Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-09-21

Ialnt likely she'll hev any more such
chances as that"
" No, to be sure not" said Avenel
abstractedly.
"And o'course she'd oughter think it
over well,' added Mrs. Marley.
80 certainly-to be sure!''
When Harry Avenel came home from
the city that evening he found his uncle
in a brown study.
" Harry" quoth the wilower.
Yes, uncle"
" I've been thinking"
I" SO | should conclude, sir, from the
u-shaped wrinkle between your brows,"
laughed the young merchant. "Well,
and what has been the topic of your
meditations, Uncle Joe?"
Why, was thinking what would be-
come 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
thing, sir?" he added.
"Oh, | don't know. She has good
place here; but one couldn't expect her
to be contented with Il housekeeper's
situation always, Harry"
| NO, 10 De sure not.
"She 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" suggested
Harry.
mo, | hardly think it would answer
my purpose; but, Harry"
"Well, uncle?"
Mr.. Avenel looked slightly sheepish.
Cant you imagine any other way of
keeping her hcre?" he asked.
Harry stared at his uncle. Mr. Avenel
felt disposed to give him a hearty shake
for his stupidity.
"Oh !" cried the young man, with a
darkness of the brain. You don't
mean-matrimony, uncle?"
Yes l dol" quot Mr.. Avenel,
stoutly. Would you object, Harry ?"
-, uncle?"
Because you are the only person in,
terested besides myseit-and her."
My greatest interest, uncle, is to
see you happy" the young man an
swered wringing the elders hand. "And
if |, too, should conclude to marry at
no very distant day
"Why them" cried Mr.. Avencl gaily,
"we can all live together, just AS we do
now, and the happiest family in the
worii."
And he went into the house, whist
ling, as he went, John Anderson, my
10, John as blithe as ooy of sixteen.
Juliet Hawkhurst was standing by the
littlo side garden gate that evening,
thoughtfully watching over her right
shoulder, of course, the slender silver
crescent of the new moon. Juliet had
lose Of a maiden, during the years she
had been an inmate of Avenel place.
She was fair haired and rosy, with long
cye-lashes, deep blue eyes full Of
shadowy purple CLEANS, and complex
ion like rose-colored satin; and more
over, there was in her very movements
. selfpossessed grace and dignity of
mien that was inexpressibly charming.
juliet Hawkhurst had been born lady,
but untoward fate had made house
! keepers daughter of her.
As she stood there, leaning over the
iron rail OF the gate, footstep sounded
behind her.
",Iuliet
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
contrlved to find you out even here !!
What makes you blush, and look SO con-
fused p
" Do II" And Juliet fixed her gaze
very steadfastly on the green turf at her
feet, where a single yellow dandelion
was closing its eye of downy gold for the
night.
" Listen " cried Harry triumphantly.
give got peice of news for YOU"
What is it?"
"What should you think of a step
father, eh, little one?"
Juliet looked up this time in real and
genuine astonishment.
"A stepfather, Harry?'
my uncle has confded to me this
evening that he thinks of marrying,
Juliet, and form all that | can gather,
the bride is none other than your moth
er. So when we are married there will
be "a nice little family circle of us, eh ~
And the audacious young man belted
her slender waist with his arm, and
ventured to draw her little closer to
him.
"Oh, but Harry, you are all wrong"
cried Juliet. crimsoning and smiling
like a June flower, "I-meant to tell
you of it, but somehow the words would
not come to my lips. Your uncle told
me also that he had concluded to mar
ry again, and-he asked me to be his
wife.n
The-mischief he did cried H. T.
ry, starting back as if some one had
struck him a blow. "You! Why, Juliet,
you are young enough to be his daugh-
ter
"Perhaps am" said Juliet, meekly.
"And what did you tell him? You
accepted him, of course? He is rich
and am poor, and all the girls like
gold"
Harry!"
"Tell me quick, Juliet" he cried, al
most passionately Don't keep me
longer in suspense"
81 told him." Juliet answered limo
Gently, "that had already promised tc
!