The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-02-09
had been out for walk. On tho way
she met Frank Thorpe, as she was very
apt to do. He accompanied hor home
and entered the house with her. Then
Viola feeIinp brioht horanlf bnUon lprt-

ana entered the mouse with her. linen
Viola, feeling bright herself, began lect-
uring him on his purposeless life.
IF | were man 'emphatically.
"Thank heaven you are not How
ever, go on.
"You put mo out, Mr.. Thorpe why
don't you do something's"
"Do something2 Don't !? I am
your devoted attendant three.fourths of
my waking Hfe."
"Yes, and get yourself and me talked
about by everybody. Not that l care,
certainly" hurriedly to recover her
blunder 81 shall choose my friends
where please" making matters worse,
of course.
"You see," he said, leaning forward
and laying his hand confdentially on
her arm, :" 1 cannot bear to see clear
hearted, honest girl lowering herself to
the ways Of these artificial, brainlcsS
girls, who have been bred up all their
lives in the business OF catching hus-
band. You don't need any paltry ambi-
ton. Wait until you find a man worth
falling in love with, and then marry hlm
Wait forever, il you don't find him."
Viola sat motionless with astonish-
ment. If any dumb thing had found
voice sho would not have been moro
amazed. And she felt so fully called to
administer advice. While she sat, his
hand still on her arm, and his eyes still
on her face, the door opened, and John
Ellsworth was ushered in. Viola swept
Nnth ptttafpaf4taI
hands.
Frank Thorpe, beingdisturbed by this
newcomer, who was called John, and re-
ceiveG with such an outbreak Of enthusi-
nsm, gathered himself up and lOilngcd
away.
John Ellsworth was in town for fort
night. Viola always accepted his inyi.
tations, and when the time came for
their fultillment there was some lnavoid.
able obstacle in the way.
Then Lent came and there was sud
den cessation of gayety. John was
called AWAY by his fathers illness, and
Viola felt the inevitable reaction.
1t WIS alike everywhere. In the nat
row circle out OF which she had come
| there were jcalousies and heart-bunings,
and petty scheming-no better and no
worse than she had come to know in the
past weeks, though possibly less dis
guised by smooth, conventional polish Of
manner. Wait till she met man she
loved She might wait until she was
gray and blind. There had never ap-
peared one to whom she could give
second thought, unless it was-well, per-
haps, John Ellsworth, ii the life that
row to breathe in; or Frank Thorpe, if
he were not too lazy to speak. And
then. by contrast, there came vision Of
Mr.. Nicolson and all his wealth.
If she had shown the first symptoms
Of hcr moods TO Mr. NicoIson he would
have dcsisted from hisattentions at once,
Here was youth and beauty i'll stntu-
esqu9 state Of perfection. That was
what he wanted-.the statucsquencss,
and everybody considered it a settled
affair.
I think Viola began to consider it her.
self She had Just one letter from John
Ellsworth after his return, and he said:
~ love you, Viola. and am waiting for
you."
She did not even answer the letter.
But sho was cross, even with Mrs. Morn
ington, for two days after it.
Then she was seized with u fit of
homesickncss, and, had her friend not
been taken very suddenly i'll, nothing
would have kept her there. Mr. NC
olson came more frequently than ever;
! in his way, very kim and considerate.
One night in early spring Frank
Thorpe came and took Viola out Tor
| drive.
lyon are looking tired. We may not
have another such night for month,
Frank said.
II the half hour they did not speak
| half dozen sentences, md yet when lie
set her down ut her own door, and hello
| her hand for q minute as he said Fare
we'll" Viola felt that they were nearer
| each other than ever before.
Viola was one morning summoned to
/ the drawing-room to meet Mr.. NicoIson.
In the occupation of the past weeks she
had had very little opportunity to think
about him on his purposes. NO
Girl ever went to meet the final question
with less determination MS to her answer.
| She knew his errand the moment she
entered the room. Not that he was con-
fused or hesitating, or in any way dis
concerted.
"Mv dear young lady" he said, Il
want your permission to ask you per-
sonal question. -,
"You have it, SIR she said.
And then, in a speech which was more
like n set Grafton than anything else
Viola had ever heard, he offered her his
hand and fortune.
She went upstairs to Mrs. Morning
ton, saying:
"And I've done It'll And ] am so
surprised
"At what?"
II refused Mr.. Nicolson.'
perhaps you will be sorry that you
% perhaps. / shall never be sur
priscd ut anything again.
4 servant announced Frank Thorpe.
"Aunt. shall L" and paused. Even
in her reckless, over-exclted MOOD slle
conla not complete her sentence:
"t,&all you be kinder to hlm tnan
vou haze been to Mr.. Nicolson?
Don't ask me"
So Viola went down TO see her visitor,
Who was NJ the full tide of his languid,
tired indifference.
GLOW very entertaining you are to-
dav. Your conversational powers are
something to be wondered at Viola
said at last. impatiently.
"Entertaining?" opening his, eyes
with mild wonder. " l supposed that
your share of the interview: However,
if you like, III begin. You are not !,
looking as well as usual this morning.
"Thank you. What very promis-
ing beginning"