The National tribune., 1883-03-22

| Just such Clouds" she said, softly, to her
self. Just such clouds as on that night"
| The young girl came and stood beside her.
must go home; it is supper -time," she
said But before l 20, let me thank you, Miss
| Bette, for having told me what you have"
She kissed the maiden lady's faded cheek,
/ and flung her young arms affectionately around
! her
| shall love You better than ever now," she
I said, tenderly, and | hope. some day, things
Will vet come right"
Then she went away, and Miss Bette stood
4 IN her open window for some little time after,
] looking at the sunset.
! Lawyer Allyn saw her as he came up the
street from his Office. He had moved to R
/ from the city, aad he walked more slowly as he
came 10 the little brown house among its trees.
They always spoke to one another: it seemed
foolish not TO speak. So when he got by the
window he said:
- Your flowers are looking very fresh and
nice. Miss Bette"
The spinstor gave one of her little nervous
starts. She had not seen him coming Her
hand struck against one Of the flowcr-p pots. and
knocked il over.
Ii rolled oil the narrow sill, and lay at David
Allyn's feet.
- 1t is broken to pieces" he said, picking it
up, with little smile on his thin sal3ow face,
but / am going 10 keep it-may not?"
Miss Bettie's checks wore something of their
old rcdness
"Yes-if you want TO-" she made answer, a
little breathiessiy.
lie took the plant--a pale-pink geranium-
out Of the earthcn pot, and shook a little OF the
dirt or the roots
" This shall bloom in my window" he said,
"and am going 70 name it Charming Bette
IN memory of other days.'
Miss SLICES face flushed deeper red.
:" Goodnight" she said, abruptly, and was
about shutting the window. She felt somewhat
shocked his wife had not been dead a year
No don't 30 yet" David Allyn said, his
hand -on the fence railing. Then ne seemed to
remember himself Very well, goodnight"
be added, and walked slowly away, the little
pink geranium IN his hand.
4 few days later, another stormy afternoon,
-ear dusk, Miss Sligo heard knock at her
'front.' door.
she had grown little timid, living by her
self, and glanced out the window, ncrvously.
There, on the porch was Lawyer Allyn.
Miss Bette snoothed her curls quickly, and
fastened to the door.
saw your freight shining through the
window, rs / came past, and | could not resist
coming in this wet night" said the lawyer, a
Httle untrGthfuliy, SIS he had planned coming
for sclne days.
Miss Bette led the way to the little parlor
Take this chair she said, drawing q large
rocker close to the fire.
The lawyer he'd cut his hands to the blaze.
You have snug little home, Miss Bette"
ne observed. " | suppose you weuld never be
willing TO leave it now?" And he glanced about
at the flowers in tie window, and at the little
table set with one blue cup and saucer and
plate, seen through the open door III the ad-
joining room.
q am attached to the house." the spinster
said, eravely. Ny dear Esther and mother
10th died here, and il has many associations"
She was sitting in another roczing-chair
near by, and had taken up her knitting.
David Allyn watched the swift flying
reedles.
Don't you ever get lonely?" he asked, afz
ter few moments silence. Il do. up in my
big house. 1t Is a pretty place; but it is TOO
big for me-
Miss Bette only knitted faster, and was
quite silent His coming had disturbed her
greatly. How many years since he had been
here
Suddenly, he leaned forward, and took her
work away.
don't want you to knit any more To-
Lawyer Ailyn!"
No, not Lawyer AIlyn-Dayid Call me
that. as You used "a"
Miss Bettie trenlblod: her cheeks glowed as
IN youthful days
David Allyn took one OF the spinsBer's thin
Etf.its IL h.5-the one on WHICH the little worn
ring was. it happened.
Bsttie,' he said, gravely, q / have come to-
might 10 ask y0ur forgiveness and your love
again. i feel j made q mistakc-a great mis-
take, once in my life, and / want, il possible.
70 rectiiy it. Don't tell me it Is TOO late
To feel that she was loved again, after all
these lonely years was too much for Miss
Bette; she burst into tears.
Her white kitten purred and rubbed its soft
little head against her dress. The freight
danced on the wall, ;tad made black shadows
IN tae corners.
IA the uncertain light, David Allyn bent
and kissed the faded cheek beside him
The big house viii be lonely no more" he
whispered, ''waen Charming Bette is its
mistress"
Not charming now, David said Miss Bet
tie, a little sadly, but smiling through her
tears.
Yes. you arc charming to me, and always
viii be-" said David Allyn tondcrly
Someone opened the parlor door 1t was
Priscilla; but they did not see her.
She stood for moment, with smile on her
young face, watching them. Then she softly
stole away.
That night. she felt more kindly 10 a certain
dark-eyed young fellow far away, and wrote
him several closely written pages, which made
the young mans foolish heart quite glad for
E2any days. Ie9efs0a's.