The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-04-22

trust you will pardon the trouble l
occasioned you," replied the gentle
man, bowing.
"Not the ieast trouble in the world"
replied Esther, little fluttered by
Difference to which she had not been
accustomed
Two days afterward Esther heard
that Mr.. Wellheet's estate had been
purchased by stranger named Bige-
low. She at once conjectured, and
rightly, that this was the same with her
visitor. A few days elapsed, and Esther
Manson received another visit from the
gentleman.
81 have favor to ask of you, Miss
Manson" he commenced lit seemed he
had ascertained her name). 81 am
aware that our slight acquaintance will
hardly justify it, but / trust time will
remove this obstruction. You must
know" he added, smiling, 4" that 1 am
bachelor, dependent in many respects
upon my housekeeper, who, though
good woman in her way, l am afraid is
not reliable in matters of taste. As my
furniture has arrived, but has not been
arranged, l would esteem it real ser
vice if you would give me your opinion
in some little matters respecting its
proper disposition. My carriage is at
the door ready to carry you over"
But" said Esther, little hest
tatingly, 81 do not claim to have much
taste. 1 fear I shall prove no more
reliable in that respect than your house
keeper"
"I have but to look around me" said
Mr.. Bigelow, politely, "to be fully
satisfied upon that point"
Esther's cheek flushed with pleasure
at this compliment, and she made
preparations to comply with her new
visitors request.
It was not without a little conscious
ness of the singularity of her position
that Esther found herself riding by the
side of gentleman with whom she
had scarcely exchanged half a dozen
words in the course of her life.
The distance, however, was but short,
and she Lad little time for reflection.
On arriving at her place of destination
she found the chief part Of her business
accomplished. The furniture, which,
by the way, was new and handsome,
had been arranged in the rooms after a
fashion, but Esther was able to point
out several changes for the better, with
all of which Mr.. Bigelow professed
himself delighted he, moreover, asked
her advice as to the proper place to
hang several 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 garret. When all was completed he
overpowered her with protestations of
gratitude for her kind service, and
landed her at her own door just five
minutes before her brother came in.
Esther was rather glad of this, as she
was a little suspicious that her brother
would consider her adventure rather a
Quixotic one.
To avoid comment she did not even
inform Philip that she had ever met
Mr. Bigelow. He took frequent oppor
tunities to call upon her, upon some
slight pretext or another, but it always
chanced to be at time when hel
brother was absent.
81 wonder" said Philip, carelessly,
as he sat by the fire one evening,
"whether Mr.. Bigelow will not be
looking out for wife before long?"
CT don't know" said Esther and
in her embarrassment dropping half a
dozen stitches from the stocking which
she held in her hand.
"Not that approve of marriage
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
establishment. l don't know, however,
whether there is anybody likely to suit
him in this village. Let me see--there
is Miss Preston she might do"
. ono don't think she would suit him
at ALL" said Esther, with spirit which
considerably surprised her brother.
"She knows very little about house
keeping"
"Why, / thought yoI 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.. Bige-
low. She would hardly confess it to
herself; but as a matter of fact, her
ideas of marriage had suffered a ma
terial change within brief period.