The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1882-10-12

Britman cried, and her slender white
fingers were interlocked nervously;
ooh, that 1 could spare you, Doro-
thy"
"Never mind, auntie dear ; it doesn't
worry me in the least. Besides, L
think-but wait a minute till l put
away the tea-things and turn down the
gas" And having done so, Dot sat
down on the rug and laid her head on
her aunt's lap. "Tve got something
to tell you, auntie."
Eyes, darling" Miss Britman said,
after waiting a few minutes for Dot
was in no great hurry to begin.
Aunt Margaret, did it never strike
you that some day or other I might
Dorothy! Dorothy! never thought
of that!' Miss Britman cried. Darling,
1 can't give you to any one; you are
all I have in the world"
"Let me tell you all about it first,
auntie," Dot said, gravely. cit came
about in the simplest way-so simple
that scarcely know how or when it
began. 1t seems now as if Mr.. Ferris
always 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 a time
and then he said: Miss Derwent, l
want to have little serious converse
tion with you. May call on you at
home?' Of course I said I should be
very pleased, only was never there in
the daytime. Then may I call in your
absence" he said, 'and speak to your
father?' I told him I had no one but
you, auntie, and he seemed surprised
for a moment; then he said he'd call
on you tomorrow. Isuppose he wants
to ask your permission to marry me.
What else can he want, auntie?"
"What, indeed" Miss Britman said,
little absently. "Tel me a 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, 1 believe. He's very rich and
very kind, and-that's all, auntie. Just
think of my marrying a rich man."
Dot continued, rehectively, "and hav-
ing servants, carriages, lovely dresses
everything! 1t seems just like fairy
tale"
"But, Dot" Miss Britman said, after
a long silence, "my dear little one, do
you love this Mr.. Ferris?"
"Love him, auntie? don't know
haven't thought much about that yet;
but if he's nice and kind and rich, don't
you think we might be very happy? 1
do so want you to have lots of pretty
things soft, dull satin, sealskin mantle,
real lace! Oh dear it would be nice.
You'd look so sweet in a sealskin coat
auntie p
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 9ade Assc
! M more sad. <
Clearly the child was slipping 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
1t was all just and natural-palpably
and practically for Dots good-still, ii
was bitterly hard; and Miss Britman
sat by the dying fire thinking it al
over, and weeping in her unobtrusive
way, long after the child had laid heI
sunny head on her pillow and fallen
asleep.
Far away into the past Miss Brit,
mans thoughts wandered to hushed
and darkened chamber, where she bent
down to catch the last faint fluttering
accents of one who was lingering or
the threshold of eternity.
"My child, Maggie-my poor baby
my almost as helpless husband-yor
will not forsake them? Promise me
Maggie, that you will take care Of
them?"
And Margaret Britman kissed hel
dying sisters face and promised. Al
the remembrance of the dreary dread
full days that followed rushed upor
her-Dot helpless infant, her father
stricken with blindness, both depend
ing on Maggie.
Then in the midst of all came still
greater trial.
The gentleman Margaret was en-
gagged to was offered lucrative ap,
pointment in India, and he wished her
to 60 with him. They had been en-.
gagged for three years, and now there
was nothing further to wait for.
| Here was q divided duty Ma -parpt