The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-11-21

est ability. Gradually the "chaos
and old night" Of Avenel place was
reduced to system and order. The
wheels Of housekeeping revolvcd SO
softly that no one knew they mov-
cd, yet these were the results. You
scarce ever saw the housekeeper
glide about the halls, yet the SER
wants declared her omnipresent.
| Mr.. Avencl found himself actually
| the inhabitant Of house once more
as the years slowly passed away.
| He was sitting on a piazza one
day, smoking his cigar, and watch,
ing the graceful movements of Juliet
Hawkhurst, as she was planting
training vines in marble vase that
occupied the centre of the lawn,
when Mrs. Marley came out.
"a nice evening sir" said Mrs.
Marley. ooh, there she is /"
Who?" Mr.. Avenel asked.
"Why, that foolish child, Juliet"
answered the old lady sharply, 81
ha'nt no patience with her, that 1
ha'nt."
"What has she been doing now p
asked the widower with an amused
face. .r,
why, she's refused Ben Nichols
eldest son, as likely and beforehand
cd ayoung fellcr as there is in the
country"
Mr. Avenel started.
Ben Nichols! Why, Mrs. Mar
Icy, she is only child.
"She's seventeen next week, ]"
nodded Mrs. Marley, "and high time
she thought Of settling"
Mr.. Avenel looked across to
where Juliet stood in her pink ging-
ham dress, tho soft summer wind
stirring her curls, and her checks as
softl ! tinted as the standard rose on
the lawn. Seventeen. Was it pos
sible that little Juliet Hawkhurst
had grown to be seenteen years old?
Oh, relentless Time, that would not
stand still? Oh, cruel years, that
went by and stole the fair bright
ness Of childhood away. SO Ben
Nichols had actually asked Juliet
Hawkhurst to be wife.
al wish you and Harry'd talk Sc
rious to her bout it, went on Mrs.
Marley. "Tain't likely she'll have
any more such cnances as that"
"No; to be sure not" said Avoncl
abstractedly.
"And o course she'd oughter
think it over WE'LL" added Mrs. Mar
ley.
90 ccrtainly-to be sure d"
When Harry Avenel came home
from the city that evening he found
his uncle in a brown study.
"Harry," quoth the widower.
"Yes, uncle"
"I've been thinking"
$50 | should conclude, sir, from
the III shaped wrinkle between your
brows," laughed the young mer-
chant. "Well, and what has been
the topic Of your meditations, I'm
Gle Joc?'
"Why, | was thinking what
would become of us if Mrs. Hawk |
hurst were to tako it into her head |
to leave us"
Harry opened wide his merry
hazel eyes at the idea.
"What made you think of such Il
thing, sir?" he asked.
"Oh, | don't know. She has a
good place here; but one couldn't
expect her to be contented with q
housekeeper's situation always, Har-
ry."
"No; to be sure not"
"Shc has become very essential
to our domestic happiness, Harry"
went on Mr.. Avenel.
"Yes--I grant you that, Uncle
Joe"
"And / really don't know how
we could manage to exist without
her.
"Raise her salary, uncle" sug-
5csted Harry.
"No, | hardIy y think it would an
'wer my purpose; but, Harry"
"Well, uncle?'
Mr.. Avenel looked slightly sheep
sh.
"Can't you imagine any other
way of keeping her here ?'he asked.
Harry stared at his uncle. Mr..
Avenel felt disposed to give him a
learty shake for his stupidity.
ooh" cried the young man, with
/ sudden dawning of lucidity over {
he darkness of the brain. You
lon't mean-matrimony, unclo?'
dyes | do !" quoth Mr.. AveneI, /
toutly. "Would you object, Har- t
"" s
az, uncle :" t
"Because you are the only person g
Interested besides myself-and her. I
"My greatest interest, uncle, is to I
ee you happy" the young man an
wered, wringing the elders hand. S
And-if |, too, should conclude to n
marry at no very distant day" 4
"Why then," cried Mr.. Avenel II
ally, "we can all live together, q
lst as we do now, and be the hap $
iest family in the world" g
And he went into the house, Il
as he went "John Ander- Z
on, my 10, john" as blithely as "
nv of siYtapn u