The Mineral argus., 1884-06-05

| Lnt-bub-NLd
II called about the house, sir"
What house?" Take a seat, re-
calling his politeness.
"Is not this As W-place?"
Certainly it is. "
II have been on the lookout for some
time for a furnished house suitable for
boarders, sir, and if 1 find this one suits
me, and the rent is not too high"
But" interrupted the astonished
bachelor.
30, hope its not taken. The adj
vertisement said to call between eight
and nine, and it struck eight as stood
upon the doorstep"
"You have the Herald in your hand,
sir" she said, timidly. II did not cut
it out"
"Oh, you saw it in the Herald" and
he turned to the list of houses to let.
Sure enough, there it was.
To let, furnished, three story,
brown stone front, basement" and
rather q full description of the advan-
tages of the premises, with the en-
pathic addition, Call only between
and 8 a. M"
so to be sure l am at home, the ras-
cali" said Rupert Smithson, laying
aside the paper "Iam sorry, madam"
he said, that you have had the trouble
of calling upon useless errand."
"Then it is taken !" said a very disap-
pointed voice, and the heavy Grape veil
was lifted to show a sweet matronly
Sace framed in that saddest of ali bad
ges, widows cap.
well, no, said the perplexed bach
elor, sit is not exactly taken"
Perhaps you object to boarders ?"
"You want to AXE boarders ?" he an
swered, thinking how lady like and
gentle she looked, and wondering if she !
had long been a widow.
Eyes, sir; but 1 would be very care
full about the references"
Have you ever kept boarders be-
fore?"
"No, sir. Since my husband died
six years ago (he failed in business, and
brought on a severe illness by mental
anxiety my daughter and myself have
been sewing, but we have both been in
i'll health all winter, and 1 wish to try
some way of getting living that is less
contining. l have kept house several
years, but have not capital to furnish,
so we want to secure a house furnished
like this one, if possible"
Quite unconscious of the reason, Ru-
pert Smithson was finding it very pleas
ant to talk to this gentle little widow
about her plans as she spoke, was won
dering if it would not make an agree
able variety in his lonely life to let her
make her experiment of keeping board
ers upon the premises
81 think Won will he &c 1u,41, |
my references, sir, / have lived in one
house and have had work from one firm
for six years, and if you require it L
,an obtain letters from my husbands
friends in Cincinnati.
"Cincinnati"
He was quite well known there. !
Perhaps you know of him, John Muir
"John Murryl"
Rupert Smithson looked searchingly
nto the pale sad face that was so plead
ngly raised to his gaze. Where were
'he rosy cheeks, the dancing eyes, the
laughing lips that he had pictured as
belonging to John Murry's wife
Knowing now the truth, he recognized
'he face before him, the youth all gone,
and the expression sanctifed by sorrow
md suffering.
You have children" he said, after a Q
ong silence. =
"Only one living, a daughter seven
-een years old. have buried all the }
others"
II will let you have the house on one t
he said, his lips trembling a |
little as he spoke
She did not answer. In the softened
eyes looking into her own, in the voice =
modulated to tender sweet a
1ess, some memory was awakened, and :
she only listened with bated breath and =
lilating eyes. =
"On one condition, Kate" he said, =
that you come to it as my wife and its =
mistress. | have waited for you twenty n
zears, Katie" =
1t was hard to believe, even then, =
hough the little widow let him caress .
Ter, and sobbed upon his breast. This =
gray haired, middle aged man was so =
mike the Rupert she had believed =
alse. Even after the whole past was .
discussed, wronged, but not by Katie, it !,
vas hard to believe there might be years !.
If happines still in store for them. =
Rupert Smithson did not "put in his f
at his counting house all
lay, and Rupert the Second went home
lfter dinner in rather an uneasy frame
# mind regarding the April fool trick
# his. q
Il must run over and see if I have 4,
'fended beyond all hope of pardon" y y
lie said, as he rose from the table. !
But gruff voice behind him arrested
lis steps. c