Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-22
Mr.. Ayenel started.

81 wish you and Harry would talk Sc
rious to her bout it." said Mrs. Marley.
.''Taint likely she'll have any more such |
chances as that"
'"No, to be sure not, D." said Avenel, alb
stractedly.
''And of course she'd oughter think
it over WELL" added Mrs. Marley.
80, certainly-to be sure"
When Harry Avenel came from the
city that evening he found his uncle in
brown study.
"Harry," quoth the Widower.
Eyes, uncle"
GIVE been thinking"
$50 | should conclude, sir, from the
H shaped wrinkles between your eye
brows." laughed the young merchant.
''Well. and what has been the topic of
your meditatiOns, Uncle ?"
.!Why, | was thinking what would
become of us if Mrs. Hawkhurst were
to take it into her head to leave u.s."
Harry opened wide his merry hazel
eyes at the idea.
'What made YOU think of such a
thing, sir?' he asked.
|EOh, [ don't know. She has a good
place here, but one couldn't think her
10 De CODlbuIGU WIFI ~ uOuSGhCt pei
situation always, Harry
''N0. to besure not
''She has become eyry essential to our
domestic happiness, Harry" went on
Mr.. Avenel.
yes, grant you that, Uncle Joe"
'And | really don't know how we
could manage to exist without her.
'Raise her salary, Uncle" suggested
Harry.
'sNo; l hardly think that would an
swcr my purpose; but, Harry
''Weil, Uncle!'
Mr. Avenel looked decidedly sheep
ish.
Cant you imagine any other way of
keeping her here?' he asked.
Harry stared at his uncle. Mr., Az.
encl was disposed to give him shaking
for his stupidity.
''Oh :" cried the young man, with
sudden dawning of lucidity overthe dark
ness of his brain. You don't mean
matrimOny, uncle?"
eyes I do, " quote Mr.. Avenel, stoutly.
''Would YOU object, Harry
I. uncle ?"
Besides you are the only person in
terested besides myself-and her
'My greatest interest, uncle, is to see
you happy" the young man said wiring
ing the elders hand. ''And-and if l,
too. should conclude to marry at no dis
tant day"
"Whv then" cried Mr.. Aycnel gaily,
1--WE can all live together, just as we do
now, and be the happicst family in the
world"
And he went into the house, whistling,
as he went, John Anderson, my 10,
John" as blithely as a boy of sixteen.
Juliet Hawkhurst was standing by the
little side garden gate that evening,
thoughtfully watching over her right
| shoulder, of course, the slender silver
| crescent Of the new moon. Juliet had
certainly blossomed into perfect little
rose of a maiden, during the years she
| had been an inmate of Avenel place.
| She was fair-haired and rosy, with long
evelashes, deep blue eyes full of shad-
Owy purple CLEANS, and a complexion
| like rose COlOred satin; and, moreover,
! there was in her every movement a self
possessed grace and dignity of mein,
that was inexpressibly charming. Juliet
Hawllhurst had been born a lady, but
untoward fate had made hOusekeeper's
daughter of her.
As she stood there. leaning over the
iron rail of the gate, a fOOtstep sounded
behind her.
''Juliet."
She turned with little rose blush and
a smile she fain would have concealed,
and Harry Avenel came up and stood
close beside her.
Little elf. you thought you had hid
den away from me, but you see | have
contrived to find you out even here .
What makes you blush, and look so con-
fused ?"
DO Il" And Juliet fixed her gaze
very stcadfastly on the green turf at her
feet, where a single yellow dandeliOn
was closing its eye of dawny gold for
the night.
"Listen." cried Harry, triumphantly,
GIVE got piece of news for you"
''What is it?'
"What should you think of step
father, ELI, little'one?'
Juliet looked up this time in real and
genuine establishment.
"a stepfather, Harry"
"My uncle has cOnfded to me this
evening that he thinks of marrying, Ju.
lict, and from all that | can gather. the
bride Is none other than your mother
So when we are married there will be 8
nice little circle of us, ell ?"
And the audacious young man belted
her waist with his arm and ventured tC
draw her a little closer to him.
ooh, but Harry you are all wrong
cried Juliet. crimsOning and smiling
like a June flower IL meant to tel
YOU of it, but somehow the words would
not come to my lips. Your uncle tolC
me also that he had concluded to marry
again, and-he asked me to be his wife.
'The-mischief he did ~ cried Harry
starting back as if some one had struck
him blow.-"You. Why, Juliet, you
arc young enough to be his daughter =
perhaps I am" said Juliet meekly
And what did you tell him? Yor
accepted him of course? He is rich
and | am poor, and all the girls like
gold"
Harry :"
Tell me quickly, Juliet" he criec
almost passionately. Don't keep me
longer in suspense"
Il told him." said Juliet innocently
''that had already promised to marry
you"
my little dove?" and Harry Avenels
dark face frightened into sunshine
again, "And you were right, for May
and November were never yet happily
mated.
My uncle is an old fool; and yet
can't blame him Juliet when | look al
your sweet face"
The countenance of Mr.. Avenel was
slightly confused when he met his ne
phew at the breakfast table the next
morning, but, further than that, there
was no sign of the discontinue he hat
undergone. He gave Juliet an exquisite
set of wedding pearls when she wa:
married, and congratulated Harry after
very cordial fashion. But he never
proposed to Mrs. Hawkhurst, and as she
had never expected anything of the sort
no harm was done.
And everything goes on at Avene
Place just precisely as it ought to do
Mr.. Avenel keeps his housekceper, anC
I l.