Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-01-22
MABEL'S WIDOWER.

mo doubt Horace Ray is clever and
handsome" observed Mabel Wilmot,
but her curling lip seemed to say that
she was of quite another opinion.
"And very rich," added her step
father. "All the girls are running af-
ter him."
pray, except me-" cried Mabel;
81 have never thrown myself in his
way"
''All the other girls are not as fool
ish as you, returned John Chesterton;
"he is worth running after.
Anyhow, don't want to run after
him." said Mabel.
Because you are a fool" said her
stepfather. IF you>were to set your
cap at him, you would win. You can
make yourself very agreeable when you
like. He is not only rich, but the neph-
ew of an earl"
II can make myself very agreeable
and it was evident in this particular
case she meant to be the latter
"You are n perverse girl, said John
Chesterton; "but / know why it is you
are so obstinate. You want to marry
George Fenton, the widower, who has
half dozen children.
1T is untrue" said Mabel, flushing;
"because am kind to poor Kitty's
children, it does not follow that should
wish to marry her husband"
THAT is the idea people seem to
have" remarked her stepfather, with a
provoking smile.
II don't care what people think of
me-" said Mabel, bravely; but tears
sprang to her eyes.
Was the world indeed so cruel, so
hard in its judgment? Well, let people
say what they liked, she would not
turn her back upon her dead friends
children.
Mr. Chesterton did not pursue the
subject. Possibly, had his stepdaughter
been penniless he must have tried to
enforce obedience by forbidding her to-
speak to the Fentons
But the young lady had few thous-
ands in her own right, and Mr.. Ches-
terton was often under the necessity of
borrowing money from her.
Poor Kitty had been Mabel's school
mistress, and the girl was loyal in her
likings. Once you gained Mabel's
friendship it was yours for ever, even
If you disappointed her. She held that
''lovc is nor 10 q, that alters when it al
teration finds"
Georg Fenton had loved his wife
dearly. and was quite bowed down by
her loss. Kitty had been his right
hand. He seemed perfectly dazed by
HIS glief, and Mabel pitied him with all
her heart.
Her pity, however, did not merge in
to any warmer feeling, and it was out
of pure kindness of heart that she WIS.,
tied the children, and gave useful hints
to the. well meaning bnt ignorant wo-
man who had charge of them.
And now, according to her stepfath-
er. people were talking about her. and
saying that She wanted poor Kitty's
husband. There was no charity in the
world, the poor girl thought, with
crimsoning cheeks.
After all, why should she care what
people said? Why should the best i'm
pulses of her nature be crushed beneath
the iron heel of conventionality?
"I'll 60 right off and spend the even
ing with those poor little things" she
thought, rs she went up stairs toput on
ncr nat ana uOlDa0.
George Fenton's house was not far
of, and Mabel was soon knocking at
the door. How she smiled to hear the
patter of little feet in the hall.
Come in! Come inr' cried tiny
Rose, and dragged her triumphantly
into the presence of George Fenton.
Mabel had not calculated on this,
nor had she expected to see the man
her stepfather had referred to seated in
an armchair by the fire, with one OF
poor Kitty's twins on his lap.
II did not think of finding you al
home, Mr.. Fenton," she said, drawing
back. Rut he sprang up and led her
into the room.
"You know Horace Ray" he said.
swell, If You don't, so much the better,
for it gives me the pleasure of making
YOU acquainted Horace, Miss Wilmoi
is an angel. l don't know what the
children would have done without her.
She does all her spiriting while 1 an
away, as a rule, but l have caught her
to-day"
IL did not know you were acquaint
ed with Mr.. Ray" said Mabel, rather
coldly.
hhu uiuh ouPPoSO ~ NhNV
was acquainted with YOU" returned
George, who seemed to be in better
spirits than Mabel had ever seen hin
in since the day when his good ange
was taken from him.
'It's mutual enigma" observes
Horace Ray, with smile. "Miss Vii
mot, won't you sit down now yon ar
herep"
He handed her q chair as he spoke
but she declined the civility with
hasty gesture. No! she won't sit down
what on earth would people say?
Mabel was ready to. cry with vexa
ton. Perhaps, after all. her stepfathe
was right-kindness was always mis-
understood.
II thought The children were alone,
she said "They do not want me, sine
yop are at home"
Then. with bow, she walked out o
the room, and they heard the loud re
monstranco of the children, followe
by yell from little Rose, as the hal
door closed behind her favorite.
"What in the world ails the grip