Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-10

is Miss Preston she might do"
"No don't think she would suit him
at ALL" said Esther, with n spirit which
considerably surprised her brother.
"She knows very little about house
keeping"
"Why, thought you and Miss Pres
ton were friends" said Philip, a littlo
puzzled.
"Well, so we arc" returned Esther in
her usual tone "but II 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 Esthcr's feelings toward Mr.. Bigc-
! low. She would hardly confess it TO
( herself; but, as matter of fact, her
/ ideas of marriage had suffered ma
/ torial change within brief period.
Meanwhile the gentleman continued
his visits Oftcntimcs hc would ask
to see the bed of flowers on which
Esther rather pridcd herself, and some
times he would petition for seeds, being
very fond Of flowers, as he said, and
very anxious to introduce thcm in his
own garden.
On one Of these occasions Mr.. Bigc-
low, after little visible cmbarrass-
ment, said, hesitatingly:
Il would like to ask your advice, Miss
! Esther, on rather delicate question,
and one of great importance TO myself.
There is one thing | wish to secure to
make my establishment complete, but
hardly know in what manner to ask
for it,"
What is it You refer to ?" asked
Esther, unsuspiciousiy.
a wife" was the significant reply.
Instantly deep crimson flushed Is
theirs checks She did not trust herself
/ to speak.
Need | say that you are the one,
whom, OF all others, I would seek to
place in that position
He took her unrcsisting hand and
kissed it with all the gallantry of
young lover.
I" But what will my brother say in
/ quircd Esther, when she found voice to
! speak.
What should he say? You are your
/ own mistress, surcly?'
"Ycs, but he is always ridiculing the
idea of marriage, and | couldn't venture
to tell him"
I" No need oft. Let's run away to New
York and get married. You know" he
! added, gayly, eve are both young and
romantic, and it would bo quite in
character"
Esther at first objected, but when she
came to consider that in this way she
would be relieved Of great portion Of
the embarrassment which such a step
would naturally bring with it, she con.
scnted, and that day week WAS appointed
for the departure. She required this
time to make preparations.
/ Meanwhile il Esther had not been so
exclusively occupied with her own
affairs, she might have noticed that
change had come over Philip. He was
/ often absent evenings and when at
/ home was moro silent aud distracted
/ than was his wont. The former she
/ readily attributed to the cause which he
assigned, namely, pressure of business
/ The latter she did not observe, her
mind being pre- occupied. We, who are
I in the secret, may take the liberty Of
/ following him on one Of his business
/ calls. II was at q neat cottage, from
whose front door dangled on immense
knocker, that Philip Manson knocked
The dool was opened by the same Miss
Preston, who some months ago he
thought might do for Mr.. Bigelow.
Good evening, Maria" was his sal
utation a. he entered. After a brief
conversation about the weather. the
crops, and other standard topics, which,
( however trivial they may seem, could
hardly DC dispensed with he began TO
show signs of embarrassment. and final
I ly calculated
J Maria-Miss Prcston-I mean Ma
ria, what arc your opinions about
marriage?"
why" said she, /" hardly know.
don't think have given much consid.
ention TO the subject"
Because" continued Philip, II
find my opinions have suffered great
change on this point. There was
time when thought il unwise, but now
il could get a good wife. such as you,
for example. should he inclined to
try it."
ooh, lori Mr.. Manson" said Miss