The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-01-20

he was to spend it with his old school |
chum, who had been his dearest friend |
also at college, but had left the univer-
sity in the previous year Turenne Jer-
myn was young man whose friendship |
was worth having, clear headed, sound.
hearted, OF exuberant vitality. He had |
often heard from Teddy of "dear old |
Charlie" and in arranging for this long |
vacation an earnest invitation had been
given that he should join them. 1t
offered q tempting break in dull, !
monotonous life, and was accepted.
Sir Frederick Jermyn's seat lay on the
slope of lovely Berkshire hill, shut
round by woods, but overlooking a wide
and charming landscape. AS Charles
Pemberton passed the lodge gates, and
saw on either side the evidences of
wealth and social station, he began to
regret his acceptance. feeling that he
would scarcely be at his ease amid sur
roundings so much above his own
homelier state. The cordiality of his
welcome, however, soon chased away
these misgivings, and he had not been
many hours at Wilmore Court before
new set of feelings took possession of
his mind.
He had exchanged greetings with Sir
Frederick, Turenne, and his brother, was
reading, with their assistance, the noble
view from the window, when he was
suddenly conscious of another presence
in the room, and turning beheld Miss
Jermyn, concerning whom, curiously,
Teddy in his letters had said nothing,
but whose presence, as he thought, made
of the hall temple. Not that she was
a beauty. A fair-haired girl, with large
gray eyes and rather blunt features,
there was nothing of classic grace about
her; but in every line of her fair face
there shone the light of beautiful soul.
There was faint flush on her face, and
| two good little dimples marked her
pleasant smile, as, looking straight into
his face, with frank, clear eyes, she held
out her hand to greet him, and made
captive Of him forever.
" Your brother" she said, sis already
one of the family, and he has made you
so well known to us that feel as though
l We're welcoming an old friend"
THANK you very much," said he. 81
hope may yet be privileged to give you
batter reason for regarding me as SUCH"
That night, as he sat in his room, long
after the household was asleep, lie could
but ask himself, with a beating heart,
whether it were possible that there was
in store for him q compensation for
much WEAKNESS in his life hitherto, so
immeasureably rich as the love of this
girl. Was he too old to hope for such
blissP He was barely thirty-seven in
years, and he was younger in that he had
never been hackne, ed in the ways of
love, and his heart had never bowed to
a meaner passion. When he descended
next morning, there was the light of
hope and love in his face.
"Why, Charlie" exclaimed Teddy,
chow young you looki if you grow
backward at this rate while you are at
Wilmore Court, mother will hardly
know which is which"
He watched Teddy and Lillian in frank
and happy intercourse, and thought
with delight that they were already as
brother and sister. Her manner to him
was confidential, almost atfectionate
He was sure of his ground; more and
more sure each day until the very last
on the eve of which he sat in his bed
room, musing much, for he had deter
mined that he would know his fate on
the morrow.
There was tap at the door.
"Come in" he cried, and, turning,
saw his brother. with brilliant flush
on his face and a strange fire in his
eyes, :.
Charlie" said he, in a voice that
quivered with some deep feeling. 81
want to tell you something"
"Yes," said he, kindly, and scarcely
noticing these signs of unus ual emotion.
And | have, think, something to tell
you. What is your new sp"
Teddy walked to the window, and
stood there, looking out for few sec.
onds before he asked, speaking abruptly,
and without turning:
Charlie, what do you think of Lillian
Jermyn?"
Had the, boy then discovered his
secret, and was he coming to urge him
TO the step on which he had already de-
terminedP His agitation was go great
that be could scarcely find ord5 to
speak, but he began to ans Tcr slowly,
in low tones:
81 should, perhaps, have spoken to
you earlier, Teddy"
: The young man turned to him impul
sively.
. "Ah" he exclaimed, "you have seen
it all. might have known that, dear
old brother. Charlie, bless me, con.
gratulate me, make much of me; she
has promised to be my wife,"
, He had thrown his arms round hi:
elder brothers neck in the old childish
4 way, and was for moment or SO inco
herent in his joy; he did not observe
! or, if he did observe, attributed to i
I wrong cause his brothers emotion
though he felt in every fiber of hi,
Z frame thrill of grateful recognition a.
his brother kissed his forehead anC
l said: "God bless you, Teddy, anC
t make you worthy of such treasure.
e An hour later, as Teddy was leaving
d him, he said: "Oh, Charlie, there wa
J something you were going to tell me
e What was It'll"
T "Oh, that was q small matter, W,
q will not mix it with your Joy tonight