Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-14
The Widows LOdger.,

what q donkey You must thlfK me,
said Mr.. Parker, scrambiirg to his feet.
II thought it was Mrs, Allenby-bis
mamma, you know. What a donkey
you must think me-"
Indeed ! do not, Mr.. Parker-the
servant told lie your uame-unless to
be donkey is to love children very
much, and then, like donkics. lam
baby's auntie, and my name is Allenby,
hat is how the mistake arose
ITO be sure; nothing could he more
natural" said Mortimer POstlethwaite,
hose senses had gone on woul-gath-
ering expedition, Pray sit down and
make yourself at home. Mrs Allcnby
will not be long. Would you like a cup
of tea IL you wouldn't mind? | have
some apricot jan and biscuits, and
several things, if knew "liere to find
them, but the little fellow has put Tic
key of the chiffonier somewhprc-int the
fire, | think"
"Will you give me cup Of tea;' said
Margaret, anxious to put the poor fell
low at his ease II should like it very
much
GLOW delightful" and he rang the
bell. Some tea please, Martha. The
boy quite takes to you, Miss Allenby,
so he does to me; but there is no one
like the old gentleman upstairs. 1t is
really very good of you to take a cup OF
tea. You do not know how delighted
I am"
And Mr.. Parker was very far from
knowing the good impression lie had
made on Margaret. She saw the simple,
OH
face of his nervousness, and he improv-
ed greatly on acquaintance. lie went
into the next room, smoothed his tum-
bled hair, settled his collar and tie, and
changed his study coat for one more
presentable. BY the time he had done
this the tray was on the table. Baby
settled the apricot jam difficulty by
producing the chiffonier key from be-
meath the hearthrug.
He had taken to Margaret, but he did
not understand her yet. lie gave her
vast amount of unintelligble informa-
| ton concerning "Boko.' who lived, il
| his tiny finger was to be believed, some
where in the ceiling. He patted her
face and said poor when he saw the
| tears in her eyes, and let her give him
as many kisses as she chose; but on the
| whole, there was his playmate on the
| apricot Jam side of the table, and after
a very brief consultation with himself
! the little fellow clambered over to him.
Up TO this period of his career Master
| Arthur evinccd q decided preference
| for his own sex.
Mr.. Parker had never enjoyed him
self so much Miss Allenby put him so
| delightfully."- at his ease. She had the
| rare quality of tact, the cultivated in
| stnct of fine. delicate, and generous
| nature. She led him by degrees to talk
| of his own profession, the house he lived
| in, his fellow ledger, and Mary. Mar
| garet learned that Mary was his idea of
| perfection, that his fellow ledger was
| an extraordinary combination Of con-
trafietics. that the house he lived in was
the dearest spot on earth, and that his
| professional hopes were modest to Il
degree, but he was confident in quiet
| way.
IL shall make position in twenty
years or So lie said; land if | can pay
my expenses in the meantime, it is all
have a right to expect. Tho house
physician is very kind and encOurag-
| L
afraid that have mistaken my voca-
| ton
That is a good sign, Mr., Parker. |
J read somewhere, quite recently, that
no man ever yet attained greatness in
his profession who had not suffered
from that Respondent feeling-a doubt
of his own worthness md power. 1t
may not be proof of genius. hut it
shows at least that he has higher aims
a desire 10 do his best
t "IIow very kind Of you to say so; you
give me confidence in myself that |
only have when Mrs. Allenhy talks to
me. think it is 50 nice of her to give
me a few minutes when she thinks
am dull"
You would be dull sometimes; but
have you no friends in LOndOn!'
Dear me. no. All the men Of my
own age are so dreadfully wild, it woulC
Y kill me in a week to 90 on as they do.
a you want companiOnshipo bettel
n Sort said Margaret 1T will be diff
s ferent when you are in apOsitiOn o.
your own, and have some one TO cart
for YOU"
~ am not the kind of man to be car
. ed for" said Mr.. Parker, shaking hi
. head; land if anyone did care for me
h we should have to wait great man,
: years. am one of il large family. yo'
see, Miss Allenby, and the utmost
could expect or accept would be to b
q set up in a house or apartments, an
Is kept going for year. | am painful
II conscious of my own defects, and can
1t not cure them. l am not the kind O
e man to be cared for
i, do not let the habit of self-dispaI
II agement grow upon YOU Margare
said, with kindly sympathy; "yonr tim
will come, as it does to other men, q
is course you know the beautiful old super
e, stition that every soul is created wit
ID its twin?'
ID Yes; and they wander about i
n search of each other, and perhaps neve
i'll meet"
~ Hope and try to believe that YOU
* will" said Margaret, and the converse
H. ton might have been prolonged in I'll
same strain had not the baby, thinkin
he looked rather sad, tried to sooth
him with n spoonful of apricot jan
and just then Mary came in.
The two girls had always loved eaC
other, and Mr.. Parker felt his own eye
- fill as he witnessed the fearful pleasul
of their meeting; but the tears wei
soon over with Mary-she had lor
since learned to keep down the outwaI
sign Of her emotion.
Mamma told me might come, an
| was so glad darling, | came at ono
You were out, and hearing baby WI
here, intruded upon Mr.. Parker. L
was good enough to give me cup
tea"
Miss Allenby was kind enough
take one" said Mr. Parker, eagerl
"she found me in the most absurd pos
ton"
Nothing is absurd that is done