New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-29

hope presently perhaps the ike" was only
was always so modest les, yes 1t may be SO; put
no! it won't do. rm q fool for thinking so: Ana
other time when he had asked his Lonore what ne
| now wanted to ask Eunice Bell
That other tme-ah then he had been young, I'm.
pelupus maaly in love Then he had nad no need SEQ
sure; Now. going down the bill to the house where
Eunics Bell lived he was full of doubts and fears
| and hestations. yet why not 7 he asked HIMSELF
| as he turned the corner into Tullp-tree- ane.
He had grown very fond of that lane. AS ne
| turned tie well-known corner. 1t was to MN as II
counsellor; it was as it he had asked Yet why
notf to some one else than himself Ana every
| thing in the lane seemed to hush his fOrebo1ngs
and say with curious, all-pervading soothngness
| - Why doubtp
| Beyond the low hedges there were miles and miles
OF smiling. undulating English landscape mil OF IN
finite calm and genIeness. How it happened can
not say; but as James Grafton walked so6erly
through the lane, all hesitation fled away, and his
come. And was not that kindly face. with its
strange and winning touch of purity, one which q
good woman could hardly fail to loye' The inevi-
table yOurg couple who haunt the lane passed him
| he did not covet their happiness be had often
done he was too happy himself. turn OF me
| road showed him the house whore Eunce Bell
lived large. old-tashioned house, dignlhed but
homeke. From the lawn rose q stately cedar. Be-
side tho dark cedar was great tulip-tree covered
reached him from behind the old red wall of the
| garden. With them came All what was thati
Her voice James Grafton felt his pulse quicken az
he FASTENED his steps toward the house. In fancy
he saw her out there under the tree the guardian
of the little grOnp of children Proptions monientl
Now il he could but seize it Aud eagerly, as If for
the first time III his fe he hurried on to met his
fae-his fate that at that very moEeDt was rush
ing how surely, how swiftly, to meet him
While James Grafton had been coming through
the lane the object of his thoughts and affections.
EunIce Bell. had been sitting. Just as he had I'M
apined. and as he had often seen her. within the
altaIp nj In
dinner, in halit0ilet of some soft dove-coloreu,
summer-like fabric She was ten years younger
shan James Grafton. although for The last two
years she had considered herself distinctly an old
maid. Her hair WAS soft and tair Her Lgure tall
and slight-a little too slight perhaps. Her face
was very placid. At the moment James Grafton
had turned into the lane 1t was grave rs well as
placid. Presently it because she knew by the
striking of the church clock that he must be com
ing nearer y a thought made her SMILE. She was
thinking of James Grafton then telling herself she
liked him, feeling that somehow or another the idea
Of being always old maid was inlpercoptibly
melting. Is il only friendship Just touched Win
sentiment. docs he really care for meP The
question pleased her but she knew The answer per
iu:tly well she knew he cared for her. Then she
sighed: her lips halt curled with scorn. but not
scorn for him. No one except his ssieIsn law
could regard James Grafton with anything but
profound respect. Rest. trnstfulness and love!
All! / have sometimes thought them idle words;
but to see the smile of this good man is to know
She never finished the sentence. ,
Auntie auntie, see there's Mr. Grafton, Httle
voice cried gleeiully; and Euulce Bell. raising her
eyes which had been fixed the grass at her feet,
saw James Grafton crossing the lawn, and the emil
dren all scam perng toward him rs last as theI
chubby legs could carry them. Eunice rose anu
followed them, laughing gently at The earnestnrs!
with which the little things rihed his pockets OF
those sweets which many nephewed and nieced
man is never without, y he knows MS duty anu
does It,
80 they. Eunice and James after all forty is not
so very great an agel-they were both Laughing
" hen they met. IL was pleasant. very ptasant-ln
fact. quite delightful but somehow before that
gentle domestic laughter, sentiment fled abashed.
They out in tie garden one quarter OIL an hOur
one bright, delicious happy quarter OF AN nOut'
They sat side by side under tho trees. while the
evening sunbeam- played upon the softly nutiering
leaves The children pratiled about their knees.
Their chances met with kind, familiar smiles Eu-
nice felt "a cuntented restiulnoSs III ms presence
and he was conscious that 10 was 30. III was 10 nm
n must golden. blisslul quarter OF an hour But OF
runrse lie could not SAY what he wished before tne
children. ard there was all the beautiful long even
ing before them. and no need to hurry. presently.
alter sunset 10 and she would stroll ont there, and
then he felt certain now absolutely sure that she
would answer Yes. As absolutely sure as am at
this minnie that had he asked her to be his WIFE
during that happy quarter of an hour she would
have accepted HIM with tho flankest smile OF per-
feet trust The gong sounded for dinner. they
antered mp TO the house side by side, the children
stll PLAYING about their path.
L always feel whenever come here that you
have all attained TO the ldrai state of domestic
p.acc and happiness said James Grafton, Thought
July. After the stormy scenes one - sometimes
called upon to witness he thonght OF yesIeTday
pervading the entire hOme-lle here IS most sooth-
Ing
we get on very we'll together said Eunlce, in
her soft. placid voice. 1890 .
Your sister ana her husband arc. think the
most admirable young couple | ever met They
never wranVe. BY the way, haven't asked now
they were. How are they'
ooh. as nourishng as usual. returned EuIice.
Il wonder they haven't been III the garden. They
generally like 10 he ont here during tue chlldrenS
h1f.hour. rs We call the hllf-hcur before dinner.
NI,,va Va.lfh a
house the bachelor had now for sone time held 30
sacred They entered by the drawing-room win
dow. which opened on to the lawn. Iney T Tne,
surprised Mrs Cathcart. tho young and lovely
wife. diligently reading novel on tbo SOFA anu
her gallant husband apparently absorbed ~ thc
evening paper. Immediately behind her. lhey
we're IN fact back 10 back. Aud tins was the more
remarkable rs the honey moon ways OF TINS charm
ing couple had often been subject OF comment
among their friends. They were both reading 80
diligently that MIR Grafton and Miss Bell had quite
time enough 10 take in the coup dcH and IT'S mean
ing before either husband and WE mover.
moment altcTWaTd they both started. 'athcart
spTang M bthely Ia meet his guest as II no were
intensely relieved by tbs interruption oil threat
ening ttc-d-ittc.
'You are IA good fellow to turn up after the aw-
iul affair OF yesterday. I'm sure wonder YOU sur
vved itr he exclaimed, nearly wr"nchinS inc
bachelors hand OIL r.,
Grafton.
Weddings are such SELL powlcd the young
married u,an, James Grafton turned 10 tho SOFA
and expressed a feryent hope that his hostess was
quite well.
'Drcadml hcadache nearly frantic with it? said
Mrs C1thcart knitting her pretty brOws and rs-
lng pressing one hand TO her forehead as she did:
There had been times. ard those distant but 10 lew
brief hours ago, when such words and tuoh e nIoNe
ment of pain would have wrung hcr husband
heart and his MY darling. wnat can do Tor IL
would have sounded perfectly agonHing; now,
sistcr-in-lnw with, Come. Eunice dlnners late
enough already and marched OF with her hulnlI.
am sorry vOu are unwell. The DAY mas ooeh
oppressive You will be glad to get down to the
sea sde won't you 2 said James Grafton. as he
gave his arm 10 the too evidently snuOped WIG ~
=. shall be clad TO get away somew mere. I'm
SIRE don't care where il is. want change ter
rbly' said Mrs. Cathcart. with certain hardness
of tone in her voice that her guest had never oeoro
observed.
DO you know, | always admire your dining room ION!
n. cIlnln M