Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-10-20
ONE AMONG A THOUSAND.
BY BERTHA BBRTON,

said, with the air of superior wisdom
to which, perhaps, his sixty years en-
titled him, and in his own estina alton,
at least, his opinions were we'll nigh
infslliblo.
Here you are al eighteen, Hessie,
well educated, well hammered, and
pretty, though don't say it to hatter
you, child, and with no one in the
W hole world TO look after you hut your
poor old Uncle David, and he may
leave you at any time you know" a
that evoked profound sigh
as the ola gentleman thought of Hes
sizes youth and inexperienced.
At the oriole window, a bright-eyed
dot of q girl was drum ming rather dis
upon the window pane,
while an expression, slightly de6snt,
compressed the ruhy lips aud brought
a sparkle in the lovely brown eyes.
Uncle David did not zee the look on
Hessie A iison's olive tinted face, nor
did he hear the impatient tattoo on
the window, 80 taking 1t for granted
that she was paying most deferen tial
atten ion, he continued his remarks.
A great responsibility WAS vested
in me at your fathers death, and / am
about to delegate that power to a some
what younger and more efficient man.
In other words, my dear Hessie, have
been selecting husband for you, and
yon may fix up and look your prettiest
in honor of his coming, as he will be
here on Thursday, the eighteenth of this
month. A very dear friend Of mine he
lie, too; and you cannot help loving
him, my dear, for he is one among q
thousand" and David Carlton Leaned
back In his comfortable library chair.
with q curious sense of discharged
duty.
Not word in responee did the young
girl utter. but the brown eyee looking
out upon the beautiful summer land.
scape flashed mutinously, the curved
mouth was set more firmly, and In the
smooth cheeks was flush of what her
Uncle David would have called mai
denly pleasure ct the brilliant prospects
in store, but which was, in reality, =
hue sent by anger.
Soon afterward Hessie Alison glided
from the room, ard Ii her officious old
uncle could have seen her stamp her
small foot as she shut herself into her
own coZy room, and give way to a wild
passion of grief. lie would have scarcely
thought his efforts appreciated.
Nor were they for while the young
girl was wholly dependent upon this
rich uncle and felt under obligations to
obey his wishes, she did not fancy being
disposed OF thus summarily, especially
to some elderly gentleman, as her
uncle's friend, of course, must be.
What should she do? One moment
sbe was incliueh TO run away, but
where should SHE go?-and to make
that project an impossibility was her
lack Of funds, for although Uncle David
furnished suffi cient pocket money for
his pretty niece, her girlish fancies
generally kept about even with the
weekly allowance, and to provide for o
contingency like the present she had
not dollar.
Then she bathtd her tear. stained face
and put on dress of some soft, creamy
tinted fabric that chung about her In
graceful folds, and knotted Jacquemi.
no. roses among her dark, glossy curls,
and in the rich lace at her throat, too,
she fastened cluster of the bright,
fragrant buds.
Hessie was not 80 miserable, even al
the thought of prospective husband
but that she could indulge her innate
love for beautiful adornment, and she
took critical glance at herself in the
great mirror as she left her room !; then
she tripped lightly down stairs.
The library door was ajar, and AZ SHE
peeped In che saw that Uncle David
was taking a nap In his chair.
"Dear old uncle" she murmurec
fly" ] know his intentions are ind
and he loves me dearly, but I'll nevel
never marry his old friend"
i a
the air was satry. Hessie took he
hat and al entertaining book aud raj
down the Il 1wer bordered, gravelet
" ak. to a yine-clad arbor, where she
often r,sorted with her books ant
work.
Then nestliDg down in a rustic chair
1.-The young girl forgot for the time in TIL
lhappeuings of An intensely interesting
love story ,tha dire misfortune that wa
about to destroy forever her own youth
full happiness.
The sun rose higher in the heavens
the air grew more fervid, and soothe.
Iby triiling birds and hummini
bees, Hessie Allison drowsed over hel
book.
By and by slight sound brough
Ibar back suddenly from dreamlaud
10 the realities of life, and she looket
up, to see at the arching doorway
stranger--a young man, too. ana nj
raised his hat deferentially az he in
Iquired If that were the home OF MI
david Carlton.
Hessie answered affirpatively, ant
.IspringiuE to her feet with toss vi he
, silky ourls that reminded the strange
Of bird arranging its plumage, sh
led the way to the house. and TO tn
library, whore, in his comfortable chaii
lUncle David still slept as peacefully a
child.
i But voices reused him, and he rubbe
his eyes.
why, bless my heart, Ned !" he 81
Iclaimed :" what a surprise l thought
Il Rut he did not tell. after all, wis
the thought was, but introduced him
This pretty niece as Ned Wilton, the so
iof an old friend, and Hessie acEnov
t.e,)pe, the Introduction, with a sligt
|, yen,fusiop, al remembrance of his seein
[her sesping IN the arbor.
Md Wilton had come to stay 10,
: saays, If agreeable. he explained to a
fathers friend, and David Garlic
lrEbhed bis fat hands gleefully, an
tsaii that he should DO delighted Will
II | p essie denure Thought that the so
lof her unelu's friend was rather nit
n t,ouug man, and then, win sign 81
y lihought also of that dreadful eighteent
,of august, 90 near at hand. and OF Il
= looming of her elderly snitor.
But IL WAS almost a week on, an
ivho knew what might happen IN
webk So, for the intervening DAY