Daily Republican., 1884-04-11
PULLING DOwH tn + OLD HOUSE
BY GERALDINE FLEMING.

| W hCj 1 bupI'O5Uy UAiSS Sl0IiOCi pIlhio
said with an air of consequence.
despise weak people who have no couI
age to Insist upon their rights, and tn
place Ia mine even If that girl does seen
determined to remain there"
"The place has always been he
home" Mrs. Minfor remarked indiffer
emily.
"Oh, know that" Miss Claribe
returned contemptuOusly; "and be
cause Uncle Noah stayed there until b.
died she imagined that he would lsav
her all his money. She must have fel
rather small, fancy, when she learned
that he had willed everything to me
OF course she must have treated hin
badly, or he at least would have left he
the single acre ofground and the shabby
old house where she was born. shal
have the building pulled down at once
and lovely, tiny. bijou cottage put up
DO you think the cottage could be mad,
ready for US for the coming summer
Paul ?" she sweetly asked, turning u
e. young man who sat by a bright bay
window, idly touching from time Il
time the strings of a violin that lay
"cross his knee.
THAT depends" he answered, with
out the slightest sign of interest, as he
drew his bow across the strings much
more noisily than artisically.
" ! am afraid Sis Audley will be
greatly distressed by your project -
Mrs. Minford ventured meekly TO Cla-
ribel. "You will never allow her to live
with us,you know and ifthe old house is
pulled down, she will have no home.
Paul Dresco abruptly dropped his vio-
lin his interest was su tfiCiently y aroused
just now.
"Sis Audley :" he repeated. "The
pretty child who sometimes used TO
come up here from the country? Were
you talking of her? thought, Miss
Claribel, you told me She was soon to
he married !"
Claribel flushed crimson from the
plenteous frizzes of her straw. .colored
hair to her sallow, powdered throat.
"Oh, the young fellow broke off the
match, | believe" she glibly explained,
attempting a convenient yawn behind
her gaudy silken fan. "The man was
not an idiot, dare say and of course
he could not have been serious in his
to 80 insignificant a person as
Sis Audley."
! wish Sis were married." Mrs.
Minfor said in her languid and depreca.
tory way, some small human pity per.
ceptible on her faded, character less
She has no one in the
world to care for her, and she will have
no place to live If Claribel is really
resolved to have the old house pulled
down."
Paul DrescO made no comment but
presently arose and with very noti-
ceably constrained manner, he muir
INJURED an unsmiling bon jour, and left
the house.
You always do manage to spoil
everything by your stupid blunders,
Miss Claribel cried angrily,
The instant that Paul's footsteps sound.
ed safely on the pavement outside.
"Why, what have | done? l am
sure did not mean to spoil anything"
Mrs Minfor expostulated plaintively.
"Oh, of course not; you never do, -
her daughter retorted, with coarse
rony. And you are quite ignorant,
suppose, that Sis Audley used to
;ome here only because she fancied she
might meet Paul? And you never net. |
ced, suppose how brazenly she tried to
secure his attentiOns?. | real y thought
was doing him kindness wien ibbed
% him about her engagement. And
hen just now you must spoil every
hing by saying she has no one to care
or her. And Paul has seemed SO de-
7oted to me recently, too. am sure,
II he does not ask me to be his
wife, 1t will be all your fault.
And am sure, Claribel, it is un-
lind of you to blame me for everything"
he mother whimpered, in weak and
,iteOus rebuke. used to think
Paul cared a good deal for Sis, but i'll he
eally loves you, a little lib like that
will make no difference"
The little fb, however, seemed con-
iderably to edify Paul Dresco.
I" Sis Audley was betrothed to no
me-" he reflected exultantly; "and l
the fabrication wei! enough,
fancy. And shall go straightway to
comfort the little girl who has no one TO
are for her and whose house is to be
,ulled down over her head"
And 80 it happened, that one mild
pring morning, Paul pushed back
title picket gate and went upa mossy
wooden walk toward the shabby old
ouse where the work of demolition
vas already begun.
As the quaint iron knocker clashed
gainst the ancient panels the door was
pened by slender girl, whose pretty
ace was colorless and whose wonder
ng eyes were still Redeemed by recent
ears.
She started back with q soft little cry
y she behed him and blushed, too,
efore his look of deep compassion and
ender anxiety.
81 fear | shall make a failure of
here just now, " she pre-
emily said with forced cheerfulness, as
he glanced about the dismantled place.
Miss Minfor only notified me OF her
when the wOrkmen came.
lou stay to give them instructions.
2"
why should p" he inquired in a
manner that seemed to perplex her.
"Why, because" she fa'tered, "be-
ause you are-Claribel assured me
mean, thought-that she is soon to
"a your wife,"
Paul laughed rather grimly.
"And your cousin also persuaded me
hat you we're the promised wife OF
MOTHER" be said Indignantly. And then
With tenderest gravity, he continued
Darling little Sis, have come here
uly to offer the shelter ofmy love and
husbands 8 care to the troubled girl
Who is being 80 harshly driven from
Ter home"
And the harrassed girl with erpretty
read nestled against her lovers shoul-
Ter, cried softly, like tried child com
orted at last by one in whom its trust
8 ineffable.
"It il harsh," she murmured. II
vas born in this old house l have
ived here all my life dear Uncle Noah
lied here-here in this very room"
At that moment there was crash OF
alling timlers, q jar that shook the