St. Landry democrat., 1884-10-04

nean-you can't mean" she cried,
that h. VISITS to marry me?'
Mrs. Alexander put her arm about her
soothing!y. 81 suppose it is rather
overwhelming, my dear. 1t was to me
at first But, after all, why should he
not? There are the three children, of
course, and he's twenty years older,
and he hasn't much besides his money
to recommend him; but it would be
splendid home for you, dear. 1t seems
he has watched you ever since that time
you trespassed. And he has made i'll
quiries OF me. He began making them
some time ago, but | didn't notice. |
thought perhaps he wanted COVER
ness. OF course gave you the highest
recommendations. she added, laugh
ing, thought didn't know the posi-
ton he wanted you to fill. He seems
quite sure OF his own feeling, and it is
certainly great triumph for you, my
dear"
Miss Bennett sank back into the chair
from which she had half risen. Her
mind plainly could not take in the new
| situation; but she came to herself when
| Mrs. Alexander went on: "Of course
you may want time to think it over, but
he would like to see you this evening,
and-he hopes for an answer then"
''Oh! ohm Miss Bennett cried, spring
ing to her feet. There's no use. l
couldn if my life depended on it, for
I'm engaged to some one else. And l
never kneW-indeed, lnever knew, Mrs.
Alexander. until few days ago, that
Philip was his nephew. You see, " she
went on. breathlessly, "his sister was
with me ut school. and that was the way
l learned to know him. And Mr.. Hale
was very angry at his engaging himself
to 'doWn-East school-ma am, as he
called me. He had promised to help
him before, but-but they quarreled
over me, and Phil went West. and l
came here And it was only q fortnight
AGO that / wrote him because hadn't
much else to write--all about my tres
passing, and what had come OF it. And
| he answered. had his letter last week:
That's my old dragon of an uncle, and
if you've won one concession from him
perhaps you could do more. II he
| learned to know you he might think
| differently about our engagement, and
though / don't need any of his help
now, still he's my nearest relative, and
I should like to be on good terms with
! him.. And I had been hoping-but
now-ROw you see how impossible it Is
And if Phil has his own way TO make,
and we may have to wait long time,
and perhaps always be poor, love him
too much to mind"
The soul of young love and trust was
in her eyes as she looked up at Mrs.
Alexander, and the woman's heart in
her was touched. 1t was the philoso-
ply of the Babes in the Wood, indeed;
she could have overturned it with q
touch of worldly common-sense; but
she only bent nearer ner, and then sud
" Ruth felt kiss on her forehead, .
kiss of mothers comprehending love
But when she had cooled a little from
this unexpected touch of enthusiasm,
Mrs. Alexander had her plans. She
met Mr.. Hale herself that evening; she
COMPOUNDED him with the news that the
school-ma-am deSpised for his nephew
was his own elect; and she followed up
her advantage till he consented to ex-
press his gratitude to Miss Bennett by
the gift of home-of which he should
not be master. And since young Phil
ip was doing well at the West, a6d
needed no more of his uncle's help, the
new home was hardly ready before he
could claim its mistress. Only one
touch of romance Mr.. Hale allowed
himself-the wedding gown which re
placed Ruth's unluckY dress. Emily +.
Whec!er, in Harpe1's Bazaar.
q