The Penn's Grove record., 1886-07-17

you want to marryp" 49,,
A wave of color, like the warm tint
to a sea-shell, covered Lottie's sweet
face. -,
81 I'M going to marry very soon,"
she said after a moment.
Are your And do you mind telling
me about it-and himp" questioned
the oma
she is teaching German and French
to the children that l am nursery-gov-
erness to, and we meet there very
often. L know he is good and noble,
because-because l do. lie shows II In
every look and act"
And you love hlmp"
"Ah, yesi Yes, indeedI'
Something. in the sweet purity and
rapt expression of the girls face made
the woman turn suddenly away and
wipe her ewes. And then nothing more
was said by either until the dainty sup
per of tea, toast and egg was cooked by
Lottie, and placed before the woman
on a little tray, covered with a worn
but snowy napkin. Then suddenly
came the question:
"What are you going to do with me
to-night-turn me outp"
"Oh no. indeed. You shall sleep on
my led, and 1 can make a pallet here
| 10y the fire. My bed is out OF sight
nOw," she added, with a laugh, as the
woman looked around inquirlngly: II
like to have my room a sitting-room;
so, if any one comes to see me L fold
my bed into a lounge, and put all
my toilet things behind that pretty cur
tain, anG that leaves me a little parlor,
you see. Isn't it PLEASANT"
The old woman's face was a mystery
as she looked and listened. The thin
lips continually twitched, and the eyes,
with all their sharpness gone, Tiled
again and again with tears, But she
asked no more questions.
Lottie ate her own supper, then went
into the closet, took down the tiny
dish-pan, poured out her water that
had been heating while they ate, then
put out and set back the little stove,
and quickly cleaned up all signs OF sup.
per, working quietly, as she supposed
the weary woman was doing, when, on
the contrary, she was intently watching
every act of the young housekeeper.
Work done, apron was removed, clean
cuffs put on, the soft curls brushed and
tastefully tied; then Lottie came to the
FIRE, and seeing her visitor awake, said,
with a smile and a pretty blush:
my Robert Is coming this evening,
and you will see if he is not good and
noble looking"
she is coming this EVENING"" ex-
claimed the woman, starting up Then
l must go at once"
Indeed, mol Where would you go?
You will stay right here" said Lottie
with decision.
And at that very instant steps
sounded on the stairs, and she added,
with a quick smile:
"IIere he is now"
Trembling, ard evidently at her wits
end, the woman sank back into her
seat, and now. while Lottie went
to the door and greeted her lover
in a few low spoken words, she sat
staring into the fire, as though conster.
nation had given place to amusement.
Laying his hat and coat over a chair.
Robert Claxton came round to the fire,
and looked down at the old woman. as
she looked up at him, and there was a
moments silence.
Grandmother" he exclaimed at
last, in a voice of stupeied amaZement.
Grandmother, am 1 dreaming?"
We'll. no, / think not. You don't
appear to be-" answered she, as though,
after all, 1t was a great joke.
but you-what-I-"
Didn't 1 say l was going tor" asked
she, shortly.
mo, you didn't say what, and
l never thought"
No, l suppose not, but 1 did. See
here, Lottie."
Like one doubling her senses. Lottie
had stood listening to this strange
dialogue, and even at this peremptory
order she had not the power to move.
This is my grandmother, Lottie.n
began Robert, as if at a loss how to tell
his story.
But she interrupted briskly.
"I'll tell you about it myself, Lottie."
said she. 81 am. his grandmother, and
l am not poor, and no more is he, as he
has made you believe. On the con-
trary, he Is to have all my money, and
l had set my heart on his marrying
Grace Lathrop-yes, the very young
lady where you teach, and he set
his heart on finding out what she was
like. So | humored him, and he left
off his last name, Sterling. and went to
the family with a glowing recommcn-
dation from me, He also saw you, and
/ could never repeat all his love rhapso-
dies. l was chagrined that my choice
had been found at fault, and de-
termined to discover flaws in his, and -
well, I've tried and failed"
She paused there, and rising sud-
denly, went to amazed and bewlldered
Lottie, and took her hand.
Robert. the girl you love is worthy
all you have said and believed of her.
She is a pure, true, noble girl, with a
heart that you or any man must strive
hard to be worthy of. Take her, with
the warmest blessing you crusty. doubt
ing grandmother can ask or give"
Tenderly Robert clasped the hands
placed in his, and drew her to his
breast,
"Lottle, my darling, you forgive
us both?"
Bet, from mingled astonishment and
JOY, Lottie was sobbIng and speeckless.
81 played the hungry old woman
Sterling. complacently, as she sat down
by the fire again. "1'm old and sick
looking, and Of course the child never
guessed l was swathed in thick fannels
under all these rags. But, oh, Robert,
my boy, you have found a little treas
ure-you have indeedl Be worthy of
herl"
~ will try, grandma" he saic,
tenderly kissing Lottie's blushing,
happy face, every hour of my life."