Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-08-27

| but that the ACCIDENT Oh Iuo lahnSu OIL
kle was like to prove really fortunate
occurrence; and better than all he en-
closed a check for a sum that seemed
like gold mine to the girls.
This was in March; when the May vi
olets began to blossom in the carts of the
fiower-sellers, and 'Prim-ro-sesl Prim-
ro.sesr cried through the streets, ALFRED
was considered sufficiently convaleseenl
to be told all these events, and one after
noon. sitting by the window, Louise had
just began to say:
There's something we've been saving
to tell you because"
When Grace opened the door with
somewhat of a puzzled face and an
nounced:
"Mr. Townsend"
Enter tall, fine looking gentleman
who held out his hand to the bewildered
Alfred with the utmost courtesy.
Being Unexpectedly summoned to
this neighborhood," he said. al could not
deny myself the pleasure of calling to
thank you for the very scholarly and
thorough manner in which you have car
ried out my ideas respecting the Napo-
leonic era of literature, and 1 wish to
bespeak your cooperation in another
and perhaps more comprehensive litera>
/
my dear sir" cried Alfred, 81 haven't
the least idea of what you are talking
about"
"But havew cried Louise, starting up
"I-I-beg your pardon, Mr.. Townsend
but it was l that carried out the NopO'
leonic ideasl My brother was very Ill
with brain fever, and Ne didn't dare to
tell him, and had been expressly edu'
Gated, and read French rerdily so that
"You don't tell me-" said Mr.. Town,
send, "that you wrote all those folios in
that bold, running hand, that you sifted
out the kernels from that mass of histor.
ic evidence?"
"Yes, did," confessed poor Louise
coloring to the very roots of her hair
Il was just beginning to tell Alfred
about it when you came in"
And then, by way of establishing her
character for strong-mindedness, she ran
out of the room and hid herself amoung
the pots and pans, while in the little
front room the two gentlemen were af
aliating marvelously and the pale young
scholar was mapping out enough work
to last six months at least
"And what 1 can't do myself" said he
with sanguine smile, 81 shall get my
little sister to do for me, for l begin tC
think she's several degrees more capable
than l am"
"Shall 1 have the pleasure of seeing
her again before l go away?" asked Mr.
Townsend, wistfully.
"Call her Grace" said Alfred.
So Louise had to come cut from be-
hind the pots and pans again, and this
time she became really well acquainted
with Mr.. Townsend.
Things happen most unaccountably IN
the world: For example: In a few weeks
Mr.. Townsend discovered that it would
accelerate the progress of his work very
much, indeed, if he could personally su.
perintend it. And he found himself
compelled to go over great many of the
folios with Miss Fortescue. And one
day they drifted into topic of converSa+
tion quite irrelavent to literature of any
age whatever.
And Alfred, buried soul and spirit in
pile of tones in the window seat be-
yond, had to be shaken briskly by the
shoulders before he could be brought
back into every day existence.
"Eh?" said he laying down his pen
what is it?"
"My dear fellow, congratulate me!'
cried Townsend radiantly. "Your sister
has promised to be my wifel'
Alfred Fortescue was not particularly
surprised. Your bookworm never is
surprised at anything. But Grace was
"Well, declarel' was her characteris
tic exclamation. Just when thought
our affairs were most hopeless the dawn
of good luck was at hand"