, 1882-06-23

! hLONhlll9 oN lLiN lAblNi y NCNA' "AN'A
Mr.. Soule spent most Of the time,
and under pretense of finding a
book, winning her host from his
studies to explain to her the shells
on the library table,
"Do I bother you very much by
coming in here?" she said one day,
looking up from her low seat to the
handsome face bending over her,
Bother me? No, dear, / am glad
to have you"
Il like to come in, it is so cosy and
home-like; and-do not be angry-I
think that you stay here alone too
much. You are so wise and good,
why do you shut yourself up so?"
He made no answer, but his pale
cheek flushed and here the conversa-
ton stopped.
They had been at Clairmont nearly
six weeks when this conversation
took place, and Kitty had been the
object of the most tender care during
all the time. But the pleasant visit
was destined to come to a sudden end.
That evening her father told her that
Mr.. Soule had made her an offer for
marriage.
why, he's old enough to be my
grandfather! cried Kitty.
"Not quite so bad as that, seeing
that he is younger than l am. And
he is very wealthy"
"But you wouldn't have me marry
for money!"
"No, dear; but it's only right to
tell you all the advantages. You
have been happy here?"
eyes; but l can't marry that old
man of forty. am sorry he asked
me, for we must now go home"
"Of course"
That night Kitty went up stairs
feeling as if she would like to cry.
Still, she rather prided herself upon
rejecting the rich owner of Clairmont.
Like other girls of her age, she had
her dreams of true love, with a hero
young and handsome, and perhaps
poor. Yet Kitty, in spite of all this,
cried herself to sleep.
The parting next day was brief.
But as Kitty stood on the steps wait
ing for the trunks to be brought
down, a hand fell gently on her
shoulder, and Mr.. Soule said, kindly:
II am sorry I panied you; but re,
member, if you ever want a friend,
call on me-"
Kitty burst into tears for reply, and
ran down the steps.
In the whirl and tumult of the gay
winter Kitty looked in vain for her
beau ideal. OF beaux there were
plenty, for Mr.. Howell was wealthy,
and Kitty his only child; but no one
was exactly what she wanted She
found herself contrasting Mr.. Soule
with others; she missed his voice, his
gentle, kind watchfulness, and she
wondered if next summer her father
would go to Clairmont
Early in the spring an uncle died,
leaving Kitty large fortune. Yet
restless, and at times sad, Kitty
seemed to have left her girlhood be-
hind her at Clairmont.
"Dear, dear! This is bad!" said
Mr.. Howell, laying aside letter one
day at breakfast.
"What, father?"
"a cousin Of Walters has come
home from India, and claims the
property at Clairmont. Walters un-
Gle was bachelor, at least they all
thought so, and Walter succeeded as
next of kin; but here's private mar
riage proved, and this cousin is the
only child Walter says that as the
claim is just he will not go to law,
but give up the property"
What, the house and all? Oh,
father! How can he live away from
all that he loves?"
"He writes me to know if / can get
him anything to do"
"He, so shy, so refined, so,-oh,
father!" and Kitty burst into food
of tears and ran away.
Mr.. Soule had left Clairmont to
come to New York, had gone to an
obscure hotel, and from there had
written his note to Mr.. Howell. He
was sitting, silently waiting, when
there came knock at the door, and
Mr.. Howell entered, and with him
Kitty. Before he could speak Kitty
was beside him, and had grasped his
hand in both of hers, laughing and
crying all at once.
You will come home with us-for-
give mel din't know l loved you-
/ will try to be good wife, indeed
1 willard you must help me if l do
wrong. We will be so happy!" and
here She broke down in sobs.
"My-wife-you-Kitty-?" was
all the bewildered man could say.
Mr.. Howell persuaded the new heir
to sell Clairmont, and invested part
of Kitty's money in the purchase;
and it would be hard to say which
was the happier in their beautiful
house, the "old man of forty" or his
little wife.
A French statistican has come to