The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-12-04

temporaries. Poor dear Lydia, she
never did seem to be very attractive.
l always wondered at it, for she never
seemed hard to please. But perhaps
that was the explanation. Would
not you like to go upstairs to see her,
DIR. Hardy? | told her she had better
not leave her own room again to-
night. This sort of thing is so new
to her that it has quite upset her."
Walking like a man in dream.
DIR. Hardy found his way to the we'll
known room. Was this where he had
coolly felt pulses, and lightly talked
small talk? Yes; there was the fa-
miliar row of devotional books, and
the little work-basket with the red
lining. And there was Lydia herself,
with fearful eyes and outstretched
hands, exclaiming,-
"Oh, DIR. Hardy, Jane and Eliza are
so angry, and | don't know what to
do! They say you can't understand
what you are about Am | really so
hateful that it is ridiculous for any
body to-like me?"
My dear Miss Lydia, you are very
sweet and loveable,h said the doctor
soothingly.
And Jane made me tell her every
thing-and she said there was nothing
natural about it," sobbed Lydia, add
ing, with faint squirt of feminine
malice, Il can't think how Jane
knowsm
Dr.. Hardy looked astounded. He
knew that the pitiful appeal, and the
little family revelations were quite
what might be expected under the
circumstances which Lydia believed
in; but under those which he knew,
they seemed terrible and shocking.
please, sir" said the little servant,
opening the door, master says will
you come to him in his room; he
wants to speak with you"
'Now for itr' thought DIR. Hardy.
Now I'll make it right somehow.
I'll get chance of explaining, or per-
haps the old gentleman will take the
papa's usual part and raise objections,
and I'll accept them, and get out of it
without hurting the poor things feel
ings."
But what was his horror, when the
grim old man, miser by repute, and
cynic and misanthrope by profession,
advanced towards him with fearful eye
and trembling lips, and said, eagerly:
''Sir, | honor you. From any other
man, | should have suspected this
offer was made with a view to the for
tune with which Dinnent credits us.
But you have known the secrets of
our prison-house. And you have had
a heart pure enough to be attracted
by Liddy's flial devotion and sisterly
patience, although the first bloom of
her youth is past, and gibing girls,
whom most fools think so angelic,
would scorn her as half an old maid.
Sir, you have given me back some of
my lost faith in human nature. And
you have relieved fathers heart, and
a proud heart, sir, that would rather
be deemed a miser than counted poor.
That's because Daniel Ray knows the
world, sir. The other girls won't be a
burden to you; there's enough for
them; but it's sometimes troublesome
to get at, DR.. Observation-Disclosures to
get at, and it's relief to my mind
that they'll have a man to look to
them, and keep them from making
their poor little money matters
in Dinnent. Many
time did l say to my poor wife, when
she was lying, slowly dying, What
am | to do with three helpless girls ?
And she used to say, Daniel, there
will be ways opened before you She
had always faith in God, my dear wife
had, and Lydia takes after her, and
I'm beginning to think there's some
hing in it after all"
Could Dr. Hardy open his mouth,
md with one sentence destroy the old
mans new-found faith in him, in hu-
man nature, and in God? DR.. Hardy
could not. Nothing fought on his
side. He was fancy free. Not only |
nad Lydia no living rival-she had not |
even an ideal one The young man
had had his passing attractions; but !
ne had never yet seen a woman whom
.or three whole months together he
lad desired to be his wife. And he
ct old Mr.. Ray take his arm and lead |
lin back to Lydia's room, and when
;he feeble, aged hands joined Lydia's
md his, and folded softly over them,
hen in her fathers psesence the
7oung man bowed his head and SOL
,mnly kissed the dropping forehead of
;he trembling woman. He did it as
n a dream, and yet, as in some dreams,
ne felt weight about his heart, and a
sense that something had gone wrong,
which could never be set right.
Il hope Jane noticed he kissed me
1ow." unused Lydia. For that had
oeen one of James tart questions after
5he revelation on the return from the
.ide. When Lydia had modestly an
swered NO" Jane had laughed so
that Lydia, reused, had |
reminded her that they had been only
IN the moor under the open eye of |
Heaven; and Jane had returned that
,he knew well enough that those who
wished could easily give kiss and
Jake kiss on Dinnent Moor. Lydia
wondered at Jane, and wondered what |
Else Jane might know, and now she
loped that Jane would notice that |
Ter lover had paid her the due atten-
ion, so that his previous reticence
lad been evidently but the most deli
cate chivalry.
On his return home, DIR. Hardy |
found his mother seated at her knit
ing beside the fire, for one was always
it for her in the evening, summer or
winter. He sat down beside her, but |
le did not much respond to her
,heery chatter. He rose to retire be-
,ore she did, and gave her his usual
goodnight without adding another
word. But when she went to her own
room, she found slip of paper ON her