The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-11-22
A GIFT OF GRACE.

| hiSuNs
They take wondrously short time, thes
| lovers kisses. Brief and tender they arc
| yet long remembered and treasured up
when time and trouble have swept matter
of far graver import, like drifts of useles
sea-wood, far adown the great sea of obliv
ion.
And Miss Grace Redmayne was leaning
back so innocently in the corner Of the car
riage, when her father came bustling dowr
stairs with the opera cloak she had beer
careless (?) enough to forget. 1t was lucky
thing that the friendly gloom concealed thos,
dimplcs that,came and went on her flushed
check, like July sunbeams on q crimson .ript
peach Very lucky that the soft little heart
beats played their musica! madrgals with
in her girl-breOst, inaudible to other ears
Oh, Grace, does love always teach maiden
to be such innocent hypocrtes
"Well, here We are, Oracle and very
glad am to be home. Balls are nonsensi
cal things, after all. Don't see why womer
are always so bcwitchod after 'em. Nothing
but pack of silly people, sandwiched with
flddles and ice cream By the way, Grace
who was that young man saw talking tc
you just before We came out?"
"Talking to me, papa ?"
o, those little pillows of pink brightness,
that chase each other across brow and cheek
contradictory in their voiceless beauty, hei
hesitating words
Yes-with brown, curly hair and dark
eyes. ! couldn't get near enough to heal
what he was saying. Something silly and
sentimental, I've no doubt, though p
I'll forgot his name" faltered Grace
" lie was only speaking to me about the
weathcr"
IIumphl |" grunted Mr.. Redmayne un,
easily. Not word more was spoken until
the carriage paused in front Of the brown.
stone front mansion that he called his home
Light as thistle-down, Grace sprang out
and scarcely pausng for the good night kiss
that was jcalously exacted by the crusty
loving old gentleman, she sought the friend,
Il ly seclusion of her own apartment.
. Not, so Mr.. Redmayne. The ruddy Goals
g!owed brightly in the crate of the snug lit
tie libray-the shaded light diffusc6 twi
light soitness through the room-the marble
clock, ticking gently on the mantle, seemed
to extend an unsyllabled invitation, which
was ably seconded by the blue velvet oush.
ions of the cosy armchair by the hearth.
Mr.. Redmayne hesitated but moment
then sat down where the fire-light glimmer-
ed on his abstracted face, biting his lips the
while, as if occupied by unpleasant reflec-
tiOns.
Wcathcrp he exclaimed half aloud, al
length, giving the FIRE tremendous poke
" never saw two people so intent about the
weather before, even il 1t rained pitch forks
or showed sheets ofpaperl My hearing isn't
as good as it was before wife died, ten year:
ago, but | certainly heard Grace say, 1T is
no use, Edward gentlemen visitors are
ever admitted to our house = and him reply
l0W come-bolts and bars cannot keeu
me outP Those were the very words. Well
S,e, my fine youngster."
lie rang the bell yehemently, sleepy
iootman started up from his lurking place
in the hall.
"Jenkins, if any gentleman asks for Mis-:
Redmayne within the week, she's not at
home. Do you understand ,"
Jenkins rubbed his eyes with bewilder,
ed look.
Yes, sir."
"Then take yourself of, and don't stand
staring therep
And as Jenkins disappeared, Mr.. Red
mayne sank back once more into the luxuri-
Gus depths of the blue velvet arm m-ehair, with
a sigh Of temporary relief
"The idea of losing Grace-my blue-eyed
iair-haired Grace-my only one-my baby!
there isn't the man wearing broadcloth that
can steal her away from my heart and
home ! don't tell Inc about falling in love
it's all stuff and nonsense. Let 'em fall out
of it again Not soul Of 'eln loves her hall
as well as do. What should do without
Gnee2 Who would light The old mans
cigar, and find his slippers, and drive away
cares and trouble by the touch Of her rose
bud lips against his browg Couldn't spare
Grace. Thank fortune, I've kept the fellows
away so far, by ordering Jenkins never 10
let one into the house, and watching her
whenever she went out. But don't know
this weatbsr-b business Looks rather suspic-
ious. Let me catch chap hanging around
my Grace, and I'll-I1l kick him down
staiTsW
And Mr.. Redmaync jumped up, quite
purple in the face, and gave the unofIending
ottoman an impetus hslfaeross the room. as
if be had for the moment INVESTED it with
the attributes Of moustache, cravat, and
temon-eolored gloves.
Mr.. Redmayne was an able schemer and
a close sentinel but, in spite Of bis watch
ful cares, one young gentleman had slipped
ina youth with wings aSd guiysr. Cupid
was too much for Mr.. Redmayne, as he has
been for many another sage papa