The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-12-02

her place of destination, she found the
chief part OF the business accomplished.
The furniture, which, by the way, was
new and handsome, had been arranged i'll
the rooms after fashion, but Esther was
able to point out several changes for the
better, with all of which Mr.. Bigelow pro-
fessed himself delighted; he, moreover,
asked her advice in regard to hanging sew
eral fine pictures that he had picked up
in the course of his European travels.
| This was accorded with some hesitation.
Mr.. Bigelow would not be satisfied
without showing his new found acquaint-
ance all over the house, from kitchen to
garnet When all was completed he
overpowered her with protestations OF
gratitude for her kind service, and
landed her at her own door just five min
utes before her brother came in. Esther
was rather glad of this, as she was lit
tie suspicious that her brother would
consider her adventure rather rather
Quixotic one.
10 avoid comment, she did rot even
inform Philip that she had ever met
! Mr.. Bigelow. He took frequent oppor-
tunities to call upon her, on some
slight pretext or another, but it always
CHANGED to be when her brother was
absent.
II wonder" said Philip, carelessly
as he sat by the fire one evening
:'whether Mr.. Bigelow will not be look
ing out for u wife before long,"
II don't know" said Esther, and in
her EN- barrassment dropping half a
dozen stitches from the stocking she
held in her hand.
Not that approve of marriase-at
least in my own case" said Philip, not
noticing this demonstration, "but it may
be different with Mr.. Bigelow. He has
no sister to superintend his establish
ment. l don't know. however, whether
there is anybody likely to suit him ia
this village. Let me see-there is Miss
Preston; she might do"
mo, don't think size would suit him
at ali said Esther, with a spirit which
considerably surprised her brother.
'She knows very little about housekeep-
ing"
why, thought you and Miss Pres
ton were friends" said Philip, little
puzzled.
well. so we are" returned Esther,
in her usual tone; ''but II hardly
think she would suit Mr.. Bigelow."
Perhaps not" he reioined, and so the
conversation ended.
From the conversation which we have
recorded above. the reader will obtain
some insight into the character of
Esther's feelings toward Mr.. Bigelow.
She would hardly confess it to herself;
but. as matter of fact. her ideas of
marriage had suffered material change
within brief period.
Meanwhile the gentleman continued
his visits. Oftentimes he would ask to
see the bed of flowers, on which Esther
rather prded herself, and sometimes he
would petition for seeds, being very
fond of flowers, as he said. and very
anxious to introduce them in his own
garden.
On one of these occasions Mr.. Bige-
low. after n little visible embarrassment.
said, hesitatingly:
Il would like to ask your advice, Miss
Esther. on rather delicate subject and
one of great Importance to myself. There
is one thing | wish to secure to make my
establishment complete; but l hardly
know in what manner to ask for it.
What is it you refer to?' asked
Esther. unsuspiciously.
"A wife," was the significant reply.
Instantly deep crimson flushed
Esthers checks. She did not trust her
self to speak.
Need l say that you are the one
whom, of all others, | would seek to
place in that position?"
He took her unresisting hand and kiss
ed it with all the gallantry of n young
lover.
but what will my brother say?" in
quired Esther, when she had found voice
t. speak.
What should he say. Yol are your
own mistress, surely"
"Yes, but he is always ridiculing the
idea of marriage, and ! couldn't venture
to tell him."
mo need of it. Let's run away to
New York and get married. You know"
he added gaily. 1--WE are both young and
romantic, and it would be quite in char
acter.'
Esther at first objected, but when she
came to consider that in this way she
would be relieved of great portion of
the embarrassment which such n step
would naturally bring with it, she con
scented, and that day week was appointed
for the departure. She required this
time to make preparations.
Meanwhile. if Esther had not been so
exclusively occupied with her own af-
fairs, she might have noticed that n
change had come over Philip. He was
often absent evenings, and when ut home
was more silent and distracted than his
wont. The former she readily attributed