The Penn's Grove record., 1885-05-02

which made my pulses throb In an ut.
terry unprecedented manner said softly:
"Mr. Overtoni - My aunt
Did not Sophie tell you that they are ali
out2 Charlie and Ned wanted to &C
to the theatre, and aunt Lucy has taken
them. l am SC sorryl l told Sophie to
say so to any visitor"
sophie obeyed orders,"I answered;
''but unfortunately, cousin, l still re
quire an interpreter.
She laughed a little low laugh which
| had learned in the short fortnight tc
think the sweetest music l had ever
heard.
at is my misfortune, not my fault
/ went on. And | think, even ii
Sophie'smeaning had been plain, 1 should
still-on the strength of lily relationship,
you knoH-have persisted IN trying to
gain an entrance tonight; for l was
very anxious to see you. l have re-
ceived a m home. l must go
back to England tomorrow" s
l played my trump card boldly on the
inspiration of the moment, and, my
eyes being now accustomed to the light,
/ saw that Phyllis turned pale and
caught at the back of the v~elvet-covered
chair near her.
phyllis, my darling" / exclaimed,
seizing her little trembling hands in an
instant, 81 cannot go without telling
you that | love you'll Can you-will you
give me a little love in return?"
do not know to this day what she
said do not believe she said anything;
but Der little head sank down upon my
shoulder as L bent over her, and, when
my arm stole round her waist, she did
not repulse me.
"When did you first begin to think
about it?'' whispered Phyllis shyly, an
hour later.
"When?" L laughed. 81 really can
not tell. L believe it was when you
stood forward SO pluckily that morning
on the pier and saved aunt Martha's
clock from being pitched into the har-
Dor. That blessed clocki l owe to 1T
the happiness Of my life"
''The dear old clockf' exclaimed
Phyllis. 1--WE will never part with it,
will we? shall always love that clock"
She FASTENED away when Mrs. Morti-
mer, followed by her boys, came tramp
ing up IhC CbhtLSdOCs liiO W1o AOAS y
confront the hostess alone.
"You here, Mr.. Overtonl" cried Mrs.
Mortimer, in surprise, looking round for
Phyllis.
Eyes" | answered coolly; 81 was
waiting for you. Mrs. Mortimer. l have
been waiting a long while"
"'Alone, aud in this half-lightf" she
exclaimed, as she turned up the duplex
burner.
The boys, hungry after their enter
tainment, had retired unceremoniously
to the dining-room.
"No; l have not been Alone" l re-
Piled; 'sPhylhs has been with me-" She
looked up quickly. ''Phyllis has prom
ised to be my wife, Mrs. Mortimer; will
you give her to me?"
'Indeed 1 will" she answered, with
tears in her eyes. "We have known you
only a short time; but l have heard Of
you often, and know that l can trust
the dear girl to you"
"And you have been a mother to
her," 1 said gratefully. "She has told
me all you have done for her,"
Phyllis came down, when the boys
had gone to bed, to say good night
which l need hardly say was not good
bye-and then l went home and wrote
to aunt Martha as follows
"Dear aunt Martha, Il am quite
well, and propose staying another week
at Calais, unless you want me very
badly. And l have altered my mind
about the clock; l am going to under
take the charge of it, and Of something
else too-of my cousin Phyllisi Phyllis
declares she : i'll never part with the
clock, and l delcare l will w part
with her; 80, IS the two must go to-
gether, what can l dor
seriously, my dearest aunt, wish me
joy. l have won the dearest, sweetest
little girl for my wlfe-as you will say
when you see her. And l owe my treas
ure to you. Yes, you have crowned all
your other goodness to me by this last
gift-for it certainly comes from you.
Send us your blessing, and believe al.
ways in the grateful love of
Your affectionate nephew,
"HERBERT OvERToN.
an. B.-Phyllis has the Overton nose.
Five years later, My aunt is alive
and we'll. She confided to me, about six
months after my marriage, her suspi-
eions that the heart spasms were ''no-
thing but Indigestion and a consulta-
ton with a specialist proved that she
wa right. 1 believe that my wife was
responsible for the suggestion which has
renewed dear old aunt Margaret's youth
and given her a new lease of life.
The clock stands on a handsome
bracket in our hall. Aunt Martha has
considerably refused to take back her
gift, declaring that, as she is an almost
daily visitor at our house, the treasured
relic is as much her own us ever.