The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-06-22

Of flowers had fallen over, at her
feet.
% She lay there quietly sleeping, uu-
conscious of the gaze of her future
guardian. The young mRnlOOked up
on her for a few moments, with feel
ing Of satisfaction. 1t was face that
: pleased him. She resembled her faith
?. er, as he looked when Charles knew
him. There were the same features,
. and the same pleasant expression
about the mouth. He felt less unwil-
2 ling than he had thought it possible,
> to take charge of her.
Z At that moment Grace opened her
: eyes and gaZed with astOnishment at
: Charles, who looked at her smiling
= ly.
: Then the young man spoke.
al suppose you are wondering who
it can be that comes here while you
are asleep, without giving any notice
Of his approach"
81 came in here with some flowers
Z for papa, and 1 must have fallen
: asleep" said she, apolOgetically. She
a rose as she spoke.
5 "I am Mr.. Williams" said the
young man, picking up the basket, and
handing it to her. ''Did your father
: say anything to you about me-"
The child scrutiniZed him closely.
Then, apparently satisfied with his
appearance, she said:
ayes, papa told me he had written
letter for the doctor to send to you.D
"And will you be ready to 90 home
with me?" asked he with a pleasant
, smile.
"6es, you were papa's friend, and /
am willing to go with you"
The train which passed through
AndOver that evening received Mr..
Williams and his charge as passen- !
gers.
They reached WOodville at a late
hour, and found Mrs. Brown, the
hOusekeeper, up and waiting for them. /
She led Grace up stairs into a large,
airy chamber connecting with her
own. It was comfortably furnished, |
and, in many respects, pleasanter |
than the one she had occupied at the /
doctors. But Grace was too tired to 1
take much notice of her surroundings; /
so she went to bed, scarcely realizing /
that she had left her old friends, and /
come among strangers.
The next morning she walked early, |
and more fully eOmprehended that /
she was in a new place, but she felt |
that she was among friends. She |
looked from the window into a pleas
ant garden. Mr.. Williams was stand
ing near the door. he nodded pleas
antly, saying:
"Win you come down into the
garden, Grace? 1t is lovely morn
ing"
She came down and Joined him.
They rambled round the garden. She
was very fond of flowers, of which
there was a large and fine variety.
"And how do you think you shall
like the new hOusew
at is pleasant here; think shall
like it very much," replied Grace.
Mr.. Williams talked with her about
her fathers sickness, and her own
past life. She told him that if her
father had lived he had intended send
ing her to school.
t'That was just the thing was
about to propose" said he. az shall
be absent good deal, for the present,
and it would be lonely for you here,
with no one but Mrs. Brown for COM
pany. Therefore, 1 have written to
Mrs. Harris, a lady of my aequain-
tance who receives a few pupils in her
family, asking her ifshe will take you
as one of them.
Grace was pleased with the idea of
going tOschoOl. She had a child's love
Of change. Never having bad broth
er or sister, she longed for the sOeie-
ty of children of her own age. There
fore she favored Mr.. Williams plan, !
and week later she became a MEM =,
ber of Mrs. Harris school. ,
Seven years had passed away, and !
Charles Williams, grown somewhat
older, began to think of retiring from
business, and settling down at home. .
He thought of Grace and wondered if !
she had changed much in appearance :
since he had left her in Mrs. Harris :
charge. :
'She is now nearly eighteen" he :
thought, "and if the promise of her /
childhood is fulfilled, she must be a !
gentle and lovely girl. She will bring \
happier for me-"
Then came Thoughts of anOther,-a !
lady whom he had met at the house :
of his partner; she was visitor there, !
a friend of Mrs. RaymOnd-mOdest, :
amiable and refined. She had won I
his heart, and he determined that eve I
ming to go there and ask her to marry !
him. With a wife whom he adOred, !
and daughter to cherish and pro- :
tect, he would willingly give up busi-
ness, and content himself with the :
quiet and comfort of q country life. !
"You have made me very happy, I
dearest" said he to Alice Percival !
that evening, after receiving a favOra-
bic answer to his suit. 1--WE will go !
out to the old place tomorrow, to see :
what alterations it needs. 1t may be !
that Grace has returned from school, ,
and 1 shall have the pleasure of intro
ducing YOU"
"Grace?" asked Miss Percival, in
qUiringly. as ii your sister,"
'My sister," said he, smiling. "NO, i
l was never so unfortunate as to have :
one. This is my ward, of whom 1
speak" 7
az did not know you had q ward" !
said she, rather coldly. !
="Haven't I mentioned it?'' asked :
he, surprised. al thought had done !
so. My friend and college chum, !
Wilbur Reade, died several years ago,
committing to my care his only daugh- ,
ter, Grace. She must be nearly eigh- ;
teen now, and has been at school :
most of the time since her fathers /
death. l shall be glad to have her
make your acquaintance, knowing :
that she cannot fail to love YOU" ;
ais she to remain with you, may 1 /
ask?" said Miss Percival, withdraw !
ing her hand from his grasp.
Certainly" said Charles, surpris- !
ed. 'Qo you not wish it? hoped :
you would be good friends" he added :
in deprecating tone. :
i'Did you not educate her with :
view to her supporting herself? 1 !
should think she might be competent }
to teach, having been to school so !
long" /,
tI never thought of her doing such :
a thing. have funds left by her faith. !
er for her needs, and if not, while I !
have home she shall never want for ,
One.O
''Then I must retract what 1 said ,
few moments ago." n
Mr.. Williams looked panied.
as this your final decision ." he !
asked. .
at is. I can not share your heart i
with another"
"Alice," said her companion with !
emotion, "yOu well know how ardent I
ly love you, but can never retract
my word, or give up the charge plae-
ed in my hands by valued friend,
and one who is no longer living
Have you, then, mo pity for an orphan,
friendless and aloneT'
az cannot discuss the matter longer.
The alternative is before you. If you
prefer to retain Grace Reade in your
family, then / cannot share your
home"
''Be it so then. / shall not urge you
against your inclination. Farewell ~
Mr.. Williams left the house with a
sorrowful heart His dream was over,