The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-09-04

culiar and rather delicate for Mr.. Hala
He thought he would rather put IL int
my hands; that is, rather let mo hnd
out first your-your feeling about il.
Miss Bennett. looked up bewildered
II don't understand, Mrs. Alexander.
Is it abont the little boy? Does Mr.
Hale want to reward me- deep fus5
suffused her fairness "for what did
couldn't take his money, Of course.
don't know that he would look y
it quite in that light" Mrs Alexanbet
answered. 1T probably helped to
bring matters TO clima1lMith him: In:
deed, he intimated as much. And per:
haps it is q reward of virtue. Certain:
" it is quite after the story book style,
but you are pretty enough and bright
enough, as told him; for almost any
position. He is q self-made man HIM
self; it isn't such wonderful condescen-
sion when one remembers that. BE
couldn't expect to marry into the May
flower, for all his wealth"
Miss Bennett felt as if her senses were
playing her false. "You don't mean
you can't mean," she cried, s'thst he
wants to marry me?"
Mrs Alexander put her arm about
her soothingly. Il suppose it is rath-
er overwhelming, my dear. It was ia
me at first. But, after all, why should
he not? There are three children, OF
course, and he's twenty years older, and
he hasn't much besides his money to
recommend him; but it would be Q
splendid home for you, dear. It seems
he has watched You ever since that time
you trespassed. And he has made
inquiries of me. he began making
them some time ago, butt didn't notice.
I thought perhaps he wanted q COVER
ness. OF course gave you the highest
recommendations, she added, laughing,
"though I didn't know the position he
wanted you to fill. He seems quite
sure of bis own feeling, and it is certain
~ q great triumph for you, my dear"
Miss Bennett sank back into the chair
from which she had half risen. Her
mind plainly could not take in the new
situation; but she came to herself when
Mrs. Alexander went on: ''Of course
you may want time to think it over, but
he would like to see you this evening,
and hopes for an answer then"
"Oh oh !" Miss Bennett cried, spring.
ing to her feet. "There's no use. /
couldn't if my life depended on it,
form engaged to some one else. And
/ never knew-indeed, never knew,
Mrs. Alexander, until 4 few days
ago, that Philip was his neph-
CIV. you see," she went on, breath
lessly, his sister was with me at school,
and that was the way learned to know
him. And Mr.. Hale was very angry at
his engaging himself to 'down-East
school-ma'am, as he called me. He
had promised to help him before, but
but thev quarreled over me, and Phil
went west, and I came here. And it
was only fortnight ago that I wrote
him-because 1 hadn't much else tc
write-all about my trespassing, and
what had come of it. And he answered
II had his letter last week. That's
my own dragon of an uncle, and il
you've won one concession from him,
perhaps you could do more. If he
learned to know you, he mi ght think
differently about our engagement, and
though I don't need any of his help now,
still he's my nearest relative, and !
should like to be on good terms with
him. And I had been hoping-but
now-now you see how impossible it is.
And if Phil has his own way to make.
we may have to wait long time, and
perhaps always be poor, love him too
much to mind"
The soul of young love and trust
was in her eves az she looked
up at Mrs. Alexander, and the
woman's heart in her was touched.
It was the philosophy of the Babes in
the Woods, indeed; she could have
overturned 1t with touch of worldly
common sense; but she only bent near
er her. and then suddenly Ruth felt
kiss on her forehead, q kiss of mothers
comprehending love.
But when she had cooled little from
this unexpected touch of enthusiasm,
Mrs. Alexander had her plans. She
met Mr.. Hale herself that evening; she
COMPOUNDED him with the news that the
school ma am despised for his nephew
was his own elect; and she followed up
her advantage till he consented to ex-
press his gratitude to Miss Bennett by
the gift of home-of which he should
not be master. And since young Philip
was doing we'll at the west, and needed
no more of his uncle's help, the new
home was hardly ready before he could
claim its mistress. Only one touch OF
romance Mr.. Hale allowed himself-the
wedding gown which replaced Ruths
unlucky dress.-Harper's Bazaar.