The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-11-16

Dorothy, Dorothy, never thought
of thatt' Miss Britman cried. Darling,
can't give you to any one; you are all
have in the worldl''
s'Let me tell Won all about it first,
auntie,' Dot SAIL, gravely. ut came
about in the simplest way-so simply
| that I hardly know how or when it be-
| gan. 1t seems now as if Mr.. Ferris al
| ways came into the school-room, but
never thought much about it till to-day,
| when he looked at me so strangely, and
held my. hand ever such time; then he.
| said, Miss .Derwent, L want to have
| little serious conversation with YOU
| May | call on you at homer OF course,
| l said 4 should be very pleased, onlyaI
| was never there in the daytime. Then
| may call in your Absence he said,
and speak to your fatherp' | told him
l had no one but you, auntie, and he
| seemed surprised for moment; then
| he said he'd call on you tomorrow. |
| suppose he wants to ask your permits
sion TOTO marry me. What else can
he want, auntieP''
"What, indeedr' Miss Britman said,
a little, absently. Tell me little
more about this Mr. Ferris. darling.''
There's not much to tell. auntie.--
He's Mrs. Carnforth's brother, and has
been in India ever SO long-twenty
years, believe. He's very rich and very,
kind, and that =all, auntie.z Justthin
of my marrying rich man." Dot con-
tinued, reflective1y, land having
servants, carriages, lovely dresses, every
thing 1t seems just like fairy tale.''
"But, Dot" Miss Britman said, after
long silence, my dear little one, do
you love this Mr.. Ferris?''
- Love him. auntie! l don't know.
haven't thought much about that, vet
but if he's nice, and kind, and rich,
don't you think we might be very hap
pyp do so want you to have lots of
pretty things-soft dull satin, sealskin
mantle. real. lacea ., dear! it would be
nice. You'd look sweet in q seal coat,
.aantie.''s
Miss Britman sighed gently The
time had long gone by when dress had
any charms for her. if, indeed it ever |
had, and Dots visions only made her |
more sad. Clearly the child was slip |
ping away from her For eighteen |
years she had cherished her, and now |
the first person who passed by and saw
her fresh, fair young beauty might bear
her away. twas all Just and natural
palpably and practically for Dots good
still. it was bitterly hard; and Miss
Britman sat by the dying fire thinking
it all over, and weeping in her unob
trusive way. long after the child had
laid her sunny head on her pillow aud
fallen asleep Far away into the past,
Miss Britman's thoughts wandered to
hushed and darkened chamber, where
she bent down to catch the last faint
fiuttering accents of one who was ling
ering on the threshold of eternity.
My child, Maggie my poor baby
my almost as helpless husband-you
will not forsake them. Promise, Mag
gle, that you will take care of them. y
And Margaret Britman kissed her dying
sisters face, and promised. All the re-
of the dreary, dreadful DAYS |
that followed rushed upon her-Dot
helpless infant, her father stricken with
blindness, both depending on Maggie
Then in the midst of it all came a still !
greater trial. The gentleman Margaret 9
vas engaged to was offered lucrative d
in India, and he wished
Ter to 60 with him. They had been en- g
ragged for three years. and now there
vas divided duty. Margaret loved
he man she had promised to marry, but
low could she forsake the helpless baby,
md its equally helpless father? How
'ould she keep her promise to her dead
lister if she went to India?
Her lover left her in anger. "a di-
-ided love such as hers was not worth
aving," he said. ''But they are SO
elpless," she pleaded; '.only let me
tay with them little while.,'
You may stay with them forever for
ne, was the angry reply, and the next
ay came little packet of letters and
ock of golden hair, and Margaret Brit
1an's romance was hidden out of sight
brewer.
A few. years, and Robert Derwent
led, leaving nothing but difficulties be-
ind him. Miss Britman took a lodg- l.
lg in a distant part of the city, and
oiled for the child for long weary :
ears, late and early, through trials that
ould have overwhelmed less reso-
Ite and devoted woman; she toiled on or
} give her niece good education, and cit
1able her to earn her own bread when a an
he should be called away. And now, tel
ere was some one stepping in-Philip de
erris returned from India-Philip Fer bo
9 who had said farewell to her in an
er eighteen years before-the one love
nd lover of her life was coming to see
II next day to ask for the child. the
otherless baby who had so unwilling
separated them eighteen years be-
re. 1t certainlyswas passing strange
The next day was gray and gloomy.
g overhead, damp underfoot, cold ey-
ywhere, but Dot was in high. spirits, e
spite of the atmosphere, Is
Il dare say Mr.. Ferris will be shock III
at seeing what hideous house and HI
rect we live in, auntie. / can imagine lE|
m saying, What a distinctly dreadful @l
acer In truth, | sha'n't be sorry to M
ID 7 81