The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-29

can be, and you know vcly well am an
adept at hair-5rrssing, luce mcnding and
irill.luring, thanks to the best OF nam.
mas, who knows every thing aud has
taught Eer daughters the samen'
"But what wonld your papa say ~
gasped mOmma, lardly as yctreallzins The
conditions. ! Ielt myself grow pale.
"Pipa! But he must never know.
We will keep cur own counsel, mamma
you and | and Jeanette. All that need
be told is that | an going 10 New York
with Cornelia Bydcxter, and that Is true
enough"
And mamma took me lovingly into her
arms.
"Octayia, ought we to ask this sacri.
Gee from vOu7n
"Nobody asks it, mamma 1t Is my own
free.wil offering. And oh, mamma. !
could not look DR.. Mortimurc in the face
when remember that his bill las lain un.
paid for six monthsl"
And mamma, also remembering this
sterncst and dmost incontrovcttible Of facts,
had no more to say.
at seems 80 strange!" said Mss BY.
dexter. "The idea Of your being my
maid, you aristoctatic looking little thing /!
And you used to write all my compost.
tons for me at schoal too! Dear, dearl
only to think Of itl Take care, Octavia,
that bunch OF curls comes in first under
the braid, yoI know. And how came you
ever u think OF til"
"Nonsensc cried, briskly. "The
long and short Of It is that ! want monty
and you do not-so don't let's say any
more about it."
Papa talked vaingloriously Of "my
daughter in New York kln PIor papa lie
had so little left to bH vainGlOriouS about.
Mamma remained wisely silent, ard jean
ettc, who was addicted TO hero worship,
firmly believed that her elder sister was
the noblest girl in the world. While DR..
Mortimore- ut least so afterward heard
-contra,tcd his browS, and thought that
people who could afford to send theii
daughters to pass winter at the Grand
Hotel might at least pay bis very moderate
bill.
The month Of March was wearing itscl
away, and April urshinc was pen sling the
sky with golden threads, Interviewer with
crystal lines of rain, When one day as
t0nishcd Dr.. Mortimorc BY walking iuto
bis office. lie looked up from his books in
some surprise.
"MiIs llaaleish! supposed you were
in New York"
al have returned with Miss Bydcxtcr.
Next week We go on to Washington"
DR.. AlOrtimUre made no spoken answer,
but there was a peculiar, inscrutablc OK
preston in his eyes. Was he thinking ol
mamma and Jeanette on the treadmill oi
patient poyerty at home Was he fancy
Ing it modern edition Of Cinderella and
the proud sisters lnvGluntarily | spoke,
with rising color and trenulouS voice:
"You are entirely mistaken, DR.. Morti
morci but it Is not my province to cS-
plain"
I" said nothing"
"But you looked a great deal"
"Plrase to interpret my looks" he
said. with az amused face.
Ny checks burned, and 1 bit my lip to
rcprCss undigniiied anger. | laid down n
pile Of crisp, rustling bank-notes on the
desk beside him.
"Be so kind as to receipt your bill, Sir"
lie Obuycd in silence, and walked
away. rs he altcrward told me- "with the
air Of an clghteen-year old scmilami'."
And
[The rest Of tho Ms. Is in n bold, mas
cuiine handwriting, as different from Octa.
VIA Iladlrigh'S delicate up and downstrokes
as it is possible to imagine.
And ortavia to the contrary notwlth-
standing, shall take the liberty OF finish
Ing this confession after my own fashion.
| called that evening on Miss Bydextcr.
The fir Curnelia was j1bilant.
I" / never had plcasanter season." she
declared. al haven't been eRnues once.
0ctaviA is such charming company"
"She Is With you at present ln
"0h, yes. She |. my maid, you know
"Octayia Had,cisb !-your maid 4"
must have lluked nv astonishment,
for saw its reflex in Miss Bydcxtet's
face.
"wby, to he sure. Didn't you know
til" And Miss BydexteF, who is no ad.
herent Of the theory that "silcneo is
goldrn,n poured out tito whole story.
"Of course I wouldn't tell every one"
she said, rather guilty, as IL remembering
some hitherto forgotten charge Of secrecy.
:" But knew you would appreciate IT.
and she is so sweet, and they are so poor.
"ls she at home 2" ! asked.
"No; shr has gone around to her faith.
er's. But l expect her back every min.
ute"
az will 90 and meet her, said |. And
I went accordingly, thinking, with strange
thrill at my heart, Of that pompouS, ego
tistic old father who sacrificed them all SO
rcgardlessly on the shrine Of his selfish
case; and the pale, patient mother, and
Octnvia herself, the fairest and most duti.
ful Of daughters. And had believed her
all this time to be n butterfly Of fashion,
forgetting utterly the pitcous exigencies Ol
her home.
When / first heard OF her going TO New
York with Cornelin Bydexter 1 fully dc.
tetmined to put her away from my heart.
Now knew how impossible il would have
been. knew that | had loved her all the
while that | was iorgetting' ber 50 sys-
tematically. met her in the rosy dusk,
as stately as {. princess, as beautiful as
flower,
@Oc.avi,, y l said, VI have misludgcd
you. viii you give me an opportunity to
explain
Certainly, Dr., Mortimore."
But there is a question should like
you TO answer first"
"What is i'll"
twill you be my wife, oetuvia I"
The question was asked IN lowered
Il ~