The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-08-30

Thought, 1T he had only waited little
he would have liked her | am sure"
and then she dismissed the thought with
q sigh, and turned to Alice for consola-
ton.
AS the days went by Miss Barbara's
heart began to ycarn for her nephew
She loved Alice dearly, but even she did
not take the place of the absent OLE
His handsome face haunted her day and
night, and often she heard a sudden
noise in the hall, or at the door, she
would look up eagerly, half expecting to
sec him, as she used to do. II am get
ting DID," she said sadly to herself
''Perhaps l was little hard with him.
my boy-I'll ask Alice.''
And so one night she called Alice to
her, and as she sat there in the fire.
light, as John had done 50 often, she
told her all about it-anl how she long
cd to see him again
II am getting old, Alice" she said.
II may die soon, and I want to see my
boy. Perhaps | was wrong about his
wife. 1t would do no harm to see them
just once, Alice
And Alice answered gently that per-
haps it would be better for them all to
do 50; but she avoided her kind friend s
eyes and there was scarlet flush on
her face that was unusual.
The next day, Alice, under Miss
Barbara's s direction, wrote little note,
to John Barton. "Tell him to come
soon,' said she; and as Alice wrote
this, Miss Barbary sat and thought
intently for time, her face resting or
cher hands.-'Tell him. she said again
"tell him he can bring his wife if h,
likes-1 can at least see her to please
him.' And so the note was writer
and the message dispatched.
After this decisive step was taken
Miss. Barbara was in futter of nerv.
ousless atthe time. She donned hel
richest dress, her most costly cap, and
then sat expectant until she hcart
Johns step on the stairs, and j on
came in himself as Of old. Of cours,
there were few minutes during which
both talked at once, and then, when tn,
first excitement was over, Miss Barbar;
suddenly grew grave. "Where's you
wife?' she asked in u grim way
and John rose and rung tn,
bell.
"Shc's down stairs. I told her t,
stay until [ sent for her." And then
as the servant made his appearance
"Show my wife up"
Miss Barbara waited quietly.
"You will love her a little, for m,
sake!' pleaded John, as light footstel
was heard at the door, and then, great,
to Miss Barbara's surprise, Alice Wor
thing came in.
"Ay nephew, Mr.. Barton, Mis-
Worthington,' she said, and then turn
ed to Alice, "I'm engaged now, an,
you may be excused"
TO her great surprise, John cooll
put his arms around his new acquain
tance and led her across the room
"Alce Worthington Barton, Aun
Barby," he said; and then, with tn
old mischief in his eyes, Glove her
little for my sake, please"
There are children's voices in tn
great house now, and Jane (who wa
in the plot, and is back in her ol,
place, } and Miss Barbara pet them t.
death, almost. John, the rogue, Otter
leases his aunt laughingly about tn
'do!l-baby' to whom she had considere'
him sacrificed. But if there is any on
person whom Miss Barbara loves a
dearly as "her boy" it is the swee
faced, gentle girl whom that boy mar
ried. 10 her mind, all feminine grace
virtues are possessed and shown fortl
by Johns wife,