The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-04-24
THREE TIMES.

"Come, Helen dear, go with us to the
meadows to come home with brother John
-dop
And Lilly Leslie's voice grew pleading as
she watched the sober face of the girl who
stood in the door looking down across the
green lawn that sloped away from the house
toward the river.
81 wish school WIS not done. Is this
what makes you so sober to-dayT" question
cd Amy in a whisper, as Lilly stood look
ing wistfully toward the meadows.
Before the young governess could ans
wer, Lilly called:
"Will you come, dear Miss Helen, and
meet brother John? There he is"
Helen Arnold shook her head, and the
two girls ran down to meet the tall, sturdy
young man, who seemed to bring with him
the scent of the hay that lay freshly cut in
the meadows. The beauty and brightness
OF the summer seemed doubled as he came
up across the lawn, listening eagerly TO the
clear happy voices of the girls.
Helen Arnold stood in the front doorway,
waiting with a trembling yearning to un-
say the hasty words of yesterday, but he
gave her no opportunity, passing in at the
side door and seeming not to notice her.
All day, as Helen Arnold had toiled in
the little school room she had thought of
| Tnbu I Taslia onJ vishod Iob bo,y aornost-
ly!) that she had waited before saying that
mo-" which she did not mean. She began
to feel how lonely life could be even among
the pleasant sights and sounds of the coun-
try, and that buoyancy and brightness of
spirit during the long happy summer had
not been all on account of pleasant and
healthy Surroundings. She went into the
house and up to her room to hide her face
as she brooded over unpleasant thoughts.
One of lile's golden opportunities had been
offered her, and she had cast It aside, and
now 1t was gone forever. This was the last
day OF her engagement as governess, and
she would soon be at home, and he would
soon forget her. But perhaps he might give
her chance yet to return different ans
wer. A blush mantled her pale cheek, and
the blue eyes grew strangely dark and
bright, and she went to the mirror to ar
range the gold brown hair that fell over her
neck in graceful curls. She smiled as she
saw reflected the laultless picture, and with
a new hope went down to join the family
at the evening meal.
John sat in his accustomed seat, very quiet
as usual, but his eager eye drank in the eX-
quisite loveliness of the young girls face and
figure as she came round to her place. Per
haps he read in her downcast, tender eyes
the change that had come over her, but he
gave her no intimation of it, and after sup.
per, when the children romped about her
of wild flowers on her head, he showed NJ
signs of embarrassment or emotion but talk
ed to her as cool,y as if she too had been biz
sister. Helen was a little angry. 1t is NJ
wonder? for she thought he had been trihnl
and that she could not bear. A fire blazeC
up in her deep blue eyes, and burned bright
ly on her soft cheeks. John watched he
beautiful face and varying color, and glorieC
in his triumph but ah! when was glor,
not bought too dearly? He leaped over her
and touched lightly her soft hand.
, "Did you not mean yes? l know yol
love me. We shall be happy"
"1mpudent Do not own my own mind
Love you'll"
Anger prompted the words, and as sooi
as they were uttered she wished they wer
p unsad and if she had, perhaps he woul
/ not have forgiven her. His face grew yer
pale, and he turned away without a word.
/ Years passed away, and fortune iavore
John Leslie. He became a successful mer
chant, and therefore was a mark for matri
monal speculation but still he troubles
not his head about marriage. At last tn
\ pleasant, insinuating mammas, who talke
to him so sweetly aud atiectionately abou
the dear girls who were their greatest treas
ures, got to saying unklnd things about th
"cross old bachelor" behind his back.
! what use was it, to be sure, tn always be
c have so prettily to such a reserved old fel
low? lie cared nothing tall for the ladie
j Lilly thought surely at her wedding wit
DR.. Maynard, brother John would come OF
of his retirement, and make some of tn
manageable ladies of her acquaintance haI
r py thereby, and he did but it was lon
;, time before he again left his business.
}. The truth was-but the young ladies di
not seem to know tiff John Leslie ha
!. wanted to marry any one of them, or all
! them together, he would have asked then
i Being we'll satisfied to let things take the
course, he did not trouble himself muc
about what was passing outside of his bus
% ness, but plodded steadily onward. Nov
IS when he went out to DR.. Maynard's, he ha
the little Lillian to caress and talk to,as we
d as her proud and happy mamma, and
d went oitener than before the baby cam
One day while baby sat on her uncles kne
ie Mrs. Maynard said;
"Aly old friend Helen Arnold is comiT
Is to stay a while with us, John, and wa
eerr you to run out as often as possible, for she
* so quiet and reserved that | want TO stir b
% % her up a little. You need not be afraid
d. her talking too much. She never does that
le John tossed the baby, and the baby
rs mother was so much pleased To see the j
nd tie ones delight, that she forgot her broth
y n did not answer. However it was sever
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