The Penn's Grove record., 1885-05-09

badly touched; but men do not Ole OF
such things.
A bad sign for my six months cure is
the fact that I do not take kindly to the
severe flirting in viceregal circles, 0
vet console myself with facile grass
widows, Of which there are plenty on
the voyage home.
/ mean, after q good long spell with
the mater, and a turn at Mayfair as a
mental hygienic, to be off to Norway.
The yacht has not been sacrificed to my
autumn's Quixotism thanks to the same
guardian angel who demanded frequent
congratulations on the possession of prs
successor.
Life has not lost all its SAVIOR, as | find
when | once more hug my little mother
to my heart, and she kisses and coos
over her prodigal. OF course l made a
clean breast of all my troubles before
going away.
"Be a little early; for the Tremen.
heres are coming to dine, and you must
meet Pil's successor beforehand, " says
the thoughtful dear. l have forgotten
TIE paragOnl
But. mindful of the probable tastes
of advanced spinsterhood, | reject the
buttonhole bouquet which my man has
carefully prepared, and, to his indigna-
ten. descend in sweet simplicity. !
stand for a moment on the terrace, be-
fore the drawing-room windows, look
ing about on the only place | a really
call home; and, despite its n sore spot,
l am content in my heart. l hear a
step behind me-Pil's suocessOri | turn
and advance to meet a graceful woman
in heecy white draperies and-can l be.
lieve my eyes? She draws near and
holds out those two perfect hands |
kissed last year. and Helen Trevor's
sweet eyes look up into mine, dewy and
timid, a soft flush coming and going III
her cheeks.
s'If l might change my mind and ask
you to take me, this timel"
| have her in fny arms-next my
heart-close, before she a finish, and
answer her with passionate kisses.
as that the way you present yourself
to my cOmpanion?" asks my mother,
severely. "'Did you conduct yourself
in that way to poor Pill? Such unheard'
of behavior for a drawing-roOm ter
racel Suppose Florry Tremenhere had
arrivedI; Then she drops the majestic
to take to the objurgative, and threat
n me with the garden engine if | do
not cease looking idiotically happy-at
which iuncture | seize her and make
her do an involuntary war-dance, in her
b'ue velvet and pearls, to the serious
diseomposure of her silver curls, and
the deep disgust of the butler, who
comes to announce u guests.
My beautiful Helen had only believed
in my love when she learned 1t from
that leaky vessel of a mater, after some
months close companionship had taught
them to love each other.
feel like MI. Pickwlck, as if nothing
earnly shall induce me to go to bed, lest
my happiness turn out to be a dream;
but a long sweet chat on the terrace
under the full moon makes it seem more
real.
"You were never a fortune hunter,
ma tolde belle" l blurt out, ''and 1 was
an ass to believe it for a moment" |
assert in a glow of indignation.
"Oh, dear, I'm afraid L wasi But
how could | know what a vile thing it
would be until after l saw you at eau
terets?"
"You don't mean itP" 1 interrupt,
enraptured. "And you loved me thens"
"How shabby Of you to make me con-
fess it, when you didn't care for me
thenl' answers. my love, her face hid
den--I do not say where.
"HelenI Why, L loved you madly
from the first moment | looked in your
matchless faceV'
"But o seemed devoted to Dolly
Hetherton. 1t was that which made
me so desperate and wicked then and
since. What did it matter whom |
married, since it could not be him l
loved? My brother, too, had to be
helped at once. Then l saw as plain as
day that Dolly loved Jay, and so, since
| could do no better. l threw him over,
sure that the fracas would make them
know their hearts and be happy to-
gether. l cannot excuse the Noise af-
fair, unless | tell you that it prevented
my brothers. death by his Own hand.
And, now that the title and estates are
his. mamma says he is all she could de-
sire. 1t is you who have saved US ALL"