Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-09-13

you-tell me, for may he able to assist
You, you know2"
Barbara looked into the strong hand
some face OF the beautiful creature before
her, and longed to unburden her heart of
us doubts and fears, and give the pre-
clous secret OF her love into her keeping.
Tome, Barbara, speak up--tell me what
troubles you so. for know that You have
trouble see it in your face and hear it
IN your voice-speak up DEAR and tell me
for kia0w 1t is nothing TO be ashamed
off"
IL hardly know what to say Miss Well
don-you are so good"
"Never mind that Barbara-and you
mustn't call me Mss Weldon. call me Ger
trude-never mind about my kindness but
tell me what grieves you. I know what n
great relief it is to unburden ones bosom
at times of its little sorrows-for we all
have them yon know, and will to the end
of time"
II hardly know whether mine is q
blessing or cursei" murmured, Barbara,
shaking her head thoughtfully and gazing
vacantly on the floor
Our heroine was startled at the tone of
the answer she received-but she said
nothing; merely putting her arm about
the girls waist and murmuring ''poor
Barbara; coniide in me-you surely do
not doubt my sympathy"
And Barbara did confde in her.
Shestold the story of her meetings with
Phillip Blake; how she had encountered
him the summer previous mt picnic or
pleasure party Of some kind-how the
acquaintance gradually progressed into a
declaration upon his part. and to the ac-
acknowledgement on hers that she recipro-
Gated his affection.
Then she spoke Of the doubts and fears
that assailed her-how sometimes when
away from him she seemed to doubt his
truth-apd that-that--
Here the poor creature again burst into
tears. and bowling her head upon the
shoulder of Gertrude, wept as if her heart
would break.
"Do you know anything about this man
Barbara, beyond his name?'
The girl could only shake her head in
reply.
mot even where he lives. nor his bust
nesS-nor-"
mo, nothing-only that his name is
Phillip Blake and-that he loves met"
Gertrude at once realized the dangerous
position of this poor and friendless girl
she knew somewhat Of the wickcdness of
the world, and the unscrnpu,ousness of
certain of the creatures il containcd-but
she was wise enough to know that the
present was not the time TO advise; so she
only put Barbara on her guard 10y say
ing
Barbara. before you have any further
meetings with that man you must ascer-
tain who he is, who his friends are. what
lG his I,tginaoo 80 10 l., -
surely if he is an honorable man he can
not decline to tell you this. Have YOU
ever written to him-do you know his adj
drcss?"
The girl shook her head sadly.
what! Not know even his address,
worse and worse"
81 have letter Of his in my pocket,
which YOU may see." Barbara drew n
Gertrude, but the latter no sooner opened
it than her face whitened and her eyes
famed and she exclaimed:
my Godw
She looked at the letter and turned it
over in her hand, and then asked Barbara
to describe Phillip Blake to her.
Barbara did so fully and completely.
ut is he! 1t is he, az sure as Heaven.
My God acldt scoundrel! What viii
lain" murmured Gertrude to herself
Barbara was too agitated to notice the
emotion of her companion, which, by an
effort of will, on Gertrude's part soon dis
The result of the conversation was that
Barbara must ascertain something definite
relative to the social standing of Mr..
Blake, and to the honorableness of his in
tention. In the meantime Miss Weldon
determined within herself to become sat-
isied regarding her own surmiscs.