The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-08-23


, softly down to the kitchen for mustard
: the door of Mr., Gasgoigne's study opened
and the draught blew out her candle as
he closed it and came forward,
" You keep late vigils, Mr.. Gascoignc, u
she exclaimed. "lt has just struck
twelve"
"And of what do you suppose Flora
is fraid That you are getting bored
with her"
"Bored with Flora" he repeated
smiling broadly. "Can't you imagine
who never bores me"
as it a riddle ?" laughed Bell, with :
sob in her throat, Z" suppose ! nigh
guess with great effort OF Imagination y
Why did he torture her with his conf
dences?
81 should think You might, he pur
sued, still smiling, but not so confidently
During your absence at Mrs. Raymond
bedside have become confirmed in a sen
timcnt whose existence I had only sus
pectcd before. Is there any hope for me
wonder ~
"Any hope?" she answered, confused
ly--"any hope how can telI?"
Don't you know 90 asked hc mourn
fully, his great dark eyes shining appeal
ingly in the dim light "COnldn't you
give me morsel of encotIragement?'
L could will find out-ifyou wish
! would give it now--ths minute-,yo
know | would, don't you 2-it | dared
il ] were certain--'
Did he doubt that Flora loved him?
Bless you - he said, tervently. Z" am
willing to wait ; it is so much better thar
despair dealt at one blow" Then he
lighted her candle from his own and
left her with blank dismay pictured upor
her face. There was no question but hel
matchmaking had succeeded, and she
herself was in love with Clarence Gas
cOigne Another woman might have
played false at this unexpected crisis, anc
deemed that all was fair in love, but Bel
Raymond was of finer clay.
"Iou dearold 90 between, " cried Florf
when Bell madc her revelations, "tht
Bishop Valentine himself couldn't hold. a
candle to you. It's too good to be true
DO | love him? Don't ? Confirmed in
Il sentiment whose existence he had only
suspected before Mrs. Raymond's (lLcss,
is he % Well, | must confess hardly eX.
pected such good fortune. He's so re
served, i suppose and and Why he has
never SO much as kissed my hand,
or pressed it, though he has had plen-
ty of opportunity. Well, you can 90 tell
him that the adage Faint heart never won
fair lady is disprovcd. IIl wait here"
Somebody knocked family at Mr.. Gas
coigne's study door, Come in" he said
mistaking it for the maid.
"F lora is waiting for you in the par.
lor," began Bell.
Waiting for me Flora ?' repeated
Mr.. Gascoigne.
"Ycs. have told her; she is waiting
to confirm your nope, Mr.. Ga.colgne
She bids me say that the adage Faint
heart never won fair lady is disprOved
When you intimated to me the Other
night that you loved her suspected tha,
it was not in vain, bnt could not be GER
tain YOU know. Now know she loves
you with all her heart am sure OF IT.
Don't let me keep you an instant; 1t
must seem like eternity to Flora. She
is waiting for you in the parior Go,
Why do you hesitate Don't you be-
lieve me ?"
Mr.. Gascoigne had risen, dpathly pale.
with a solomn wounded look in his shin
nin~ nves and ~reot rirrIc. Growing be-
no,1h thcm his Inns moved without
fnrming words His whole attitude wa.
that of one overcome with unexpected
/ 1 :, I'LL ha lta
Jed himself by grasping with trembling
hands the chair beside him.
"You told Flora that loved her he
gasped. "You told her that loved har?'
"Whv, yes ; told her you had been
confirmed in Il sentiment whose existence
You had only suspected before you We're
thrown together 50 much by Aunt MiIly's
illness" repeated Bell.
"And you say that Flora loves me
You are sure OF 1t Z!
=" am sure. Go and ask her ana
Bell went slowly out hut II was some
time before Mr.. Ctascolgne obeyed heT' ;,
lie - the oldest lover IN the Wor'a'
confessed Flora, later "Noth'"g SPoohty
or gushing about MN. SuPPo,e "
wouldn I be dEhlhed i"r u c'ttsylia,'
why, ne only Kissed me twice. II you II
believe 1t, beI', ana looked aS SOLEMN as
an OWL ana sa'd he hopFn ne ne E,.',, Mou'u
make me haPpv; Hoolhe',. III h"ppy
a.reauy' anu Io'' t''''' w. ~ "" NnV", T',,
bei'' ! never naa a" ouO-a''''-ou' '''' u, o''0'
before 'hough l III Vwchty-Se'eh'
Miss Raymond offered thanks when
Mr.. Gascoigne took his vacation to the
White Hills and Flora went home to ac'
quaint her friends with her new prospects
and to join her lover, with her mother,
at the mountain house later. Bell
summer work was ended there was noth,
ing more Tor her to do but to SIT and
count the cost OF matchmaking. In the
meantime Flora wrote her friend long con