The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-03-31

Mrs. Harewood looked perplexed.-
81 don't know what you mean. There
is no need for you to speak to her at all.
Indeed, if you were not going away
to- morrow, Itbink should send her
to the nursery with tlIelchildren"
81 hope to stay q little longer, if you
will al let me-"
81 shall be most happy, only you
must promise not to fiirt with Aimee
Il promise that solemnly. Dear
Mrs Harewood, | can quite believe ]
behaved disgtacefulIy. Ibid not know
what was doing. You will under
stand when | tell you, asked Miss
Barlow last night to be my wife, but
l have not been answered yet"
Mrs. Hardwood sprang from her
chair in aStonlshment. Aimee I" was
all she could say. J .aH gHa-
"Yesp- -. #.r-fz.'. ,, r.-. r....
"But you don't know her."
'It does not take long to know some
people. The look in her eyes is almost
enough And TO see that little darling
meaning to GO out into the world SO
bravSly" He stopped abruptly and
then went on, II vii, spare you rhap-
sody. Ny mind is quite made up. If
she refuses me, which / honestly think
very likely, shall of course go away
Tomorrow, and the subject need never
be mentioned again, unless there is any
gossip about her. Will she come out
to luncheon to-day ?'
Il should think so as Mary is going
"Then / shall try to speak to her
then, need not keep you any longer"
mo, stop; please 1t would be
charming for Aimee, but have you
thought enough about yourself. Lady
Dashwood-" q. ..l a.al 1a.'
Is only too anxious to see me mar
ried to any one, and there is no one l
need consider but her. / know am
too old for Aimee, but if she will have
me | shall try to prevent her ever find
ing it out" .y-.J-G. g... = -.a
sit is ridiculous! She is only sew
enteen." 60 .., ....'. f.....ac .-~.
1--WE could wait for a year or two, if
she will have me, as | said before"
"She would be mad to refuse you
Why, they have hardly anything to live
on p rar a.r,s, re4.
pardon me, Mrs. Harewood," an
swered Sir Stephen, with-a slightly
scornful accent, "you look at the SUBJ
ject from a worldly point Of view l
am sure Miss Barlow would allow moth
ing of that sort to weigh with her. ~ T
Mrs Hardwood emily looked incre-
dulous.. ~. % 1870 nH- ~.s.u.fE
Il beg you will not mention the sub
ject to her, or any one, till | have her
answer" E. Sd. ...'.'.. ''"' .' .'..'.- .'.''' '''
"Certainly not She is a dear little
thing, only you must pardon mefornot
thinking her quite good enough for
you" And SO they went to breakfast
very good friends.
Sir Stephen of course booked in vain
for Aimee that morning, and if she
could have had her own way he would
not have seen her at luncheon. She
felt so shy that she begged to be left at
home, but Mrs. Hardwood told her to
60 50 peremptorily that she dared not
refuse. , .aa ,geas,.l ~ 10 s-asl
She spent the long drive in perplex-
ed thought, and naturally enough could
come to no conclusion, only she was in
clined to think somehow it must be
nonsense.
She could not help blushing as. Sir
Stephen came forward to help her out
of the wagonette, and sprung out SO
quickly to avoid him, that she nearly
fell? Her Que idea now was to keep
out of his way, and by joining Miss
Ashley in the walk through the woods
quite succeeded for the moment. u..u
At luncheon he almost managed 2tC
sit next her, but she was too quick and
moved away, and he did not like to tol'
low her. .jrgN 1--. .- .@
Afterwards the ladies' were to walk
a little way to see some of the shooting
and a discussion arose. Mrs. Ashley
and one or two other ladies were afraiC
of the fatigue, and it was proposed they
should return home at once.
Sir Stephen, in alarm, walked across
to Aimee. ''You are coming witt
us?"
"Thank you. | think would rath.
er 60 home" t
Spleass come" He spoke as per
suasively as he dared, for they were sur
rounded, by people, and he was 'airait
of exciting remark.
Thank you very much, but indeed
| would rather 60 home!" Poor child
she did not know it was her deep love
for him that made her long to fly from
him, nor could she guess how he woulC
misunderstood her. His tone changed
"Pray go, if you prefer il" he an
swered, very grayely; "let me take you
cloak" And with a stern, set face, b,
followed her to the carriage in silence
Aimee felt very miserable, and coulC
hardly answer the old ladies' wellmean
ing attempts at conversation. Arrived
at Birchleigh, she went TO her room
and spent her time in tears, and tryinl
to finish her letter to her mother.
Sir Stephen was very surly all th
afternoon, shot atrociobsly and felt say
age at being waylaid by Mrs: Harewoot
as be passed her bpdoir. .''' '.!o.
al want to speak to- you. ~ :. ''!ol9 I. 7
"Thers is nothing to speak about,
, he answered. shortly, and, it must