Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-04-05

years before, and was anything out q
good likeness Of the President as be ther
appeared. The unfortunate remark
caused another smile. Elliott WAS de-
llighted-his joke was a splendid success
Poor Seymour twisted about in his chair
and hung his head his discontinue was
complete.
Miss Merdon took deliberate look at
the picture, and did not smile.
Yes" she said, SIT is called very
good likeness of him just after the grad
uation. Have you seen the Presidents
flowers, Mr.. Seymour? Let me show
them to you"
Rising, and excusing herself, she led
the young man into the greenhouse nd-
joining the parlor.
The dickensp said Elliott, 81 didn't
look for anything like that"
Seymour, rescued in this way from his
trying ordeal, hardly knew what TO do or
say. He felt as If milestone had been
taken from his neck. The pain and
manner of relief worked strangely on his
sensitive nature. He felt that he was
in great debt to his companion. He
wanted to kiss the hem of her garment.
He wanted to cry. He knew that he was
feeling and acting like fool. He ex-
pected that he should make a greater
faol of himself than in the parlor. But
some way he didn't care. He had lost
all fear of the beautiful girl. Her act
of mercy had brought her nearer than
years of acquaintance could. He talked
rapidly Of the flowers, for he knew them
and Charlotte listened-listened Won
dsring why she cared to listen, little
thinking that her sympathy had brought
the awkward student nearer than he
would have been had she known him
half her life time and never seen him in
pain. So when he pointed out TO her the
observatory where he worked, the queer
| ly shaped building that showered ITS
dark outlines in the moonlight, just over
the campus on the hiH, she wondered
what it was that prompted her to beg
him to take her there, to exact promise
from him, that, on the very next even
ing he would conduct her through the
building, that had been. built after her
fathers orders. She persuaded herself
that 1t was desire to see manuscripts
of her fathers which Seymour told her
had been left there. Perhaps it was.
Notwithstanding her mothers mild
IOllOhoLl anu, GhC LCAG evening
her with Brent Seymour in the telescope
room of the observatory. The roof had
been let down and she was watching the
stars.
Il wonder if father often studied them
from this room" she said.
"Whtnevsr the sky was clear"
81 wonder if he Can see them now"
"NO, think that through some one of
them he is locking at US"
Far from science and astronomy, far,
very far, from his scholarly stand point,
the mans childish reply bad taken him,
but it had carried him nearer the heart
Of the girl than he dreamed.
Mrs. Merdon's disapproval of her
daughters visit to the observatory With
Seymour broadened into anger as his
calls we're repeated and repeated often.
An intimacy grew between the young
people that, even to themsel yes, they
did not undertake to explain. The girls
friendship had opened a new world to
the hard worked student Had he
known more of lite, he would have
known that he was falling in love. Over
the other secret was stealing as stead
lily as comes over us the morning. A
month had passed siuce the senior party.
The two sat again in the telescope room.
She seemed to be intently studying the
stars.
"And do you remember" she was ask
ing, that, that evening, you thought
through some one of them father was
looking at u.s.
eyes"
"Do you suppose he can see us now?' |
Yes" Tin surprised way)
"Then," (hesitatingly,) "do you think |
that he is glad-is glad to ses us TO-
gethert"
won't you," 0he voice was very
husky won't you answer for me9"
Yes" she said. in voice as clear as a |
harp chord, 81 know he is"
Seymour wondered if his senses were
giving away. He hardly knew what fol-
lowed He meant to ask-he tried to
ask-if she didn't think her father would
be glad to see them always together.
Somehow that seemed long and heavy
and he couldn't make the words come.
He had choking sensation i'll his throat
and bis eyes were blinded with tears.
He felt just as he had in the greenhouse
The night of the senior party. He wanted
to kiss the hem of her garment He felt
that he was in debt to her and falling
deeper in debt every moment. He knew
be was making fool of himself, but he
didn't care. He was the happiest fool
that moment in Gods happy world.
you are just as much mine" she said
at last, her hands resting upon his head,
which some way or other had found a
place in her lap-"you are Just as much
mine as if had not done all the wOoing
myself
The Merdon mansion had never seen
such a storm as followed Charlotte's
lvewal of her betrothal. Her mother
insisted that she would never consent,
never in the world, and the girl who had
always honored her wishes above every
hing else was in distress.
But you did not marry rich man s
Yourself, mother, why should you wish {
ne to?" she urged. Il
II married a man who was great
whom everybody knew; why, if you
Who will fill his chair, should be happy I,
erever. but this fellow"-and her indig- !
lation almost overpowering her, she ;
eft the room.
1t was late in the evening when Char :
otte stole upstairs. Passing her moth
RS room she saw that the door was
,artly open. She knew what it meant. e
Women, even among themselves, make 9
heir reconciliatiOns gracefully gradual :
Y. She pushed the doer wide open, as I
er mother intended that she should and
vent in. The lady sat by her writing a
able; her head rested on her hand, and Ii
he was evidently sleeping. A little
lie of letters lay before her, a picture G
eside them. Tears had dropped upon
he letters, and the picture showed the I
tains of tears. Charlotte looked at the :,
icture closely. The face was familiar
urely she had seen it before. But
vhere? She could not place it among l
er acuuaintances. Whose face was it E?