The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-02-23
'SMy HER MI AN. I"
Engaged to Herman Stacy 7,

g Miss Hanson sank down on the garde
. seat beside which she had been at worE
: and looked helplessly up at her niece.
Miss Mabel Hanson was d maiden lady
/ as her name betokens. She was quite fiy
e and thirty, if the family register on th
fly leaf of the great family Bible in til
best parlor was to be believed. vet he
eyes We're as blue, Her color as bright, he
figure as trim and neat, and her chestnu
hair as soft and pretty as when Herman
Stacy, then poor young lawyer, just OF
the point Of leaving their native village fo
the great city, had wooed and won her, il
that very garden, fifteen years ago.
Beside her stood her sorphan niece
Patricia, "a girl of the period, just seven
teen in years, but, oh, how much older il
thoughts and feeling, and in practica
knowledge Of life than her little aunt.
Patricia was the only child of Miss Han
sons only brother, who, dying penniless
artist in New York. had given the baby,
with his last breath, to his sisters care.
For the child's sake Mabel Hanson had
refused to marry the young lawyer-to
impose such a burden upon him at the
beginning of his career. She had devoted
herself ever since to Patricia had labored
for her, taught her, boarded up her scanty
means to give her luxuries and pleasures,
loved her, idolized her; and this was her
reward!
Standing there in herfresh young beauty
and her pretty, fashionable attire, Patricia
carelessly told the story that seemed so
little to her, while it quenched the last
light, the last hope, that unknown to her.
self illnoW) had shown over the lonely
spinster's path.
Five years before that day, Herman Stacy
had returned to CamptoWn, and returned,
as he had vowed to do (after her rejection
Of him, its wealthiest and most influential
man.
On the hill where his fathers farm for
merly stood, he built a prineely mansion,
and filled it with the pictures and statues
he had collected during q two years tour
in Europe.
Thither he came for four months every
summer, spending the rest of his time be-
tween Washington and New York, With
er double interest, as politician and "a
railroad man" /" drew him with magnetic
force.
Mabel Hanson had heard marvellous
tales of the ,splendor Of the great house
on the hill. But she had never. entered it,
nor, to her knowledge, had Patricia ever
done SO. And now, in her bewilderment. |
her first question was:
"But where did you ever see Herman
Stacy, Patricia? Not in Camptown. / am
sure.''
ooh, no, auntie; it was last winter-tbat
is, the first time-When I went to New
York with Lucy Hale and her parents. you
know, Mrs. Hale knew Mrs. Stacy, AND
they had something to do with each other
about business, [ believe. And so-and so,
5hey Went out with us to places Of amuse-
nent; and in fact that was the way il all
came about, auntie, DEAR
Last winter! And it is now late au-
nearly winter again-and you
nave Just told me!''
cit is so awkward to own to any such
hing" said Patricia, looking very hand
ome as she blushed and laughed. ssI'm
lot snre that should have made the CON
ession even noW." she added, ttonly that I
ierman is coming tonight or tomorrow, {
nd of course, he will call on me here.
And you must be ready to see him here
nd say Syes,, like dear soul as you are. t
Won't it be delightful, auntie, when we {
an all live up in that magnificent house |
oRether, and you won't have to worry /
our dear old brains any longer to make c
9th ends meet at the end Of the year? '
4ove may be all very well auntie, but I'll e
wn that donot love my Herman dearly, {
ut love with plenty Of money and a a
alace TO live in is far better than slove in Q
ottage,' with an empty purse, whatever Y
nose geese Of people may say. And now \
IL go and make myself lovely, ON the O
hance of HerInan's coming out on the Y
vening train, instead Of the morning one. II n
Patricia kissed her aunt on both cheeks 4
nd ran up the garden walk toward the II
ouse, singing as she went. n
Miss Hanson leaned back against the $,
rape arbor, among the yelloWing leaves, 6
I'D closed her eyes. fl
s"Thank God, { have not betrayed N.Y. o
If, in spite of the surprise" she thought. e.
Poor child !she would be Wretched IL she u
new all. And have been idiotic enough h
hope that he might remember how I Eh
we'd hfm-that he might come and ask "
e to share his last years. {, who am 35, el
i'd sere and faded in his eyes, no doubt, j
! these leaves are In mine. But what am IA,
to do? Where am. to gof Live here "
Id see her happy as his wife, and in that 50
'me Ieannot. Oh, Herman, my love for Fec
~ has been the curseAef my whole life!,' T
miss Hanson, III beg your pardon, = said ia
voice near her-a voice she had. not heard AZ
r fifteen years-and= yet her heart recog- gc
zed and responded toit at once. tb
She sprang to her feet, blushing crim- th
u, and trembling from head to foot. til
4 tall, portly, fine looking man, with a Eci
uch Of silver in his dark locks, but with or
the fire Of youth in bis large, dark eyes, N
ood in the garden path looking at her. b,
Pardon this intrusion = he said, in be
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