The Dickinson press., 1884-10-04

once. She snatched up Gracie's hat,
and turned toward the door, dragging
the child after her.
"You shall not stir. I am delighted
to see you here; you shall not leave
II shall leave, and this moment,
too."
She caught Oracle up and made a
movement to dart past him, but he STEP
ped before her with one arm outstreched,
barring the way. Oracle alarmed at
this gesture, uttered piercing shrek.
There was sound of quick steps ap-
proaching, and Mrs. Fargo appeared
upon the threshold. DIR. Trim drop
ped his arm, and Amelia with flushed
face and indignant mein, approached
Mrs. Fargo.
"What in the world is the matter "a
exclaimed this lady. "Albert, I thought
you were robber. How have you
been frightening Mrs. Pullyn?"
"Shall I explain? ?" asked the Doctor.
looking toward Amelia, who vanished
through the door without replying.
"Why, where are you going?" cried
voice in the hall. It was Mrs. Trim,
who arrested her guest on the way to
the front door.
Mrs. Fargo and Albert now rushed
out, and the storm center was trans
ferred to the hall.
"You must not go Amelia. I Ientrea.
you do not co." cried Albert wildly.
"Of course you will not co." said
Mrs Fargo, with decision. "I never
heard of anything so absurd; come back
directly. I insist upon knowing the
meaning of all this" She took Amelia
by the arm and almost forcibly led her
back into the parlor. eft is clear YOU
two have met BEFORE" she continued,
assuming the Office ofinquisitor; "when
and where was it,"
"Shall I tell ?" asked Albert.
Amelia maintained ahaughty silence.
"You do not object, and, really, I see
no reason why you should Mother,
you have often wondered that did not
marry. This is the reason" He point
ed to Amelia, who still stood draped
in her long widows veil, clasping the
white-robed child in her arms.
II was not to blame" she said calmly
"You were to blame; you should no,
have let your father influence you"
"You should not have disputed with
my father. He was older than you,
and of course knew better"
"Tlat is an exploded assumption
But I am not going to renew that dis
cussion with you" Then with q sud
denly awakened tenderness he advanced
and took from her tired arms the LITTLE
girl, who was nodding heavily against
her shoulder.
"There, sit down." he said gently.
After all these years we may certainly
let the old quarrel rest. I was so taken
by surprise that I did not do justice te
the tender feeling my heart has Away
retained for you"
"Tender feeling-quarrell What in
the name of heaven are you talking
about?" cried Mrs. Fargo, impatiently
II am going to tell you" returned
Albert, laying the head of the sleeping
child against his breast, and beginning
to walk the floor. "How like you she
is, Amelia" he said, looking fondly
at her. "See, mother, this should
have been your grandchild. Yes, W.
were engaged. You remember, Anne.
LA, the night I proposed? 1,
was After the bali at the col.
lege, and we were walking home togeth.
er through the moonlit villege street
You wore rose-pink silk, with tulle ovel
it, and the tulle was oil in tatters, bu
you looked as lovely as an angel; anG
you said yes without hesitation, like
the frank, sweet girl you we're. All
we were very happy"
"But you would always dispute will
papa about the proper treatment in fe
vers, and the giving of calomel, and al
that, said Amelia, sadly. "Papa, who
had practiced medicine forty years, ano
who of course knew so much better"
"Ah! don't speak of that" pleaded
Albert humbly, melting more and more
wrought upon not by memory alone
but by that inexplicable tenderness that
will flow out about little head nestled
against the breasts; " own that I was
wrong"
"You admit it, at lastl" exclaimed
Amelia, with an air of triumph.
Wrong in disputing, I mean; not ir
the principle.
"You cling toyour heresy2 Papa said
it was flat heresy."
"What have medical theur1es to dc
with my loving you?" he asked, pausing
before her and looking earnestly at her.
"You married, to please you father, an
old-school physician, twenty years old
er than yourself Did his medical ortho.
doxy make you happy?"
She did not replv.
"Tell me-" he insisted, "were you
happy with him?"
.'You shan't question me SO" she re.
Piled, making last struggle, "Give
me my baby, I don't love to have any
one hold her but myself"
'See how sweetly she is sleeping in
my arms, Amelia. have never been
so happy since the night we walked
home from the dance together. Doesn't
your heart tell you you owe me some
reparation for all the happiness you
you have kept back from me?"
Amelia futtered her fan and looked
at the floor. It was stained floor she
noticed.
"Let me keep the baby" he urged.
"Let me teach her to call me papa"
A faint smile curved Amelia's lips,
but she did not look up. He bent on
one knee before her.
"say yes again, dear, !" he whispered.
"Pl be so good to you BOTH"
The smile grew more decided, and
she bent forward as if to kiss the child's
fair temple, but Albert, perhaps misin-
terpreting her design, bent forward al
so, and the kiss fell upon his mustached
lip.
Mrs. Trim and Mrs. Fargo, who had
tlptoed from the room few moments
before were EN- mhracino each other in