The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-04-26

SELL.
1t was, therefore, as the mistress at the
renovated mansion behind the NAPLES at
the turn of the road that Barbara Hawkins
was considering herself when tea time
came, and she was quite willing to hurry
back into the parlor while her ready handed
step-mother supervised their solitary "help"
in putting away the tea things
By the time poor Bill Emmons made his
appearance, after his long days drudgery
in the one law Office of the village, where
he was the junior, and therefore perhaps
the working, partner---by that time Barbara
was ready, civilly as she received him, to
wish he would postpone his call until she
could "receive him in so much better
style" And yet that night, of all nights,
the young lawyer had made up his mind to
put his fate to the test, and win or loose it
ALL"
Not bad fellow was Bill, and he had
more than once reflected how charmingiy
convenient was the location of the Hawkins
homestead, and what tremendous lift the
possession of that and the productive little
farm belonging thereto would give to
struggling young lawyer like himself The
fact that he was over head and ears in love
with Barbara made the whole affair abso-
lutely beautiful
Sad was the trial to his impatient feel
ings, therefore, when all the eloquence of
which he was master---and he had long
considered himself master of the situation
as well---only resulted in obtaining for him
promise from Barbara that she "would
consult her step-mother."
"Such a change it would make for her
if should leave her?" sighed Barbara.
Not at all, not at ALL" eagerly ex-
claimed Bill. "She could live with us,
you know. Everybody likes her. Pm sure
| do. She wouldn't be in the way at ALL"
But vain was all he could say or do, ex-
cept that Barbara's vision of the Grover
farm and house may have receded some.
what as she listened to the pleading OF her
suitor. She almost .hoped Dan might not
come that evening, for not only the present
situation had its charms, but it might have
its perils as we'll Dan Grover was not a
man to be trifed with, she knew, for all
his quiet, self contained ways.
And so it was with something of a feel
ing OF relief that Barbara listened at last,
to the bur Of the big kitchen clock striking
nine.
1t was at the same instant that the
shadows of two who were walking side by
side in the moonlight fell on the gate in
singularly unified manner; and then, as the
gate opened, Barbara sprang to her feet
with a slight exclamation. She had been
sitting close to the low window seat, and
she had not seen fit, or had forgotten, to
light lamp.
There may or there may not have been
any cause for surprise, but the way of it had
been this: No sooner were the tea things
out of the way than Mrs. Hawkins remem-
bered an errand she had in the village, and
had slipped quietly out to perform it. Nor
would so simple a matter have taken two
long hours, but that, just as the widow was
stepping across the little foot-bridge at the
brook, the form of tall, broad shouldered,
vigorous man OF, say thirty-five summers
stood before he, and a deep. voice re-
marked:
" Right about face, please. want bit
of a talk with you, and there'd be no
chance for it at the house"
Not Il word said the widow, as Dan Gro
yer drew her arm in his, but she thought,
9" If he wants to speak of Barbara, he's
right, for Bill Emmons must be there by
this time. What fool she is. He don't
begin to compare with Dan"
1t must be confessed, however, that il
seemed wonderfully pleasant, even when
Dan TUNED up the shadowy lane toward
't nv 81? -; anu Will ne seeIneu IisPosed 70
his farm and bis bonSa and ot iost 80 IN hin, VI
self.
,,;ooir @ oa,,i3 lir a; ;oIl''' t ine nAe1 "s
iano,t, h,t So asn ror' nT II iei"iheI a'
irho fa,t :. D., 80, aS ~. uay'
= "o,, - Vi ~ oe'e,lhiI'eu W hdEe wlle,
onlv ono en- oil ,I,n ,,;do ,,'n'u,a ~ IA i
Ionelier tbon an, NOW Vii, an,, otlanu
g wv dn,,t .o,, oit WIN "'y o'.iei ~, 81,
said ,ha widow witb pa pbaf aIoLIi ~ .i tnol fnoi
in ber tbroat Sba,s unn', none;Lio IoenS d.;nf
hut I dnnt thinI - IS ti'y se;iIioie ;L. s'Ii,
to trv 70 inananno bor I hai;o,es sn' n ~, my
has no rigbt to n, arrv ;thont Io,,;non
Ouick as Iiobtn;ng- .,,orv d;g;,naS,,t f,o,,
Dams ordinary caiS slow stvio--lmos bis
responsive uuerv !: " Have Won oIwavS hean
of that opinion3 Have Won acted on ;t9n
The plump. soft hand on his arm was
jerked away in an instant and Barbara's
Stan~motber was aI,onst Iii; INV IL - s, oai"
and wounded feeling as she sfannad b9ci,
from him. exclaimino. WUoy dore vou,
What have Won to do with that AL
Barbara for her secrets if Won will Mine
are nv own
"Exactlyn resnonded the steadx minded
Dan. but his voice was sbak;nc now in
spite of his self-controI. "You have told
me mart of your secret Marian Uavlrins
whether YOU meant to or NOT knew Won
could never have loved him. Now 7 will
tell YOU mine. You are the one woman
without whom / must forever be lonely
You have been only too faithful to Rar.
bara, or YOU would have seen il beforen
Rapid, earnest passionate, grew the
strong N, onjo ,yordo &c ba utto,ol IT,. -