The Van Buren press., 1874-07-14

~ hope so, said Ned "but grand
pa is old. and"
mo matter about grandpa, sale
Mrs. Meredith, OF course youv heart
the fact that Lilly's grandpa left larg'
sum of money. and that am rich wo
man and have no relatives ?"
81 may have heard some stories OF th'
kind, but l never believe such things
They are often without foundation.
"Ah, dearl said Mrs Meredith
"WeIl it was true; but I'm glad you arr
so sensible young man. for 1t is true
no longer. Lilly and had both invest
ed in the Collide and Smashup Railroad
bonds, and you know what happened to
them the other day I've kept it from
Lilly, but we're utter beggars, and shal
have to move into couple Of rooms and
take in sewing, or something for living
I'm glad Lily has found aloviug hus
band to watch over her. As Tor me, !
don't matter; I'm old and shall die soon
and friends will buy me into an Old La
dies Home, no doubt, if come to starv
ing. Bless you, dears, be happy and
Miss Meredith put her handkerchief to
her eyes and left the room sobbing.
Poor Auntie !" said Lily =" we'll take
care of her, won't we Ned2 As for me
I'd rather live in one of those little shan
ties on the Boulevard line with you quite
happy. We don't care for money, do w
Ned p
"Oh, no, said Ned; but his tone was
doubtful, and he was very quiet and very
grave, and took his leave in short time
with fewer protestations ofaffection than
are usual on such nm occasion. 1t was
well for Lilly that she did not know that
outside the door be clenched his fist and
muttcred:
What the deuce was in such hur-
ry, for? How shall get out Of this
fx?"
Poor Lilly!
Aunt Meredith had said no more than
the truth. Lilly could not understand
how il happened, but, in less than week
they moved into two plain rooms in q
very mean little house, and though they
did not begin to take in sewing for liv
ing, every thing was greatly altered
Lilly had thought she would not mind
much, but she felt it worse than she
thought she should Besides, the bliss
that she had always favcied that an en-
gagement would bring was not hers. Ned
called but seldom, was cold in his man
ncr when he came, and pleaded business
engagements, which Lilly could not help
believing were imaginary as excuses for
his neglect Of al! those little usual atten
tons which girls expect.
Sadly the poor little soul sat in her
tiny hall bedroom after she had pretend.
ed to retire for the night, and realized
the fact that her lover was no lover at
all Indeed, it was scarcely surprise
to her when, one day letter came bear
ing his monogram, in which he asked
for release from his engagement
ave have both made a mistake he
wrote.
! And she wrote back:
Thank Heaven we have found it out
in time!'
But such words only sustained her
pride her heart ached all the same.
Meanwhile james Roberts had come
to see them oftener than of late, and was
certainly great comfort in their loneli-
ness, for Aun, Meredith declared that she
conldn't let their acquaihtances know
where they mad come to live, and Lilly
had no heart for company and Lilly
liked James better than ever before And
so it came about so slowly that it was q
surprise to her when, one day, he offered
himself to her She accepted him
"Tm poor man, Lilly" said he,
"but well take care Of Auntie and we'll
get on. shall have the greatest objec,
in the world for trying to get on now
that you belong to me. P"
And so one morning the three, very
quietly dressed, walked to the minister's,
and Lilly and Roberts were married. No
one would have known 1t was q wedding
party who had not guessed it, by Rob
ert's face
Lets 60 home this way" said Aun,
Meredith, turning down the street where
her old house stood. :" want to look
at my lie long home. Lilly. don't you
wish it was ours again =
| ~ WAS u iONeiy piaSoI o"'" '%'J
"but don't fret, Auntie.
mo, | won't fret, said Miss Mere
dith. but here we are. All, dear, what
a pretty home it is How the whisteria
vine has grown, and how pleasant the
balcony looks. Lilly, ! am going to 60
in and see how it looks inside "
"Oh don't, Auntic, cried Lilly
But Miss Meredith WAS on the steps
and had rung the bell
Dear, dear" said Lilly, chow odd
but we mustn't desert her.
Then the door opened. There was
cry of joy. and Miss Meredith's old ser
wants rushed out to greet her.
"Come in, children, /" said the old lady
"There's no reason for you to stano
there. This is as much my house as evel
it was -
HAS she gone crazy do you think,
asked James. "or is this a Joke p
~ don't know" said Lilly, trembling
"Yes, joke said the old lady. "A
fine one, too. Come in dears. I've play
ed trick. and an old enc, to save Lii,
from fortune hunters.
Nothing ever happened to our money
transferred it from the Collide and
Smashup Company year ago, and So
am quite safe As for Lilly, she's n baby
in such matters. And, Roberts, you've
wsn an heiress as well as good girl
And can both of you kiss me-!