Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-02-22

]
down. The easy chair drew her into its
embrace, like friend who takes you in
his arms, to iest you, and com fort you.-
She looked about her. The hoor was
covered with carpet that was like bit
of the messy woods. The walls were
hung with pictures that were like win
dows, through which she looked, and
saw the world she had dreamed Of, in a
beauty tentold greater than it had ever
borne in her dreams. Vines clambered
over the windows, and about the white
statues in the hooks and corners. Books
were all about her. A piano stood open
Mt one end of the room. She went up to
it, and touched key, A low, sweet
syllable Of music trem b led through the
apartment. 1t was so sweet, that it
drowned the crash and roar of the tire.
less wheels for one moment. But only
for one.
Oh, to live in this way To have
nothing to do but rest-and tUe! She
felt, in vague way, how dwarfed her
poor, mean way o: living was. IL seem-
ed like sarcasm to call it living. 1t was
existence, merely, nothing more.
:" wish this were all mno-mne
and Lois" she said, under her breath
Then she thought of Dick.
She heard step on the threshold
She looked up, and saw Mr.. Leverson
standing there, watching her. She grew
strangely uncomfortable under his ear
nest eyes.
have something to say TO you"
he said, coming nearer. ~ suppose
you will be surprised at it. 1t will be
unexpected. You must not consider it
as boing said, on the impulse of the
of man to do things in that way. l have
pondered the matter well, and what /
shall say to you, is the resIlt OF delib
crate thought. | suppose you have
never thought of my caring for you,
but l do. have watched your face
for a long time, and l have grown fond
Of it. Win you be my wife ?"
Mr.. Leverson was gentleman, and
she knew he meant what he said. 1t
came to her in swift flash, and she
felt the truth in a dazed and muddled
way. She looked abou. her, and saw
the beautiful things which would be
hers if she accepted Mr.. EeT9rson's
proposal. She felt as il she stood a,
the gate of Paradise, and some one asked
her to come in. She had wished this
beauty could be hers. 1t was to be had
for the taking. A word, and the hateful
factory life was ended forever. She
could rest, rest And Lois The poor
crippled limbs might even be made
straight. Who knew? Then she
thought Of Dick, and her heart gave a
little thrill, TINT was like a reaching out
Of hands TO him. And yet he was SO
poor-so miserably poor He had only
his hands, she thought, swiftly. Then
something seemed to cry out to her
reproachlully, that he had mere-inf-
nitely more, than she could make hsrsel
believe this man had-a great, homes
heart, brimful of love for her.
A confused vision of pictures ant
flowers, of rich dresses and flashing jewels
and the sound Of music went surginl
through and through her brain, to tn,
accompaniment Of the grinding, pitiles
wheels.
:" can't think, now !" sho cried
putting her hands to her throbbinl
templas. " Let me go-some other time
maybe" and then she actually laughed
But she did not know what fhe wal
doing. She was only conscious of 0
great longing to get away from the
man who had offered her his hand
She began to feel afraid OF him.
" You are killing yourself in the
factory" hs said, tcnderly. THE work
is too hard. Let me take you away
from it. | do not ask you to decide
now. Take your own time for that
But hope it will be iavorably."
Presently, she found herself in thu
street. alone. She was dreaming Had
Ralph Lovorson really asked her to bt
his wife, or had the fever smitten hel
with its mighty, merciless hand, and
was this the deirium It generally bro1ghti
She got home, to Lois, at last. She
went about the little, mean room. getting z
their frugal supper IN H silent, mechanical
way, with such tense, strained look
in her face, that Lois was afraid of her
When the table was cleared away, sh,
sat down by the window, and mad,
Lois sit down at her feet, with her heac
in her lap.
Don't talk to me-" she said. "I'v,
got to think" And there she sat, think
ing, thinking, thinking, till late int
the night. Her thoughts were tirclesi
as The wheels. She wOs powerless t.
stop them. They went on with NJ
volition Of hers.
She went back TO her loom, mex: day
with the wheels Of though. still turning
Should she choose this one, or that onei
On the one hand, rest, and the beautiful
things wealth could buy. On the other
a humble home, and the wealth of q
loving heart. Dear, patient, willing
Dick ! How mean and selfish she
seemed to herself, for hesitating in
making her decision, between the mar
she loved, and who loved her, and the
man who loved her, but whom she
did not love. For she knew she die
not, and never could, love Leverson. -
But-always coming round in tho same
circle, 20 this one thought-his wealth
| and wealih cnnld hnv 80 1nucL Rn