The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-03-03

"Aunt Maria off, too, nobody knows
where" the young nan thought discon-
solately, $50 / might as well go back to
town."
Which he did, thereby receiving at
the earliest moment a d~clicately written
letter from Mrs. Hepburn, dated Bos-
ton, begging him to meet her at the
T House and escort her home.
"Odd," he muttered, "after running
about all summer alone, she cannot
come from Boston without an cscort.n
But with Rob, to hear his great-aunt's
wishes was to obey them, and the next
train found him fastening to Boston.
He found his aunt sitting in Il pri-
vate sitting-room of the hotel from
which she had written, rocking herself
lazily and musing. lie judged that her
meditations we're pleasant by the smile
upon her lips.
She gave him q cordial welcome, and,
after n little chat, she said:
"Rob, did you ever think I mean 20
make you my heir?"
The color rushed 10 Rob's face, but
after a moment OF confusion he lifted
his eyes frankly, saying:
81 thought you would not forget me
IL you made q will, Aunt Maria, but
/ hope it will be o long time before I
know whether you will or not"
"Thank you, Rob; | believe you love
me.n ., ....
~ DO love you," wa the earnest re.
ply
"Then | hepe you will grant Il re-
quest ] am about 60 make, that will
give me great happiness if You do"
al should not likely refuse any re-
quest you make"
81 have a friend, Rob, . very dear
young friend, who is n Of the lowell
est girls | ever knew. Our friendship
il of very recent date, but it is strong
and true. 1t is my dearest hope that
when you meet her you may love her,
may win her love-"
"Impossible!"
"Stay u moment, Rob. | am not
quite so foolish an old woman as to
wish you to promiseto marry u stranger
But want you to remain with us for Il
short time, aud try to like my friend,
and win her TO like you"
81. would be a scoundrel If l did
that" .
"a scoundrel!"
"Yes, for | have already given my
love and won u RETURN"
"And did not tell me, Rob-"
"Only because l have not known
where to find you all summer"
"But your mother says your choice
has fallen upon q vulgar nobody, a PEN
niless orphan"
"My mother has lever seen Edna!
IL is true she is IN orphan, born in the
alms-house, but she has been befriend-
ed and educated by gentle, refined peo-
pie, and there is no faint of yuigarity
about her. Annt Maria, do you think
| am q mar TO love a vulgar woman?''
"No, Rob; but think! an alms-house
Orphan!"
"But a gentle, lovely woman, the
woman | love! / might seem to agree
in your place, %auntie, but you see that
it would be q scoundrel's part 10 court
your friend, when both love and honor
bind me 10 Edna"
"IIonor, Rob!"
"Yes, for she knows my love and has
confessed her own. Could any true man
desert a woman after that?"
"But broken engagements arc every
day events. Come, Rob, DO reasonable
Draw OF little by little, and let me in
troduce the girl wish my heir 10 mar
~"
In al instant llob's lips were firmly
set, and his eyes took a steady light O
resolution. Never had Mrs. Hepburn
heard so manly q ring 10 his voice Us i
took when he answered:
"To please you, Aunt Maria, ] woult
do any thing honorable, and if ! wer'
free, | would try to give even my love
7 where you dictated. But to win you
; money, to place myself in the position
J Of your heir, ! would not lift a finger
IL you mean the emphasis in your las
words for a threat, it is powerless. lie
your friend we'd your heir, ii YOU wish
4 but my love and honor t not b
bought"
, lie rose us he spoke, as il he woui'
have taken his leave, but Mrs. Hepburn
put her hand upon his arm.
: "Stay, Rob-" she said, 81 did no
mean to wound you; l should hav
indmoI ION haitian thnn To ihrnnfnn unI