, 1885-04-05
TROT'S MOTHER.


knew you would want to hear the parucu-
lars, and IL have been trying to put of the
evil moment Pm getting an old man. now,
Harry, and all this shook me a good deal at
the time.
Come hsre. Trot, and sit on my knee
There. that's better. Seems odd, Harry,
don't 1t, to see an old bachelor like ms nurs-
ing a tiny bit OF a girl like Troti Four
years old to-day, aren't you, Troti How
tue time fiesi
"You SEQ. my dear lad. you ought to have
told her before you went away. She never
guessed that you thought OF her in that way
1t might have savei hsr-who knows3
1T must be nine years since your Uncle
WIN died and left Violet in my care. She
was only Is then Don't you think Trot Is
very like herl The same large brown eyes
and long lashes, the same loving little ways.
"She came to me one morning soon after
you started for China, with a letter in her
hand
look here, uncle. she said, k~neeling be-
side me. and holding the note where l could
read; its from the Colds, and they invite
me to go and stay with them at Ventnor.
May l acceptf
DO you want to 90, Violetr 1 asked.
"'Of course l do she answered, laughing.
We are so quiet here at home, and this
would be such a delightful change. Please
let me, uncle. I'll write you long letters, and
tell you about everything
II did not want to part with her oven for
little time, for the three years she had
been with me then had made my life quite
a different matter; but it seemed
selfish 10 keep the bright. merry girl always
shut up with a crusty old man. l gave her
leave to go, and then, when after a fort
night she wrote, begging to be allowed to
stay longer, as her friends wished, | had not
the heart to refuse. She was there five weeks
and then she came home.
"The very day after her return he came
that ~contemptible scoundrel whom in those
few weeks she had learned to regard as a
hero. How he found out at first that she had
a little fortune OF her own | don't know. He
asked for me. ami told me that he wanted
my permission to address my niece.
II was a good-looking young fellow. AMI
had II frank, open manner, that was sure to
win IA girls favor. but | thought OF you.
Harry, and determined to prevent the mat
ter going further il 1 could. I took a strong
and apparently unreasonable dislike 10 him,
and made many inquiries. hoping to finl out
something that would justify me in forbid
ding him the house, but entirely in vain.
Bot ] studied observed every little act and
word, until at last was convinced TINT 4
know him through, and that he was no ht
husband for my little Violet.
by this tins it had become u kind Of tacit
engagement, and | knew | should seem al
most brutal for interfering, but ! couldn't
bear the idea Of giving Violet into his care.
/ vowed to myself that nothing on earth
should induce me 10 do so, and | told him
TO discontinue his visits.
"rhe result OF that was that he came to IA
definite understanding with Violet, and she
promised 10 marry him, with or without my
consent.
Don't look at me so reproachfully, Harry.
1t may be that l acted unwisely all through;
but il so | have been severely punished for
my folly. You AVE let your cigar out.
Here are the matches.
"You want me to tell you all she said and
did-her very words, as we'll as l can re-
member. That's a hard matter, for my mem
ory's not so good as IL used to be.
II was sitting here one evening, when vi
olet came in slowly, and sitting down where
you are, looked at ne very sadly for some
minutes.
~'Uncle, DEAR she said at last, 4 cannot
understand you. l never believed that you
could be so hard and cruel
Il did not speak.
1t is not like you to DO so unjust, SO arbi-
trary,' she went on. 1T seems to me, uncle,
that in the matter of marriage a woman
should choose for herself and not be in
fuenced by any one. 1 have made my
choics and given my word but OH l should
be 50 much happier if you were not angry.
DO forgive mo and be your own KIN self
again
Yes, when you yield to my Wishes 1
answered, coldly. You are a mere girl,
Violet, and nave had no experience of men.
II you were ten years older I should leave
you 10 take the consequences of your rash
ness, but as it is
AS it is-what thenl Obi uncle and she
slipped from her chair and kneeled on the
rug at my feet Pray-pray be your old self
again. You were never angry with me be-
fore, and it seems so strange and unnatural
to see you turn your head away from me
without a smile. Do you love me only il l
have no voice, no will of my ownr
Listen to me, child 1 said, looking her
in the face. Il have striven to be a father
to you since 1 brought you here; ] have
loved you, heaven only knows how dearly
In return / only ask you TO let me prevent
your making a complete wreck of your life.
/ want TO save you from a sad fate, and you
think me a tyrant'
She took my hand in both hers, and
pressed her face on it, then looked up with
n smile.
e Il wish Harry was here she said. He
would help me to convince you. He always
took my side
Il ought not to have told you that, my
dear, boy, but it was so fresh in my mind,
as it struck me forcibly at the time, know
ing as l did your love for her. Forgive me
my want of tact.
"She was not given to shedding tears like
some woman or she would have cried then.
Her cheeks were hot and burning as they
touched my hand, while her eyes were fe.
verishly bright. She used every argumen
she could find to induce mo to consent to her
engagement, and as / remained silent she
drew nearer and gazed up eagerly in my
face.
"'You relent, uncleF she whispered in an
agitated way. You will let me be happyr
In that way, never l told her, sadly
and sternly, and I tried to draw away my
fingers, but she chung to them tightly, while
her lips quivered.
"'Don't say that, uncler she cried hoarsely.
Dear uncle, oh, what can I ~say-what can |
say TO move your
"You think / was very hard, Harry, Isee
but thought it best.|
Hush, child l said. Nothing will inhu
ence me. | I'M resolved
And so am H. she said ~sorrowfully,
dropping my hand and rising to her feet.
should always have wished to please YOU;
but now that you are harsh and unjust, and
will not listen to reason, what can l dor
"She waited for me TO speak, but l had no
words at hand / was too hurt and angry.
6ne went toward the door, then came back
AMI stood behind me, resting her hand
lightly on my shoulders
Try and forgive me, uncle. love him
SOL love his faults that make you despise
him, and his virtues that yon do not know.
Won't you kiss me unclef
Il was half inclined to take her In my
arms and tell her she should do what she
would. but ! did not. After a few minutes
For bilious disorders ST. Patrick's PHI