The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-04-18
ssxY HERMAN,

AoeoAao Ao1 oNooU LICE OSpusi1 4AeeeS SAte
iicia, "a girl of the period" Just seventeen
thought and feeling, and in practical knowl.
edge OF life than her little aunt.
Patricla was the only child OF Miss Han
sons only brother, who. dyinga penniless art
ist in New York, had given the baby. with his
last breath, to his sisters care.
For the child's sake Mabel Hanson sad
refused to marry the young lawJer--to i'm.
pose such o burden upon him at tho begin
ming OF his career. She had devoted her.
self ever since to Patricia. had labored for
her, taught her, boarded up her scanty
means to give her Injuries and pleasures,
loved hor, ido)ized her; moro and this was
her reward!
Standing there in her fresh young beau
ty, and her pretty fashionable summer at.
tire, Patricia carelessly told the story thar
seemed SO little to her, while Il quenchsd
the last light, the last hope, that (unknown
to herself till now had shown over the
lonely spinster's path.
Five years before that day, Herman
Stacy had returned to Camptown, and fe.
turned rs he had vowed TO do latter her re.
lection Of him), its wealthiest and most In.
duentisl man.
On the hill where his fathers farm
formerly stood. he built . prinee,y man.
sion, and filled il with the pictures and
statues which he had collected during Q
two years tour in Europe.
Thither he came for Four months every
summer, spending the rest Of his time be.
tween Washington and New York, whittier
q double interest, as q politician and 70
railroad man." drew him With magnetic
force.
Mabel Hanson had heard marvellous tales
OF the splsndor Of the great house on the
hill. But she had never entered II, nor, to
her knowledge, had Patricia ever done 90.
And now, in her bewilderment, her hrst
question was:
slut where did you ever see Herman
Stacy, Patricia2 Not in Camptown. am
sure"
ooh, no, auntie; it WAS Last winter-that
is. the first time-when went to New York
with Lucy Hale and her parents. You know.
Mr.. Hale knew Mr.. Stacy, and they had
something to do with each other about bust
ness, believe. And so-and so, they
went out with us to places Of amusement;
and in fact that was the way 1t all came
about, auntie, dear"
Last winter! And it is now late autumn
very nearly winter again-and You have
but just told mel"
thing, said Patricia, looking very hand.
some as she blushed aud laughed. tim
not sure that should have made the con.
fession even now" she added, aonly that
Herman is coming tonight or tomorrow,
and OF course he will call on me here.
And you must be ready to see him and say
yes like dear soul as you are. Won't
1t be delightful, auntie, when We can
oil live up In that magnificent house
together and 20 q won't have to WORRY your
dear old biains any longer to make both
ends meet at the end Of the yearf Love
may be all very well, Auntie, but III own
that do love my Herman dearly, but love
with plenty OF money and palace to live
IN is Tar better than love In o cottage, with
an empty purse. whatever those geese OF
people may say. Aud now I'll 20 and
make myself lovely, on the chance OF Her.
msns coming out on the evening train, In
stead OF the morning one"
Patricia kissed her aunt on both cheeks
and ran up the garden walk toward the
house singing as she went.
Miss Hanson leaned back against the
grape arbor, among the yellow leaves, and
closed her eyes.
Thank God, have not betrayed myself
IN spite OF the SURPRISE" she thought.
Poor cbildl she would be wretched II she
knew it all. And I have been idiotic enough
to hope that he might remember
how love him-that he might come and
ask me to share his last years. I, VIII o am
thirty five, and sere and faded in his eyes,
no doubt, as these leaves are in mine. But
what am to do? Where am to GOT Live
here and sec her happy % his wife, o nd in
that home, can not7 oh, Herman, nv
love for you has been the curse Of my
whole life!"
Miss Hanson! beg your pardon! said
avolce near her-a voice she had not heard
for fifteen years, and vet her heart recog.
nized and responded to Il Ut once.
She sprang to her feet. blushing crImson,
and trembling from head to foot.
A tall. portly, 6ne-looking man. with q
all the fire OF youth in his large, dark eyes.
stood in the garden path, looking at
her.
Pray pardon this intrusionl" he said,
III tone that was sgitated, in spite Of his
apparent composure. Your charming
niece. Patricia, told me that I would lind
you here. lsuppose you guess my errand.
have come to ask your permission"
You have It'll" said poor Miss Mabel,
wildly, feeling that she must fly instantly II
dignity and decorum were 10 be preserved.
Ard I am sure I hope you will be very
happy in your home. both OF you."
All three of us, you meant" questioned
MIR. Stacy, with the old, we'll remembered
smile. Yes, suppose We shall be. She
seems very nico girl"
Is that oil you can say Of her at such a
tlme!" exclaimed Miss Hanson, wondering.
~.
"And she will make good wife, dare
say, MIR. Stacy continued, with the same
quiet indifference. AS for Herman, he ia
good fellow, though say it. Steady, too
IN good business, and tremendously
fond Of her."
3Herman!" gasped Miss Hanson.
MY nephew. Yes, my fayori,e nephew.
may say, since he is nv on'y one. Bnt
how pale you are, Ma-Miss Hanson! Shall
call Patricia"
your nephew" repeated Miss Mabel.
Is 1t he whom Patricia has Just told me
about? II thought it was you!"
"Yes!"
There never was but one woman in the
world that thought of marrying, or ever
wished to marry. said Mr.. Stacy, anerily.
And she Tilted me fifteen years ago!"
1T was for the child-for Patricia"
stammered Miss Mable, blushipg like a
rose. You were poor then, Herman, and
could not burden you with the care Of
her.
Did you love me at all, ,hen?" he asked.
drawing nearer.
with all my heart! But promise d nv
brother, on his death bed. to devote NV
lie to her. dared not break my promise.
Indeed, I meant it for the best. God
KNOWS how hard it was for me to lose you!"
she added, as her blue eyes seemed to look
sadly back into the lonely past.
IT that is 80, here am again, Mabel.
and you need never lose me again. unless
You wish" said Mr.. Stacy, taking her hand.
Say the word, my dearest. I've been
miserable I1l. for fifteen years without YOU.
why shouldn't We marry next month, and
DO ~ happy as well as those two young fools?n
Those two young fools" happened to be |
coming G, down the garden patch Just then. !
Ihey saw the practical answer which the
Governor" (as Herman, Junior called
hlm) asked and received to his proposal.
And then they fled back to the house. burt.
ing. With laughter over the courtship Of
their elders.
But Aunt Mabel made almost az fair
bride as her own niece, after all, the NEXT
month. And it is hard TO say which Of tie
two homes is the happieAt now, though
each fond Mfe upholds my Herman" az
the one perfect being in this. imperfect
world.