The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-04-27

have to say. The future is uncertain,
and may never have another moment
in which 1 can open my old heart to You
80 fully. You, the bound boy whom,
out of charity, persuaded my deceased
husband to take nineteen years ago, are
dear to me to-day as my own son would
have been had he lived. Your trust
worthiness, your frankness,you upright
ness. your kind, chivalrous nature have
endeared you to me beyond expression,
Il would ask nothing more satisfactory
to myself than to die leaving all my be-
longings in your hands. But the will OF
nv old parents through whom the Slopes
came into my possession. will not permit
me to do this while there is one OF my
kith and kin alive. In view of this, l
have made plan, which will not men
ton now,-but God give it success, land
in any event always be certain that l
loved you as my son /"
Aunt Wealthy broke off abruptly.
The rare tears sprang into Frank
Imbert's handsome blue eyes as he
looked down at the frail and failing
figure which embodied all he had knc wn
since his friendless infancy of love.
"No boy ever had half so good
mother as you have been to me" he an
swered, softly stroking his one friends
soft gray hair. "Dont talk of property.
While have my health and two hands
can earn an honorable living, and am
satisfied"
He was stalwart, handsome fellow,
some twenty-six years OF age, whom any
woman might be proud to call her son,
while he was known in the community
as head man at the Slopes, he calling the
mistress Mrs. Dale, and she calling him
Frank Imbert.
The mutual confidence and affection
between the two lay more deep and
abiding than if it had found fuller ex-
preston. Perhaps this was the only
time the lonely woman had distinctly re-
ferred to feeling in which both had
long taken much comfortable waters OF
her heart were deep and silent, but it
touched them both deeply, and they said
good night at last, with an eloquent look
into each others faces.
The next afternoon the city guests ar
rived. They were little shocked to
find Aunt Wealthy pale, feeble little
woman, with smile sweet as peace
itself.
"Well, she isn't bit disagreeable,
that's one comfort" Portia remarked in
q more Modified tone than she had used
since the commencement of the journey.
'She's as sweet as can be, and it just
breaks my heart to think Of her being SO
old and lonely" said Lefty. "But isn't
it just lovely here, Portia?"
"It's poky, to me-" responded Portia,
everely.
She had no taste for the quaint house;
she did not love nature. Portia would
not, perhaps could not, be genial. But
Lefty was as q birds1et loose. She was
not BY nature artificial or conventional,
and she delighted in the home comforts,
the freshness and freedom of life at the
Slopes. She was everywhere, as busy as
bee. She hunted eggs, shelled peas,
picked currants, and made jelly. In the
sultry afternoons she coaxed Frank
Imbert land it did not take much coax
ing from such rosy lips) to wheel Aunt
Wealthy's lounge out upon the broad
porch where she spent long afternoons
reading to her, and shared her five
o'clock tea and toast, since Portia spent
her afternoons on the bed reading novels.
Mrs. Coles was very glad of this, for che
was not herself as we'll as usual that sum-
mer, and it seemed as if the object of
their visit would fall through if it were
not for Lefty. For once her youngest
daughter was in high favor.
She is the most perfectly beautiful
young creature ever saw she said to
Frank Imbert. But Frank did not seem
to share in her admiration. He looked
at Portia with Indifferent, critical eyes,
which softened with approval when they
rested upon Lefty. Aunt Wealthy could
not believe any young man could see
Portia Coles and not fall in love with
her.
One day, after Mrs. Colee, in her
eldest daughters absence, had been tell
ing of that young lady's conquest the
previous season, Aunt Wealthy said to
Frank:
"If you admire Portia as much as
those others. perhxps-it might be-"
He only shook his head, and, rising,
went to help Lefty with the tea tray
filled with the pretty dishes she particu-
larly fancied-small, shallow cups, OF
pale tea color, with wild pink roses on
them, and little plates similarly tinted,
and with scalloped edges.
"You are looking tired-have cup of
tea with me, Frank, said Aunt Wealthy;
and so the three gathered aronnd the lit
tie three-legged table and ate toast and
ounce marmalade, while the tame rob-
ms hoped around, waiting for the
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