The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-10-18
Of his vito had thrust seat In the senate

Of his country: When the first six yeaza
It length drew to q close, he would have
retired gladlI,to private life had not his
wife goadad him 90 TO, another campaign.
He died before his second term expired,
andsNrs. Marietta found herself debar1ea
sby Salic institutions from taking further
fart in themanaGeuaent of public affairs:
Wisely she turned her emery ies in the 'di:
.recti0hs the infalIible judgment Of man
kind had seen 1T to leave open to them,
Ind acted we'll her put as mother, aunt,
E91i3 5s.asr r. society IN he' e'r'y ho~e'
aGood morning bin II my DEAR ea4' said this es-
timsB1e lady,' 81 'l hef nisces app5oaeb;
z how fresh, you look el ;s after your late
"she didn't look fresh Z" til J.. told he,
Ernest va: coming" Sake said, slyly.
Mrs. Marlette suddenly turned her at
tention to q restless little Spitz dog that
had till nov tugged rnnnoticed, At, her
Sake, coax Roger :, around to the back
yard, and tell George to keep him at the
stable the rest of the day. I don't know
VIII 1t the matter is with him ; he seems 80
vicious this morning." ,.xois. >;o;>I
/. a.C Congratulate me, .auntie,n said Helen
II am twenty f6hr today.n q Ra II
T Congratulate ~ called Sake, still with
in earshot;"1 shouhkcthink youj~ would
rather be condoledaGwith;sa Why,.:,I felt
terrible my last birthday, and was only
seventeen: X cried, and cried, until nam
ma promised me diamond ring. Come
Roger, don't be socross: You detestable
dog, III g0pfmy .dreaslp S@ss%sS
u DO Congratulate you, my dear, land
you wear your years WE'LL" Mrs. Marlette
said, in her 'stateliest manner "But
Helen, ], have, for some, time felt, it my
duty to have sober little talk with you
and be sure it is your welfare I have, in
mind when r ask you if you do not think
you are old enoughot to marry2"
"Old enough! Why, yes, of. course
the girl said, slowly, turning a troubled
look upon vista of the" lake shining
throughthe trees. "But-"
;'e"I would not urge you to this step
against your inclinations, my child; but
I speak to you as q mother. No woman's
life is complete till she marries; and
though you have had, and continue to
have, opportunities that"
'Yes, auntic, know what you would
say-opportunities other girls long for
and Opportunities I may not have again
I know, too, that there will soon be plenty
of tongues to whisper old maid,' and
how. she fades, when pass by. But
whom shall I marry to escape this dread
full fate?'' '''~
There was careless misery in the
girls face and voice as she uttered these
words. The world, the flesh, and the
devil, had lain siege to her soul for many
years, and she, could not make an uncon
ditional surrender without some bitter
ness of spirit.
Mrs. Marlcttc replied briskly to hc1
last question.
::"You have the best match in Airline in
+ your grasp this morning. Who is richer
more talented, more. ambitious thar
Ernest Hot ston2 Already he holds q
high position in Washington, and
"Well," interrupted Helen, jumping ur
from her low seat with a little laugh; Il
am wise enough to understand you. In.
quiring friends may find me this morning
She lightly kissed her aunt's still un.
wrinkled forehead, and left that lady tc
her embroidery.
Within an hour Mrs. Ellarlette's reyger.
les were broken upon BY the coming oil
two young men up the serpentinc gravel
walk.
The elder was very dark, with hand
some regular features, and polished in.
sinuating manner, strongly in contrast
with the brusque, straightforward air Of
his companion.-, The latter, though quick.
er in his movements, was of much heavier
build, and his face, if not so handsome
was redeemed by face of singular beau.
ty. His eyes were clear and honest. AL
together he mi ght have proved a less
agreeable; companion, but perhaps bet
ter friend than the other.
"Aunt Celia" said the first gentleman
easily advancing, "your prodigal nephew
Fred. Hasn't. he changed beyond recog
nition?"
Erred, my dear, dear nephew" Mrs
Marlette: dubbed, bestowing such !.
greeting Of kisses upon the young mar
that he blushed warmly. through hi
Drowned cheeks, and would have wished
himself back in the Falkland Islands hat
he not possessed q peculiarly grateful dis
position; Then she told him that befor'
he saw either of his cousins, he must 81
down and tell her all about himself ant
the Falklands-whether he was goin.
back again, and whatever induced hin
to 60 there in the first place. Ernest
meantime must 90 il, search Of Sake an,
Helen, and: bring them: out to see Fred
she thought that they were in the. Ii
lhrary. o,~0o~s@ ...s>
patch. ,,~- i,
Helen Marlette sat alone in the bay-win
dow Of the library, large cool room t
which little glass door leading into tn
conservatory was the only entrance save b,
the hall. A=magazines lay open on he
lap, but her mind was far from it's pages
A crisis had doomed up in her life, an,
she was regarding il, coolly with folde,
hands. So absorbed was she. that tn
subjectaof her thoughts, tie man she di.
not love, stood beside her before. sh
knew he: had entered the room. Sh
started, and looked at him mutely, a
she would have looked upon her fate. -.
Meeting the look with his handsom
eyes, he said, gravely: =, Il. ~. !: :.
"Hclen, you know why, l am here
Tomorrow I leave Airline. You mus
tell mo whether I leave it forever, o
whetheriI shall; return toclaim my wife.
He was very, very handsome, and ID
had read her cold face too we'll to 50,
much: why did she not love him?H sh
asked herself, as in q. dream. O.! VIII,
fcouldnt she2 = Was she not unreasonable
For some kind fate to intcrpose foreve
between them: She sat as ifspelll:lboundd
and did not speak word. -. "a' s., =: =,