Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-15

| keeper as he came downstairs after
obeying the summons. ~ only wish
Miss Blanche would take fancy to
some nice, properly-behayed young
man; it don't seem right that she should
live all by herself in this big house, 50
forlorn- like"
The nousekeeper nodded sagaciously
to old Mr.. Sanderson's proposition.
She fully agreed with him.
"Only Miss Blanche was too willfnl
ever to listen to q word of advice"
II was very simple letter that
Blanche Penroy wrote to her "far
away" cousins executors, dictated by
the fullness of her heart.
at shall never marry now" she
wrote, "and it seems to become my
plainly indicated duty to undertake the
care of this orphan child Of Mrs. March
mont. With your approval, therefore,
propose TO adopt him, and endeavor,
so far as is in my power, to supply the
place OF his lost mother. You may at
first deem me rather too young to un-
dertake 30 grave and serious a respon-
sibility; but / am nineteen last month,
and / am very, very much older in
thought and feeling than in years. or
course at my death the child will in
herit the property which was left to me
by my deceased parents"
"I hope my cousins executors are
like the nice, white-headed old lawyers
one reads about" said Blanche to her
self, as she folded the little sheet of
paper, "and not cross old Judges, talk
ing Of expediency and appropriate
ness for do 80 much want somebody
to love and care for; and I've sort OF
premonition that this little fellow will
be nice, rosy and loyable. / think I'll
teach him to call me 'Aunty.'"
Exactly week subsequently prim,
legal note was received from Messrs.
Alias and Corpus, the deceased lady's
executors, stating that they saw no
valid objection to Miss Penroy's very
laudable projects, and that in accord
ance thereto the child of the late Mr..
Marchmont would arrive at Miss Pen
roy's residence on the following Satur-
day"
Saturday, and this is Friday" eiacu.
lated Blanche, with the new brightness
dancing in her hazel eyes. "Oh, how
glad shall be Sauderson, tell Mrs.
Brown 10 have the blue room fitted up
Immediately for Master Marchmont,
and you had better go yourself to the
station with the carriage at FIVE to-mor-
row afternoon to meet him."
"Yes. ma'am," said sanderson,
stolidly.
The apparition of a great unruly boy
trnmping with muddy boots on the vel
vet carpets, and disturbing the house
with balls, marbles and hAloos, did not
possess the charm in Sanderson's eyes
that it seemed to have for his mistress.
And even patient Mrs. Brown remarked
with a species of exasperaiion that "she
didn't see what put this freak into Miss
Blanche's head ?"
Saturday was n day OF hail and temp
est and softly falling snow, and by 8
o'clock the drawing rooms we're lighted.
and the crimson silk curtains closely
drawn to exclude the stormy darkness
without.
Six times within the last fifteen min
utes had Blance Penroy looked at her
watch, as she stood by the fire waiting
to hear the returning carriage wheels.
She was dressed in rich China-blue
silk dress with pearl pin and ear drops,
and little point lace at her throat aud
wrists, and the color in her cheek, and
the golden tinge in her bright hair
made her, unconsciously, very fair to
look upon.
"Oh, / hope-I hope he will like
me-" thought Blanche, with that dis.
tinctive yearning for love that enters
every woman's heart, as the door
opened.
Heres the young gentleman, miss, +"
said Sanderson, with half.suppressed
sound between laugh and snort.
But instead Of q child of seven or
eight years old, tall apparition walked
in, something over six feet high, with a
black mustache, and merry hazel eyes
brimming over with mirth. For an in
slant Blanche stared at him as IL she
could scarcely credit the evidence OF
her own senses.
"Gilbertw
Exactly. You wanted toadopt me,
and here am"
"No, but, Gilbert"