The Penn's Grove record., 1885-02-14

Tut, tut, madam" he would reply
angrily ; 81 don't want to get rid of my
daughters until they wish to leave.
They sha'n't be turned out of their old
home"
But Lady Firth would purse her lips
and toss her head, as though to say that
that was her affair, and that what she
undertook to manage she would carry
out. And now Lydia was eighteen and
so lovely and winning that her mothers
whole time was taken up in scheming
for her advancement in life nothing
was held too costly, nothing too extrav-
agant that could in the smallest degree
heighten her daughters beauty.
''She ought to marry a duke" she
said one day to her husband.
Nonsense, Lefty Let the girl
marry a true honest man that she can
love, and | shall be satisfied, !" was his
retort.
And Lydia with flushed cheeks would
declare that she did not wish to marry
any one, to leave home and Jack, and
would strive to avoid wearing the hand
some dresses that she felt were utterly
unsuitabl to her age and position.
II am not a princess" she said once
rather petulantly but Lady Firth only
shooG her head wisely, thinking that
even this might be quite ION the cards. y
>iuce her first ball Lydia had had sew
eral admirers, who had haunted the
places where she was to be seen, and
who had bored her infinitely with their
absurd tlattery and exaggerated COM
pliments. From these she would turn
with relief to Lord Sands, who never
wearied her in this fashion, but stroye
% interest her by discussions on art and
! poetry and all hat is so sweet and Won
derful to the mind of a very young girl.
"'You are almost as nice as Jack"
she would say frankly-''you always
know what | want and when ( want it. "
.. am your friend was the invaria-
bic reply, land friendship has its pleas
ant duties. You know | have never
had a sister, and you come IN the place
of what / have missed in that respect"
But at last there came a crisis. One
of her unwelcome admirers declared
his intentions, and offered himself and
his very splendid income for the accept
ance of the object of his affections =.
dilu tuclC was q fCly SUNNY pNOhNY
when Lydia positively refused to see
him again, or to give him the least hope.
For several days Lady Firth would
neither speak voluntarily, o answer
her daughter when addressed, and at
last Lydia sought her friend in despair.
what am / to do, Lord Sands p'
she cried appealingly, as, having told
HIM of the whole affair, she turned
away, and bent over a bowl of flowers
that stood on her workable.
He laid his hand for a moment caress-
ingly ON her hair.
Poor little child, l scarcely know
what to say; but you we're quite right
be assured of that"
Yes, | know, but III the meantime
| am very unhappy, and mammals being
yexed and miserable makes it worse
and all about that one stupid man p
"Do not trouble, it will all come right
in time these things will happen, and
the poor fellow could not help loving
you. | wonder how it is that women
always despise a man who loves them,
without having awakened a correspond
ing feeling 2"
"a man ought to know when he is
not liked, and ought to take = refusal
quietly" answered Lydia severely.
81 have a PLAN" he said a few min
utes later, after there had been silence
between them for a little while ''but
| viii write and tell you what l thought,
and you must decide for yourself
whether it be practicable or not. Only
take care there is such a thing as es-
Gaping Scylla and being engulfed In
Charybdis.'
And then Sir John came in, and stood
talking to them, and o afterwards
Lord Sands took his leave. But the
same evening a groom came up with a
letter from him for Lydia.
She quietly put it into her pocket. and
made no comment thereon but al
about twelve o'clock that night, the
| door of the smoking-room, where Jack
was sitting alone, discussing the Field
and a very long pipe, was pushed d lit
tie open, and a cautiously lowered voice
legged for Abundance.
Come in, little one," cried Jack
cheerily, and Lydia entered, holding the
letter in her hand, and looking very dis
turbed.
"May | come and talk to you a little,
Jack p' she asked doubtfully.
"Why, of course you may /; it is like
old times, your coming to have a chat.
You are getting proud, | suppose. Your
head is turned with your numerous con-
quests, and a quiet confab with ones
brother is tame work after all that sort
of thing
NANnnnnA -1nnEs mn nINwnwvn GO
tired" she answered apologetically,
sinking down into the comfortable
chair that Jack had drawn forward fol-
her. but l want your advice now.
Please read this, and tell me what you
think of it )" and she held out the let
ter to him.
This is what it contained
"My dear Lydia,-I am going to
make a very strange proposition ; and
before making it, l wish you to promise
that, whether you accept it or not, our
friendship shall remain intact. Do you
remember our conversation at your first
ball, when we both agreed that mar
riage WAS a necessity, and that love was
far surpassed by his elder and more so
Der brother-frieudship? My opinion
10 uIldlOClCus dhu Wills 10 NY pIOpOolIlOus
Win you take my name and be my wife
in the eyes of the world, but in reality
my very dear sister-my friend ? If
were older, l would adopt you. as that
would be less binding to you but OF
course, as it is, that is quite out of the
question. If you decide to come to me,
you need fear no unwelcome tenderness
ON my part. and you need have no more
of my society than is agreeable you
have your brother and your six sisters,
and could always invite your own
guests. Think well of all this before
| you answer. | shall not alter. If |
could have loved any one, it would have
been you. But | will not deceive you &,
my feeling is that of a father for his
daughter-a calm, protective affection
that | swear shall never alter. If you
have a preference for any one-if you
feel that SOME day you will love, and
love deeply, do not hesitate to tell me
do not let me who would wish to be
your best friend-be the one to ruin
your life.
Yours always, and whatever happens,
"KEGTH."