The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-12-05


room to meet Mr. Nloolson In tho occupation Of tho
past weeks she had had very little opportunity think
about him his purposes. No girl ever went to meet
the na question with less determination as 70 her
tered the roo Not that he was confused or hesitate
Ing, or in any way Disconnected.
"My dear young lady, " he said, uefcrentaily
81 want your permission to ask you personal qucs
ton. "
'You have 1t, sir, ~ she said.
And then, In speech which was more like SGT
Grafton than anything e-o Viola had over heard he
| offered her his hand and fortune.
Tho Thought OF saying no TO such stately piece oil
oratory as that frightened and nuttcrcd her. nut
sc did say IT, very swccty and gracefully, hu' gus,
very r ana ao Goo away very
shc went up stairs TO Mrs. MornIngtcn, saying
"hunt, Two done Ill And I'm so surpriscd!''
| ~ refused Mr.. Ncolson.r
ivy dear, always thought you wonld.''
"Did your You astute womnpi And always fan-
cied that IL he asked me TO be Mrs Nicoson should
Perhaps you will be sorry by-and-oy that you
"Perhapsl shall never be surprised at anything
agani''
mistake, my DEAR
Don't rack my feelings. They are sufficiently
A servant announced Frank Thorpe
"Aunt, shall ~ and paused Even In her reck-
less, over-cScted mood, she could not complete the
'shali you be kinder to him than you have been to
MIR. NIcolsonpn
| u ASK mo- ~
SO Viola went down to see her visitor, who was at
| the full tide Of his languid, tired Indifference.
''IIow very entertaining You are to-day. You,
conversational powers are something to he wondered
| at, ~ Viola said at last, impaticntly
| 'Entcrtaining ~ opening his eyes with mild won
der az supposed that your share OF the Interview.
However, il ycn like II, III begin. You are not
| looking Ms well Ms usual this morning.
| ''Thank you. What very promising begin-
ssi,ut you favc Infinitely the advantage Of MIR.
Nicolson, whom met Just now. lilo seemed labor
l H. trae tlae, Had haan
Viola laughed and added with half sob;
thing else. You needn be entertaining any more.
III wonder, ~ leaning toward her, n slow fire gath
cring In his dreamy eyes, i should md nm earth
| quake waiting for me II should follow Mr. Nicol-
Miss Rawdou, " the servant announced, and thai
Viola reasoned herself into tho conviction that She
was In love with Frank Thorpe, or " not actually IN
that condition, she might easily na herself there
then, she gathered up all John Esworths gifts ant
letters and put them out of her sight, ms hc had any
| The crisis was not far OF. Coming In from NJ
| errand that night she found all the dimly-lightet
tho library She opened the door on Frank Thorpe.
"Slnce you arc not ut homo came TO mud fo
myself volume Mrs. Mcrnngton had PROMISE
gave her chair, as II the tete-a-teie were part o
his plan.
and felt her heart sink. And yet. this was the con
ciision to wlcl, she had reasoned herself few hour
before. And then Ave minutes Of talk, In which he
part was monosylablc, and Frank Thorpe had pro
posed aud been accepted. and she was crying quietly
with her head the library table, and he was walk
Ing the room In nh agltatcd manner.
Two might ~ well begin with clean rccord,'' h
said, with great deal OF hard carncstness In NJ
two years ago she Tilted me. l was In an awful
spoony condiioi,-therc's no denying u, and FOR
few weeks thought 1t would be the death OF me. On
morning my letters and trlnkets camo back Ia me
| There was not word Of explanation, AMI did 10
choose to ask any. When had tired myself out, an
tho house shut mp and the family abroad. That
| tho whole at IT,
'.And the young iadys name9"
| EMILY PRESCOTT
EMILY d'rescottY Why, that is tho young lady
met this afternoon. Just home from abroad-in fari
mourning. Her father and mother both died some
where in France, In the spring, anu sle came HON
with the Mertons.'
believe IT, dropping Into chair. My poor dar
flush Of color shot up into Viola face. She wen
and stood by him with her an,ion his shoulder,
ut seoms to me, Frank, that the electromagnetic
quietly annuied, Yonr poor darling is at prescl
with tho Mertons Hadn't you better 20 up there
once; and rearrange yoSr programmed, ,,,,, o
scoundre but believe love hcr yet. "
, .'of course you do. whodouhisit? There, don
' say woman can't he generous. Think of my agon
I In releasing You, and go MS soon rs possible"
"You are generous, dear
'Tat depends on relative estimate of the SAT
\ rlnce Goodnight"
After that nothing could keep her In London, an
three days after reaching hon,e driving her odfasl
Toned pony clase through tho green country roat
sho came upon JOhn Ellsworth walking, and he II,
copied her invitation To rido.
v cit Is good TO be here again. l was thorough
= | homesick.r
"when are You to bo marriedp''
X | ''Neverit with u burst OF vehemencc; ''unle
r | you--O JOhn!'' with n bysterical sob.
At home telegram awaited her Mrs. Morning
| ton was dead.
Mrs. MOrnington died poor. She had spent all III
A money. SO Viola was not heiress, after all. Al
| tho ncighbOrs said
:After slo found she could not got either Of tho
city fellows and that old lady disappointed her al0
| her money, she came hack hero and took John ELL
4 worth. And lie put up with IT. but thon there's
o fool like man when he's In love with girl III