and her Bible on Sundays :
more had evidently been habit with her.
Yet she did not seem to want food for
thought. Whilst at work am sure her
mind was ever busy, and when twilight
darkened round us, she would lay her work
aside, and creeping to the window, curl her.
self up on the window-seat and sit there,
looking out in the street, as the darkness
deepened, and the lamps were lighted, and
the people passed up and down dreaming
her own thoughts, no doubt, and seeing heI
own visions.
She went about amongst the neighbors
with me, and they all made great deal ol
little Miss Deane," as she was always
called in the square; but she seemed to care
nothing for admiration, and she did moi
really get on with them.
Mr.. Deane had said that he looked upon
as daughter, so of course every one knew
that she would be an heircss, and perhaps
they sought her the more upon that account
but she never seemed to see il; only as
have said before, she did not get on witt
them. 1t astonished and vexed me little
"Why do you not talk more, Laurette /?
| said .you will make people think yo,
proud. Why do you not make more friendsi
don't you like people 2"
II like you, Miss Ford, she said and
undemonstrative as she was, the simple
assertion gratified me.
BY degrees she told me more of her formel
life. She talked Of her sickly, patient aunt
of the struggles for bread, of their goodness
to her. But some day she would make then
happy.
You mean when you marry, suppose
You think that you will marry and be ricl
some day ?" Iasked curiously.
81 don't know" she said, and let he
work fall suddenly.
1t was nearly Christmas time when new
element was introduced into the quiet mon
otony of our life. Mr.. Deane had beel
looking harassed for some time, and com
planning of overwork. At this time he en-
gagged as confidential clerk a young Canadian
who had just come to England, and applied
for employment at Deane & Co. s firm in tn
| City. Mr.. Deane still went to his ofiic
| every day, hut he had generally business t
| transact at home, and it was principally L
assist him in this that Mr.. Charleton wa
| engaged.
/ heard of the plan with placid indlfcr
| ence, little thinking what a change he wa
to make in my little Laurette's destiny. "
now, us think of it, remember SO well hi
| first arrival.
| The tall, athletic young man, standing i
the freight, with an amused smile upon Iii
face, as Laurette, who had been dreamin
as usual, curled up in the window seal, cam
forward, pushing aside the curtain and locke
at him, opening her dark eyes wide as if sh
saw the realization of vision. What
pretty picture it made As she stood hes
tating, with one hand still upon the curtain
with her hair clustering round her forheat
and a little flush of surprise on her face, Sd
looked so much younger than she really WI
that was not surprised at his taking her ft
child.
Won't you shake hands hands with me-
he said, still smiling, and holding out h
hand, and then Laurette stepped forwal
and put her slender little hand in his.
do not quite Know how it was, but in
very short time Chareton came to be quite
home in the house. Mr.. Dcane placed gre,
confidence in him, although it was not h
habit to lean much upon any one: indee'
he admitted him to AN intimate footing
which secretly wondered, more especial
as Charletons personal demeanor denote
none of the caution which should ha'
characterized Mr.. Deane's confidential cler
suppose he was discreet about busine
affairs, and he certainly must have show
great ability to obtain and retain his emplo
ers favor but his manners were singular
free and open, and although felt tho for
of his character, it was yelled under so lig
and gay an exterior, that / often found IN
self wondering how his opinions came to
so formed, aud his expression of them so d
cided.
There was nothing in the least conceit
! about him, He was certainly handson
tall, and well made, with thick tawny ha
) and open gray eyes; but am sure he car
: nothing for his good looks; there was not
ing conscious in his ways. He worked hal
: sometimes at the office sometimes in the stu
! at the back of the house, and he did
business, as he did everything else, heart
I and thoroughly. Mr.. Deane often said
|, had never come across clearer-headed m
3 and he grew to depend upon him more a
more every day. He enjoyed his conyer
Q ton, he liked his free g0od-humor, and {
couraged him to spend his evenings with
u Laurette would sit little in the backgrou
+ sewing by the light of the lamp on her wo
: table, and now and then lift her eyes for
: glance at her uncle and Charleton, as I'll
n sat over the fire discussing and arguing o.
: their newspaper and the questions of
T. day.
l. Seeing her so constantly thrown W
r Chareton into the closeness of domestic
4 tercourse, could not help weaving lii
Ii romance about them. But was soon so
that allowed myself to entertain such
d idea, for saw that he cared nothing for
e looking upon her simply as a child ant
% began to fear that unconsciously the 50
thought had sprung up in. Laurettes mil
l Since the day when she had said, 81 ]
you, Miss Ford" she had drawn nj
1t closer to me her love, once given, was s
ct not to be withdrawn and, watching
nr shy, ,wistful glances at Charleton, begun
el fear for her.
er 1t was Christmas-day. Charleton '
ir going to some friends in the evening, but
I'd was to breakfast and go to church with
es Laurettc came down, grave as usual,
nevertheless with holiday brightness alb
Mt her. She had prepared her presents,
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