The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-08-15
MISS GERMAlNE.
BY JUSTIN Mccarthy.

| p'N'"'NNi'N1 e.
looking old homes, cottagc-bullt,
ivy-clad, hower-surrounded, imbed-
dcd in gardens, and so separated
from the outer and busy world rs to
seem no part of it. One Of these
which had been tenanted by success
siye generations of the Germaine
family almost since the days Of
New Amsterdam, was understood
to be quietly offered for sale some
two or three years ago. The taml-
ly had run itself out, both in wealth
and in numbers. 1t had dwindlcd
down into q widow and her daugh-
ter. Then the widow died, and the
daughter of eighteen was lett alone
in the world. Her health was
somewhat delicate; her means were
small. She was ordered by her
physician tc seek warmer climate
for at least two winters, and she
made up her mind to sell the old
home where she could no longer
live without the ever renewing OF
recent griefs.
Buyers ought to be easily found
for 50 pretty and picturesque place
and could have been readily enough
if things were done in proper bust
ness fashion. But Miss Isabel Ger
maine would do nothing in business
fashion. Offer after offer she per-
cmrtorily rejected merely on seeing
the proposed purchaser. "Oh, no,
Mr.. Rowan" she would say, her
eyes filling with tears; 81 couldn't
give my darling mothers house to
him" (or her, as the case might beg
"I couldn't have him" " or herj
reading in my fathers library,
sleeping in mothers room |! IT
can't be. Iwould rather never sell
it, and do without the money some
how"
Mr.. Rowan did not sec very well
how the money could be done with
out, but it was no use his talking.
The yonng lady would not sell the
house to any one whose looks and
manners dispIcascd her. Many
and many an eligible offer did Mr..
Rowan bring almost to a conclusion,
until Miss Gcrmainc get glance at
the other party to the proposed bar
gain and then the thing was at an
end.
Mr.. Rowan was a builder and a
house decorator, whose principal
premises were somewhere in Fourth
avenue. He had always looked at-
ter the Germainc house, attended TO
its repairs and rcdecorations, kept
its gas-fitting in order and in every
other way been its practical business
man ever since he started in busi-
ness for himself. His father had
been gardner to DR.. Gcrmainc, the
grandfather Of our heroine. Mr..
Rowan had prospered as the family
of his fathers patron dccayed and
declined, but he always felt the
same interest and affection in the
house and its occupants-now its
one occupant. He it was who look
ed after everything for Miss Ger
maine, from the ordering Of her
mothers funeral to the selling OF
her house. His manner to the
woman was still somewhat as if he
were mere house decorator Or a
land-steward and she a lady OF
great fortune and powerful patron
age.
The autumn was drawing on, and
the doctors insisted that Isabel must
soon leave New York and go either
to Florida or Algeria. The house
was not sold. Miss Gcrmainc had
lust refused an excellent offer, be-
cause the gentleman making it had
let fall a hint that he proposed to
turn her fathers library into q bill
liard-room. She grew pale, looked
at Mr.. Rowan and he knew the
thing was at an end.
81 dare say" he mildly pleaded,
when the gentleman had been bow
ed out, che could easily be induced
to give up that notion if you only
asked him, YOU know, and just ex-
planned how you feel, and"
"Ncver," was the young lady'>
eloquent reply, It's tone was, at
least, as decisive as that of NJ
Rouher's famous "Jamais p and
there was this difference. that Isabel
was in a position to keep her word,
whereas NJ. Rouher's was soon out
of all condition to maintain his.
But that was Il day of destiny.
The purchaser was at hand. The
hour came, and with it the woman
An English lady with one daughter
saw the place, came straightway in
and opened negotiations with Mis-:
Germainc herself.
The lady's husband, Mr.. Alsager
; was about to live in New York, as
the head of the American branch o
a London clearinghouse. He an,