Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-06-03

conscious pathos in her look and tone
that it went straight to the young man s
heart.
Yes, you. Mother would prefer to
have you to any one else in the world.
am sure of it Your nice, quiet, dainty
ways Just suit her, and you know she is
lonesome now that M ggie has married
and gone away. Will you come, Esther
say tomorrow
Yes" she replied, slowly, 81 will
come, George, if1 can be of any use."
And so it was that Esther went to
the Harrison's pleasant home, intend
ing to stay only few days.
But she never returned to live at the
old Keeling place, and this was what
George had intended when he. with SO
much artful delicacy, induced her to
leave it.
They would not hear of her going
back to the lonely old house until
spring, and in the atmosphere of kind
ness and happiness her bruised heart
slowly nealed.
What tended more than aught else to
this result was tue report, soon con-
firmed, that Doctor Farnham was to
begun to pay attention shortly after his
rupture with Esther.
So it was the money, after all, that
he wanted" Esther thought. with a
parting sigh to her broken idol. 81
wonder whether George. also, when he
asked me to marry him, had any
thought of Aunt Phebe's moneypn
The doubt was speedily put at rest,
for long before the first spring flowers
were in bloom George had again asked
Esther to become his wife.
This time she did not say him nay.
Not long after he one day came in from
the village looking very grave and lit
tie troubled.
Esther" he said, II have news for
You-great news"
You mean perhaps that Marcia and
Doctor Farnham are married" said
Esther, composedly.
"No; though they are to be married
in day or two-so have heard. But
this is news which concerns yourself
alone. You know they are proposing
track for the new branch railroad from
B to L.. Well, / have just
learned that it is to pass within mile
Of our village, and that its course lies
exactly through your property-the old
Keeling farm"
How strangel But, George, it will
ruin the place"
"Ruin the placep' he repeated, laugh
ing. "Why, Esther, it will be tue max
ing of your fortune. The line runs ex-
aetly through that long, narrow strip of
the old farm land by the river, and it is
the only to which it could be put.
l heard just now,n he added. gravely,
q that you will be offered seven or eight
thousand dollars for it. They think it
a good place for station between the
village and Ashwood.
Eight thousand dollarsl" said
Esther, with a gasp, why, shall be
rich -
Richer than l, and perhaps you will
look down upon me-"
He spoke lightly, but there was some
thing of an anxious look in his face.
"Oh, George" said Esther, looking
up into his face with fearful eyes. and
placing both her hands in his, 8 l am
SO glad that shall have this money
SO glad for your sake !"
And Marcia, when she had heard
the news, wished that she had not man
covered to get Aunt Phoebe to make
that will in her favor. AS to DR.. Farm
ham, who had given up the woman he
loved as much as he was capable of low
ing, for one whom he loved not all-his
feelings can only be imagined.
Years after, when George and Esther,
happy and prosperous, were speaking
OF the wretched domestic life of DR..
and Mrs. Farnham, Esther said:
" | never feel 50 grateful to Aunt
Phoebe as when | think OF that will of
hers made to preUent my marrying Dr.
Farnham. She understood him better
than l."