The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-07-15

husband Just as quickly. il she sits in the
chimney tending the baby anC
mending your stockings all the time, as
she would if she went about and enioyed
herself like other girls"
Il agree with Aunt Desire. said Mr.
Justin.
ooh. indeed Perhaps you are like those
very sensible men that she knew in her
youth, who looked for nothing but solid
qualities in their wives
II hope so" said Mr. Justin, looking
straight and serious into Mrs Obenreiser' S
mocking face
looked up at him gratefully, and his
tace grew suddenly bright with that rare
smile. 1t was as if the sun had all at once
flashed through red curtains into 4 dull,
| empty room He looked absolutely hand
some for the first time.
"Ihcn Sadi would do for YOU excel
lently." said Mrs Obenrei5cr
Come now" said Tom, ''thats gong
little too steep. Sadi hasn't been mar
| RED twice, if you have, and she has some
delicate feelings left
Mrs. Obenreiser was going to be very
angry. but Mr.. Justin said gently
"a sick man has privileges" and the
storm blew over
| had become accustomed bv this time
to MIR. Justin's quiet way of always step
ping into the breach at the critical mo-
ment lie spoke very little at any time,
and usually to break some awkward pause
in the conversation; but his mere pres
ence in the room gave me n rpStiul sense
Of security.
In spite Of his own perfect selt-poSses-
sion, could not meet him with quite the
same freedom after Mrs Ohenreiscr's call,
as did before Tom crew better and
Mr. .Dustin's visits became less frequent
the idea that had begun to suggest itself
to my mind, that part of them were
meant for me, was nipped in the bud. |
blushed more than ever over my inner
most thoughts. Two years before we had
placed Tom in the counting room Of a
factory in which Mr. Justin was book
keeper. Tom had Immediately conceived
a boyish passion for him, and of course
had heard his praise every day. | had
never met him, except tor u brief intro
duction ON the street, until Toms accident
made us familiar friends. 1t seemed To
me we must always be that, we had SO
many thoughts in common | was not in
love yet, or, at least, if | was, the feeling
wore il different face from that winch
had been looking for.
Il haven't seen YOU for three days"
said Tom, tretlully. ''By-and-by you won't
come at all. have tired you out"
mo, my boy, You are better now. and
find cannot quite stand the night work
Night work. What do YOU mean? p
"oi course spend 50 many hours here,
| have to make it up some time"
"Dh, forgive me, /" said Tom; II never
will ask You to come again viii you,
oadi?'
Not unless he likes it, | stammered.
Il like it too well, ," said Mr Justin, in
a very low voice.
WHATS that You said 27 said 'iom
"Nothing worth repeating, Jom will
come again soon, said Mr., Justin, and he
went away At once.
few minutes after, went into Aunt
Desires stting-room and found Mr. Jus
tin standing on the hearth-rug before her,
upright, cheerful mask CT ii We're one)
seemed to have fallen away from him.
II thought YOU were cone" said |, in
some confusion.
~ thought 50 mysel but | needed
some ads Ire on y Very knotty point, and
rs | passed your annt'S door She looked
" il She could give it,"
'I)id YOU leave Tom alone? will 90
TO him. said Aunt Desire, leaving a. alone
in a bareiaeed way. altogether unworthy
Of her principles
''Dh, dear" | thought, "you are worse
than Mrs Obenreser," and it must have
been five long minutes before Mr.. Justin
seemed to see the necessity OF saying
something | made two or three careless
speeches in the time, to which he paid no
sort OF attention.
You are quite certain that You would
not want me to come here, unless it is my
own wish to do SOP" he said at last, in
very slow, formal way.
"Nes, said, with little trembling.
.'lou have made up your mind to wait
for that lover who Is q be brought in on
a board. and laid at Your feet
"1hat does not follow ut ALL
docs it not ~
Ills eyes seemed to take distinct color
for once, rs met them, and he made Il
step forward
80, Sad, you must come quick. Tom
has been tlouncing about, and the bandage
is loose, said Nettie, the baby, rushing in
between us, with mouth and eyes wide
| open.
| | went at once to lom and heard Alr
| ,Jnstins step on the gravel walk, and the
| click Of the gate, a moment after Well,
| at least il he never came back again, |
could live a long time on that strange
look in his eyes, and the sudden move
ment, as il he had been tempted to take
me in his arms,
had not long to wait. He came again
in the evening, and We sat with Tom, rs
we had 50 often done before With half
4 Glance 1T ne, he said he had found a
| letter at his Office that forenoon, which
would call him out of town for a week
and perhaps for n fortnight After that,
| Tom would not part With him till the last
moment At 10 O'Clock | went down to
! the door with him, and he drew me out
on the piazza The still starlight some
how convinced me, AS felt the touch Of
| Mr. ,Justm's arm, that | truly loved this
plain man, and, if need be, could wait
fifty years for HIM to tell me of it.
'Sadi, must ask you, before 90 away
for an uncertain time"
20 Mr. Justin, where are you going ~
called out little white figure that rose up
suddenly from the end of the piazza. 1t
was Nettic in 4 single garment "Don't
let her scold me, Mr. Justin. 1t was 50
hot in bed came out to cool myself, and
when you opened the door hid"
Il forgive you if you 90 in now, ! said
In a minute Dick and Lucy are com
ing home from the party ut ten, and mean
10 bring me some of the supper. There
they are now"
1T is too true said Mr. Justin, as the
children approached the gate. 81 may as
we'll recognize the hand Of fate, and say
good by Sadi."
Good BY" said, putting ! cold hand
ints his.
Till come back y and he went away,
laughing. My pillow was Just a little wet
with disappointed tears that MIC ht, though
both Nettie's arms were around my neck
Before Mr. Justin came home, Tom was
certain that he was vel! enough to 90 to
the factory; and after arguing with him
five I ,nJ 4 m, - i-a