The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-11-27
LINLY'S ENGAGEMENT.

"Folds OF tho silk and cream colored
roses. You will have the hats Just alike,
then2" asked Miss Lucinda Smith,
milliner.
"Just exactly alike. II will please
Hermione, and thero is nothing like so
well rs to pleasemy pretty stapmamma,"
answered Linly 'fhetford, lifting hersweet
eyes for sympathy to the precise counte
nance of Miss Lucinda.
"Umph !-so you are very fond Of
her, Linlyi"
"Yes, indeed She is my best friend
since p9pa died, and being SO near Of
an age we arc constant companions. ]
don't know what Tshould do ifitwerent
for Hermione; Ryelands hAs changed so
since papa's DEATH"
"You have Mr.. st. Charles company
grcnt deal, hear"
"A flash like sunrise dyed tho beautiful
brunette face.
"Of course; he is Hsrmioue's cousin,
and-aud like brother to me-" IN
swered Linly. STOPPING over box OF
silk violets to hide h'r confusion.
"Umph! yes-well, it's oil right, Of
course" remarked Miss Lucinda, pinch
ing out a bricr leaf. and setting the rose
more firmly on its stem. :" But didn't
it ever occur to you that folks would
talk ?"
"About WHIT" asked Linly, lifting
her clear hazel eyes to Miss LucindN's
profile.
"His being OF Ryelauds go much so
soon after your fathers death. Poor
man dead but six months; should
think your stepmamma, as you call her,
would havc more respect for his mem
ory than to-
"Than to what" asked Linly, her
bright eyes growing large and bright
with indignation. "Wnat have you to
soy against Hcrmione-against my
fathers wife, Miss LucinjLp
"Say7-oh, say nothing. It's what
other people arc talking about. But l
must add that it is strange you are 10
blind, Linly. Now have known you
eve. siaco yon were a child-nsed to
come to Ryelands every spring to make
caps in y0nr grandmother day, and
your own mother always hOught her
honnots of me-nnd you were always
bright enough about other things. It's
strange you cant see.
"Whati" with thrill in tho young
voice.
,"Why, Of course, your stepmother
married your father for his money, anu
to havo q home md position. She WIS
was only district school teacher, down
in Marshdold, when lie married her.
and everybody knew she did pretty well
for herself WHOM she married Dr.. Thet-
ford. But shc was dead in loro with
her cousin, Rupert St. Charles, ard he
with her; but they were poor, and ho
working his way so slowly through col
lego that she thought thcrc wasn't much
chancs there, and she gave him up for
your father. And now he's promising
Young lawyer, and she mistress OF Kye,
lands, what is so likcly2 Lor, you amt
Going 10 faint, are yon. LinlyT
"Faint? MOI The day is warm,
and your store is close. It is foolish Tor
mo to stay hOro listening to this gossip
/ do not feel in tho least indebted to you
for repeating it to me, Miss Lucinda,
Mybeautiful stopmother loved my father
dearly whom she married him-ave years
OF utter devotion TO his interests, ana
her crushing grief at his death. proyvodlt
for me-nor do I believe. she loved any
Que elso when sho married. him. And II
sho chooses to marry Mr.. st. Charles
now. shs il at liberty, for all in Circle
villo"; aud bowing with tho barcst civil
ty to Miss lncinda, Linly loft the shop.
Tho cool mir Of tho village street
cooled her burning checks; but how
her loyal young heart achcd III her burn
ing bosom Not for worlds wonld she
have had Miss Lucinda confirmed in her
suspicious that she loved Rupert u.
Charles; but it was tho cruel truth. he
was 20 kind and lno in his nature, 80
handsome aud unspoilel by his rapid
succcss in life, no wonder tho girl'sh
heart worshiped him. She hal never
believed tlint there was anything, DO
tween the cousins but cousinly kindness
and freedom. But perhaps others knew
better: maybe ahe was "blind.