Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-05-08


accepted the trust rs such. explaining
the fact by supposine domestic difficult
tics, Of which the world was ignorant.
Miss Shelley was also an enigma to
him. She had wealth and home, mp
parently everything To make her happy.
yet even in her most brilliant mood her
discomfort. her distrnst. were apparent.
and her pleasantly modulatcd voice al
ways rung with sarcasm; so character
istic was Il Of her that he seemed even
to hear il in reading her note.
Mr.. HOLSTER was q man Of wealth
and standing; though forty years of
age, he was unmarried, and made his
home with q sister. It was evening.
and they were in the library. when he
read her note. The whole family were
there. His brothar-in-law was reading
the paper, his sister sewing and the
children at their games. After reading
1t he put it back in the envelope and
placed it again in his pockets then, q
moment after. took it out and read it
again. The second time that he was
replacing it he caught bis sisters eye,
and, with an odd smile on his grave
face, handed it to her to read. They
had bantcred him about his singular
trust from the first, and that he was in
terestod in this girl he frankly ac-
knowledged. thinking himself safe in
his very frankncss. His sister read the
note twice also, then sent the children
10 bed. When the last one had gone,
for there were six, Mrs. Glider said. in
the tone of one who has settled a ques-
ton to her entire satisfaction:
There is to be n wedding some
where; either shc is going to be mar
ried, or her father"
He quietly ignored the first SUPPOSE
ton, though it made him uncomforta-
bic. at hardly seems possible that
Mr.. Shelley should think of marrying so
soon." he said.
His sisters tone was full of raillery as
she replied: "But there is nothing to
render such step impossible to Miss
Shelley"
He called the next morning as re-
guested. She was waiting for him in
the reception room. She sat by table,
her hands folded in her lap. her face
pale and resolved: he stood in the door
q moment before she discovered him;
when she did she arose and went toward
him with extended hand; the grasp of
her hand was cordial but her voice was
cold. ~ am sorry to have called you
from your business this morning; it was
inconsidcrate: should have asked you
to choose your own time" she said.
He waived her apology and took the
chair she placed for him. She came
directly to the subject as she had
agreed.
"My father purposes bringing home
another wife a week from to-day. 1
intend, the day preceding, to seek an
other abiding place. Can you recon-
mend me to any such?"
He did not ask her if she had con-
sidered this step well-if her mind was
fully made up; 1t WAS quite unneces-
sary; but he looked at her in his grave,
kind way. AS she met his look, her
lip quivered; she arose and paced the
room back and forth restlessly. 1t was
q face that her mother had trusted,
why should she not trust it, too? Per-
haps all men did not thus scott at her
sex. There had never seemed mockery
in the courtesy of his manner; it had
always seemed sincere and honest. For
a moment her better nature. her better
judgment, conquered; the next, those
long years education put it under foot
the lip that had quivered. curled in
stead. She stopped before him, with
all the pent-up rebellion and anger of
the years on her face and in her atti-
tude. ''Do not think that l am
prompted to this act by any miserable
little jealousy for my mother memory;
nor yet for any such feeling, on my own
score, in renouncing the direction of
the household. have not hard feel
ing in my heart for the woman who is
coming here. l am only sorry for her:
for long days, and months. ana years.
she will hear her kind rallied at, jeered
at, as being feeble in body and mind,
she will. as consequence, become
either weak or wicked. Sect has
made me wicked; there is not one whom
i trust-I shall not stay TO see her
woOed as bride, and sncercd ut as a
wife"
Mr.. HOLSTER looked at her in silent
surprise. The pallor on her face
gave place to n sudden flush; the de-
fiance of her manner TO that of en-
barrassment.
Il beg your pardon; when thing is
trodden on, it turns. l should have
chosen different audience; forgot
that l was speaking to Il man who has
never had i wife, she said, with cold
laugh.
After that there was silence; he was
xk.
quainted your father with your intcn-
tione'
She bowed assent.
IL will do all that can for you," he
said, and, rising, held out his hand. She
placed hers in it; the grave kindness in
his voice and manner touched her; there
were sudden tears in her eyes; he kept
her hand while he said:
miss Shelley, You say that you
doubt every one; yet the mere fact of
your sending for me, shows that You
trust me-"
1t was very quickly said. and before
she had time to rctort he was gone.
Connected like the rest" was her
first angry thought; the second was Diff
ferent '.Yct he has never seemed
cohcciJcu, ana me act dlu IMPLY conlI-
dcncc. | am afraid that he Is right: I
am afraid that [ do trust him, and that
I have this long time past" There
was sudden flash Of joy in her face.
but it gave place at once to gloom.
81 will not believe it," she said
A week later Miss Shelley had
possession Of one Of the front
chambers in Mrs. elders quiet.
elegant home. She felt this kindness
exceedingly; she was not accustomed
to such consideration. Mr.. HolliAer
was constantly at the house-camc in
every morning ON his way to business,
and spent his evenings with them. The
children depended on him. so did Mr..
and Mrs. Glider; so did Miss Shelley.
though she did not know it. We are
all SO constituted that we depend on
some one; no one. min or woman, is
wholly independent.