The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-11-27

letters 10 the drawer turned the telegram
face downwards, and then, somewhat harshly,
stammered:
"Ehl Whose there' Come in"
II beg your pardon, papa" said very
pretty girl, entering without, however, the
slightest ira " Of apology or awe in her man
ner, and taking chair with the self-poSses-
sion and familiarity OF a habitue Of the
room, but knew it was not your habit to
write late so | supposed you were not busy
am on my way to bed"
She was so very pretty, and withal 80 ut
terly unconscious of 1t, or perhaps so con-
sciously superior to it, that one was provoked
into more critical examination of her face.
81 this only resulted in reiteration of her
beauty, and perhaps the added facts that her
dark eyes were very womanly, her rich COM
plexion eloquent and her chscled lips full
enough to he passionate or capriclous, not
withstanding that their general effect suggest
ed neither caprice, womanly weakness nor
passion.
With the instinct Of an embarrassed man,
Mr. Rightbody touched the topic he would
have preferred 10 avoid.
II suppose we must talk over tomorrow"
he hcsitatcd this matter of yours and Mr..
Maryin's! Mrs. Marvin has formally spoken
to your mother"
Miss Alice lifted her bright eyes intelli-
gently, but not joyfully, and the color of
action, rather than embarrassment, rose to
her round checks.
eyes, he said she would" she answered,
simply
AT present." continued Mr.. Rightbody,
still awkwardIy, II see no objection to the
proposed arrangement"
Miss Alice opened her round eyes at this.
"Why, papa, thought it had been all set
tied long ago! Mamma knew it, you knew it.
Last July mamma and you talked it over"
YES, yes" returned her father, fumbling
his papers; that is-well we will talk Of it
tomorrow" In fact, Mr.. Rightbody had
intended to give the affair q proper attitude
of seriousness ard solcmnity by due precision
Of speech and some opposite reflections, when
he should impart the news to his daughter, but
felt himself unable to do it now. II am glad,
Alice, d" he said at last that you have quite
forgotten your previous whims and fancies.
You see IRE are right"
"Oh dare say, papa, if I'm to be mar
red at ALL that Mr.. Marvin is in every way
suitable"
Mr. Rightbody looked at his daughter mar
rowly. There was not the slightest impotence
nor bitterness in her manner; it was rs well
regulated as the sentiment she expressed.
"Mr. Marvin is"-he began.
II know what Mr. Marvin is" interrupted
Miss Alice; "and he has promised me that |
shall be allowed to go on with my studies
the same as before. ! shall graduate with my
class; and, if prefer to practice my profess
sion, can do so in two years after our mar
riage."
an two years." queried Mr.. Rghtbody,
curiously.
Eyes. You see, in case we should have a
child, that would give me time enough to
wean it,"
Mr.. Rightbody looked at this flesh Of his
flesh, pretty and palpable flesh as it was; but,
being confronted as equally with the brain of
his brain, all he could do was to say meekly:
"Yes, certainly. We will see about all
that tomorrow"
Miss Alice rose. Something in the free,
them lightly, after half yawn, on her 1.-the
hips, suggested his next speech, although still
distract and inpatient
"You continue your exercise with the
hcalth-lift yet, | see"
Eyes, papa; but had to give up the fan
ncls. | don't see how mamma could wear
them But my dresses are high-necked, and
by bathing | tougher my skin. See !" she
added, rs with a chld-like unconsciousneSs,
she unfastened two or three buttons of her
gown, and exposed the white surface of her
throat and neck to her father, 81 can defy a
chill"
Mr. Rightbody, with something akin to n
genuine, playful patcrnal laugh, leaned for
ward and kissed her forehead.
ITS getting late, Ally" he said parentally,
but not dictatorily $50 to bed"
II took napof three hours this afternoon"
said Miss Alice, with dazzling SMILE "to an
ticpate this dissipation. Goodnight, papa.
Tomorrow, then"
"To-morrow," repeated Mr.. Rightbody, with
his eyes still fixed upon the girl vaguely.
Goodnight"
Miss Alice tripped from the room, possibly
a trine the more light-hcartedly that she had
parted from her father in one of his rare mo-
ments of illogical human weakness. And per-
haps it was well for the poor girl that she
kept this single remembrance of him, when, |
| fear, in after years, his methods, his reason
ing and indeed all he had tried to impress
upon her childhood, had faded from her
memcry.
For, when she had LETT, Mr.. Rightbody fell
again to the examination of his old letters.
This was quite absorbing; so much so, that
he did not notice the footsteps of Mrs Right
body on the staircase as she passed to her
chamber, nor that she had paused on the
landing to look through the glass half-door
ON her husband, as he sat there with the
letters beside him, and the telegram opened
before him Had she waited moment later,
she would have seen him rise, and walk to
the sofa with disturbed air and slight con-
fusion; so that, on reaching it, he seemed to
hesitate to lie down, although pale and evi-