Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-12-06

hold arrangements, and puttidg odd
questions, that seem at if they could
have had but one meaning.
"And that was what 2"
"Ihat he meant to ask me to share
his home"
81 think he does; Cora. Indeed, he
told ME the same thing"
"Be his wife ~ Cora Hills face was
very pale as she said this.
- think he will ask you, dear. lie
will be n kind, good husband, Cora"
"Too kind, too good to have me for a
wife l could respect him, l do now I
can give him gratitude beyond measure,
and | could be dutiful and affcctionatc,
but-Oh, help me, auntie, help me p
"My darling, no one can help you"
He is So good to Jennie, to Eddy.
Such brother for them should recon-
cilc me to anything. For their sake /
could marry him and he good, true
wife, [ know that. But he deserves
more than that y
Sadly her listener echoed the words.
He certainly deserved love for love when
he married.
The friends talked together far into
the night, but it was like circle of
conversation, returning ever to the same
theme. When they separated, it was
with a vague idea of waiting till the
words were spoken that would force Il
decision, before the decision should be
made.
The work of preparing the new home
went forward rapidly. The loveliest of
flowers were selected for n conservatory:
Jennie was in ecstacies at being allowed
to choose all the things for her own
room; guest chamber was prepared
according to Cora's taste nursery ar
ranged for Eddy, and before Thanksgiv-
ing all was ready, and the master of the
house issued his invitations for family
dinner party, requesting us favor that
his lady guests would put aside their
mourning for that day. Still the mo-
mentous words were not spoken.
Henrietta was in her own room, ar
ranging her soft brown hair, and con-
templating the glories of a new black
silk dress, with rick blue satin trim
mings, soft lace and pretty ribbons, when
Cora tapped at the door,
Let me come in; / am all ready,
and the children have already started.
The carriage will come back for you and
l. Jennie looked very pretty in her
crimson dress, and Eddy is a picture in
his new suit of velveteens, and crazy
over his first pair of pants.
"Your dress is becoming, too"
1t was silk of the most beautiful
violet color, with great deal of soft,
white lace about it. In the golden curls
the young girl had twisted violet rib
bons. and the color suited her fair
beauty admirably. But the ladies' We're
very pale, and had no holiday smiles
they spoke but little, yet in each heart
was deep, uncxpresscd fear and SYM
pathy.
They found their host waiting for
them in handsome drawing-room, and
the children wandering about, admiring
everything, especially their own rellec-
tions i'll the long mirrors.
But they could scarcely believe their
own eyes when they looked at Mr. Jane
son. Dressed with care and taste, his
hair cut to the usual gentlemanly length,
his beard gone, he looked like another
man. The disproportionate size of his
head seemed diminished one half by the
loss of the enol nous mass OF hair, and
his smile had lost nothing of it's charm,
as he advanced to meet the ladies'
''It is time my ymasquerading ceased"
he said, in gentle, courteous tones.
Come, my dear, will you read this
letter."
"This y cried the astoni he'd girl,
"this is the letter | wrote to Uncle
James Reed when mamma died"
EXACTLY That is the letter that
brought me from San Francisco, and
that you thought so unllindly left unan-
swered."
"And you are Uncle James 2"
81 am your uncle, dear, and now
plead for me that the lady who has SO
long given you an aunt's love and care,
will in truth become your aunt. Can
you, Henrietta, love this queer little
man -
Could she love hsm? He must have
read the perfect happiness in her eyes,
for he bent over her hand, and raised it
to his lips.
"My whole life shall thank you,' he
said and Cora took the children to the
other end of the long room to tell them
the wonderful news.
There were no pale checks or sad eyes
in the group gathered round the table
loaded with Thanksgiving luXuries.
Cora was full of gleeful mischief new
element in her convcrsation-and Aunt
Henrietta full of blushing confusion ut
the new emphasis the children gave the
familiar name. Jennie. now young
lady, declares to this day that from the
very first she suspected there was some
secret reason for the extraordinary kind
ness of That Queer Little Man"