Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-11

answered Esther, who had had time.
while the gentleman was speaking toex'
aniue his appearance, which did not
fail to impress her favorably.
"Thank you for the information.
trust YOU will pardon the trouble
have have occasioned you replied the
gentleman, bowipg.
"Not the least trouble in the world"
replied Esther, little tiuttered by q
Difference to which she had not been
accustomed.
Two days afterwards Esther heard
that Mr.. WelIhee,'s estate had been
purchased by man named Bigelo~.
She at once copjectured, aud rightly,
that this was the same with her visitor.
A few days elapsed, aud Esther Man
son received another visit from the
gentleman.
81 have favor to ask Of you, Miss
Manson" he commenced lit seems lie
had ascertained her nance. {" am
aware that our slight acquaintance will
hardly Justify it, but trust time will
remove this objection. You must
know" he added smiling, "that l am
bachelor, dependent in many respects
upon nay housekeeper, who, tho ugh q
good woman in her way, l am afraid is
not reliable in matters of taste. As my
furniture has arrived, but has not yet
been arranged, would esteem it a real
service if you would give me your
opinion in some little matters respect
ing its proper disposition: My car
rage is at the door, ready to carry you
over"
Bat" said Esther, little hesita-
tinqly. do not claim to have much
taste. fear shall prove no more re-
liable in that respect than your house
keeper" -,
said Mr.. Bigelow, politely, "to be
fully satisfied upon that point"
Es,her's cheek flushed with pleasure
at this compliment, and she made
preparations to comply with her new
visitors request.
1t was not without little conscious
ness of the singularity of her position
that Esther found herself riding by the
side OF a gentleman with whom she had
scarcely exchanged half dozen words
in the course of her life. The distance,
however, was but short, and she had
but little time for reflection. On ar
irving 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 q
fashion, but Esther was able to point
out several changes for the better. with
all of which Mr.. Bigelow protested
himself delighted; he, moreover, asked
her advice, as to the proper place in
which to hang several fino pictures that
he had picked up in the course of his
European travels. This was accorded
with some hesitation.
Mr.. Bigslow would not be satisfied
without showing his new found &C.
qusintance all over the house, from
kitchen to garrett. When all was COM
pleted, he overpowered her with pro-
testations OF gratitude for her kind SER
vice, and landed her at her own door
Just five minutes before her brother
came in. Esther was rather glad OF
this, as she was little suspicious that
her brother would consider her ad-
venture rather a Quixotic one.
To avoid comment, she did not even
inform Philip that she had. ever
met Mr.. Bigelow. He took frequent
opportunities to call upon her, on some
slight pretext or another, but it always
CHANGED to be at time when her
brother was absent.
ST wonder" said Philip, carelessly,
as he sat by the fire one evening,
whether Mr.: Bigclow will not be
looking ont for a wife before long?"
Ill don't know" said Esther, and
in her embarrassment dropping half a
dozen stitches from the stocking which
she held in her hand.
mot 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 snperintend his estab-
lishment. I 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"
"No, don't think she would sui!
him at all, said Esther, with a spirit
which considerably surprised her
brother. "She knows very little about
housekeeping"
"Why, thought you and Miss Pres
ton were friends" said Philip, little
puzzled.
well; 30 we are," returned Esther,
in her usual tone; "but IL hardly
think she would suit Mr.. Bigelow."
Perhaps not" he rejoined, 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 towards Mr.. Bige-
low. She would hardly confess it to
herself; but, as q matter of fact, hel
ideas of marriage had suffered ma
terial change within brief period.
Meanwhile the gentleman continued
his visits. Oftentimes he would ask to
see the bed of flowers on which Esther