The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-14

she exclaimed ever auu sHH.i Y :,
q S,posin' be should An all den cl hanl
come to han,i Then she shook ns Iyh heao Z
a,Taint dc way fur him. Lor. y, " MAJ =
Weeks nassed. and John Ashurst paced
h,s nom. with trouble on bis face. bis
no nbew came In. .sAnything wrong un-
clep y he asked, kindly.
at believe Lam little out OF sorts an1
swered John Ashurst. I'm 1act, freu',
was thinking Of you"
MOt mep1 Don't worry about me;
an, happy as lark" answered FREQ. care
20 :. The factis, Fred :" said John Ashurst,
stunning In his nervous walk and looking
attentiyely ut bis nephew, 81 am ii.tle
worried about you and-our neignpors.
uThe Gurneysf" asked Fred, in amaze
ment. o,r
SGT has Just come to my ears that people
are talking about our going there. nave
been very kind to Mrs. Quincy because
was unjust to. her at first, and wlsnec TO
make atonement. She is very charming
womon-more than that, a good woman.
TO me there Is no woman 80 attractive as
these sweet-yoiced Quaker women, with
their Quaint speech and gentle ways, so l
realize Your Danger"
Fred. Ashurst's eyes twinkled. "Folks
talk about us, do they? If were man
with your age and your means ia make
them talk to some purpose. Ii were IN
your place, Uncle John, would marry the
widow"
John Ashurst bent searching glance on
his nepheW. .tIt would not hurt you In the
least if loved and welded Mrs. Gurney!"
he asked.
"Not the least. I would congratulate
YOU with all. my heart" answered Fred,
mThat IL enough" said John Ashurst,
with satisfied smile, g You don't love the
woman if you are willing to see another
win herr :. T.,
You needn't fear rival in me-" replied
Fred. laughing. t~-.e
"Oh, Fred, that is all nonsense!" ex-
claimed John Ashurst, impatiently. :" l
shall never marry. Unfortunately, there is
memory OF the past that would come be-
tween me and q new love. I tell you this
much that you need not speculate or plan
about my future"
!" Mrs. Quincy might make you forget
the past" suggested Fred. Ashurst.
"On the contrary she makes me remem-
ber,'' replied John Ashurst, half to him.
self.
That night in the widow Gurney's home
the children were crowded about a new
conner, whom they called Cousin Lily. In
pause in the conversation she said, adj
dressing Mrs. Quincy: :.
"Pray tell me who these new found rela-
tives are. They talk OF Fred. and Uncle
John as though they were kim"
"Thev are our neighbors," answered
~ ont hoo 70 fhan1
When we had lived here about a week, our
nejghbor called. He had made a funny
mistake, and brought boy who was steal
ing his cherries, thinking he belonged here.
Think of it, Lily-one Of my boys stealing
fruit I"
| IT would have been very angry" said the
visitor.
"Oh no." answered Mrs. Quincy. ~
was sorry for him. He was so gentlemanly
and so humble, really contrite, as IL he had
offended me, and was sorry for it. He was
little incoherent, too, and l could not
quite make out what he meant. 4 school
bow would not have been more embarrass-
ed; and like ourselves, Lily, be is no
chicken. Then a note came In he had sent
me, and there had been delay in giving it
| to me. He took it quite eagerly, and said
he would do the errand himself. and offered
us all the cherries we wanted. That was
the beginning OF our friendship. Since
then Fred. Ashurst and his uncle have
been frequent visitors. This uncle has the
most wonderful smile; it lights up his
| whole face. But be is not man given to
smiling. ] Judge he has had great trouble
What ails thee, Lily? The blood has gone
from thy face.''
"My Journey has been little exhaust
| ing. that is ALL" replied the visitor, care
lessly. "By the way" she said, with al
fected indifference, "is the uncle's name
Ashurst?"
yes" answered Mrs. Quincy. "Is the
family known to tbee:"
| 1--WE knew Ashursts years ago." replied
the visitor. sDcpend upon 1t, this mar
| made change OF base when he called. II
| is like the Ashursts to be hasty and unjust
know nothing Of their penitence."
| Mrs. Quincy looked ut her visitor GU
riously. To herself she said. Il never
knew my husbands cousin SO near bclns
bitter in all my life" 49,
Fred. Ashurst the next morning at thu
breakfast table was in eXuberant spirits. Z"
think am in love, uncle" he said, gaily. "]
know you won't approve, for my charmel
is not day younger than Mrs. Quincy
| ana one OIL tuOSe uailSeIouS Suahoi Holuen.
"Where did you meet her ?" asked Johr
Ashurst.
! SAT our neighbours" answered the
nephew. rs' Birds OF q feather, you know
But this Is finer bird with finer feathers
than QUE .neighbor eyen.. / don't know
what men have been thinking Of to lei
such specimen so uncaged."
John Ashurst laid down his knife and
fork and listened, ............ .....- -.
Thus encouraged his nephew continued
"She is tail and slender, as graceful as O
wand. Her face is like Madenna's, but
! its beauty is in expression rather than fea-
ture. She wears lovely white dresses, with
few worldly tucks and ruf1es, and her
thees and thous are beautiful to hear"
John Ashurst's face was very grave. "Be
careful, Fred.," was his warning reply.
- "Such women are not false, surely" said
Fred, watching his uncle closely.
"They may be tickle and unjust" replieo
John Ashurst, sternly. ts
IL would swear Miss Russell IS neitnef,
exclaimed Fred. Ashurst, passtonateiy.,
John Ashurst's lip twitched, and he beat
his foot nervously on the floor.
"Miss Lily RUSSELL explained Fred.
A.hurst, emphasizing the first name.
Holm Ashurst resumed bis usual manner
at that. ssBe careful, Fred, my boy" be
said, kindly, q don't want your ships 10
| 90 down as mine did,"
That day John Ashurst was restless and
| ueryoss-" almost OUT Of Sorts" he said OF
himself. He could not forget his nephew's
description OF the woman next door. "Non.
| sense ~ he would exclaim half aloud in an
impatient way. "This is the woman with
4 = a. fDp