The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-01-25


THAT is well,' said she. "Good- bye,
then, and God bless YOU
Something like tear came into
Aunt Gussy's faded eyes, and l turned
back
"You are sure you can spare me,
Aunt Gussy 2" said "You are first.
1t Ada wants me, you want me too.
Say so, auntie, say you can't do with
out me, and I'll gladly stay"
The tear was gone now the figure
was as upright as ever, and the mitten-
ed hands were placidly crossed before
her.
81 want You !" she said. 81 not
spare you ! What nonsense, to be sure
Augusta Lscom want help from any
one Quite new idea, truly ! But you
can kiss me again, child, and then go,
or you will be too late for your train !"
So | got into my cab and went to the
Great Western Station. | was just in
time for the train and was soon being
rapidly carried toward Mostyn.
Somehow, as the train drew nearer,
| became calmrr, and not till the train
was slackening its pace to enter the
station did it once occur to me that the
George Tranceford mentioned in Ada's
letter might not be my George Trance
ford. The thought had hardly flashed
across my mind when saw him on the
platform. 1t was my George Trance
ford. knew him at once. | should
have known him among thousand.
The same well .shapen hand beating his
cane against his boot He did not see
me, and | stepped out of the carriage
and approached him from the side.
"Now, Florence | said to myself
courage, courage.
My next words were spoken aloud.
"Mr. 1ranceford, I am here. How
do you do ?" and l held out my hand.
"Mss Liscom, / am glad to see you, "
he replied, in the same voice as Of old,
deep, tender, earnest and true.
My courage was all gone now, and |
spoke no word more to George till we
were sitting in the pony carriage that
he had brought to fetch me. driving
down the dusty road that was to take
us to Fair Grove and Ada. At last I
ventured to speak.
"The country looks very beautiful,
I said.
very beautiful" he replied.
"Mr Tranceford," | said, after
another half mile in silence, "will you
do me favcr? Will you say nothing
of our previous acquaintance to Ada
Leigh, if you have not already done
so q
81 have anticipated your wish in
this respect, Miss Liscom," he replied.
'We are Strangers"
Short, clear and decisive no tender.
ness now-scorn had usurped its place.
| Well" | thought, Il deserve it," and
sat back in the little carriage with an
air that was intended to say. ''Thank
goodness, that is comfortably settled"
We arrived at last at the Grove gates.
Ada met us IN the hall She kissed
and hugged me, according to her want,
and then commenced her apologies.
"Oh, Florence she began, "allow
me to introduce you to Mr.. Tranceford
Miss Liscom-Mr Tranceford Mr..
Trauccford-Miss Liscom. You see.
Florry dear, | was obliged to get Mr.
Tranceford to meet you with the pony
carriage, for poor old John is laid ur
with rheumatism
81 was most happy to be of the
slightest service to any friend of Miss
Leigh's, said Mr.. Tranceford, bowling
Ada.
"Vell, knew you are very polite,
said Ada ''but you must excuse II:
now, | want to carry Florence off tC
see mamma
Before we went to Mrs. Leigh l wa:
put simultaneously into possession Of
my room aud the circumstances that
had led to the friendship between th'
Leighs and Mr.. Tranceford.
"You know how i'll poor Walter wa:
in Switzerland last year, Florry,' sale
Ada, "Well, this Mr.. Tranceford
whom he had met at Basle, nursed him
like woman through the whole of hi,
illness, and at last brought him safely
home to U.S. He never left him till ht
saw him within these doors, and ther
he wouldn't even stay an hour with us
but he came down month afterwar(
and spent few days here, And oh
he's such wonderful man !" continued
Ada, in costa cies $50 clever, and S,
good, aud kind and thoughtful an(
oh . sometimes he's sad that ! fancy h,
must have been crossed in love. AnC
then he's so handsome-dont you thinl
so, Florry ? Aud then he's quite diff
fercnt from other men He dosen't fl irt
or make himself particularly agreeable
and like him very much, don't you
Florry ?"
"Well, really, Ada" replied, hypo
critic that | was, ''ls it fair to ask M
so much upon so short an acquain
tance 2
"Well, no, | scarcely think it is,
said Ada and the merry girl laughed
and led me to her mothers room.
| The smiles were all gone; and tn
young face was sad indeed as Ad
stood with her hand on the handle @
the door, and paused an instant befor
opening it.
"No laughing here, Florry," she sale
in whisper
l shook my head, felt in no moo
for laughing.
We entered a darkened room br
before We had fairly got inside tn
door, querulous voice broke out wit
-"Ada, Ada, what noise you make
Your footstep is as Numbering as
wagoner's. And did | hear a laugh (
you came up the stairs? How can yc
be so merry when | am sad Oh, n.
nerves-my nerves you have shatte
cd them all !" And the invalid drooI
ed her head on the cushion, and let ht
hands hang listleSsly at her side.
Mamma, dear, | have brought Flo
ence to see you >" said Ada, steppil
softly across the room, and kissing h
9 mothers cheek.
81 thought | heard two pair of lur
herring boots she said, $50 it w
Florence You were laughing with b
what does youth care for age VIII
does life care for death ? All the san