The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-25

less reputation, and go he was perfectly
welcome.
The days and weeks went by and
Prue's visit grew to an erd. With a
pang she acknowledged to herself that
she was not half so eager to return as she
ought to be, when she recollected how
patiently her father and lonely Aunt
Priscilla awaited her return.
81 am going away tomorrow" she said
to Owen Rainsford, as they stood before
the open CRATE one morning.
"Going awayp he repeated it blankly
Then he turned suddenly to her and said:
Dear little Prue, day by day your face
has grown into my heart until every note
L play is for you. Only promise some
day to love me as dearly as I love you"
A great wave OF wonder and happiness
swept over the girl as she listened to
these words, so different from anything
she had ever heard.
"Prue," he said, looking down into the
beautiful eyes. 1 am going to ask your
father if he will some day let me have
you. If he says yes will you say it, too"
Such low, faint reply came from
Prue But it satisfied him.
Deacon Bassatt was dumb with aston
ishment when Owen Rainsford asked to
marry his daughter. 1t could not be
possiblel Why Prue had scarcely been
away three months. In vain the young
man pleaded that he was willing to wait
for years, if only he might be permitted
to see her in the meantime. The deacon
bitterly reproached himself for having
permitted his daughter to fall into the
hands Of the Philistines, the latter be-
ing represented by this scheming fortune
hunter. OF course it was her money, the
fellow wanted. The possibility that
Rainsford might really be in love did not
enter her fathers head. How could he
in that short time? Why, he himself had
gone to see her mother for five years be-
fore he had asked her to marry him.
1t did not matter to him how much his
cousin Harriet thought of the young man.
She was woman and easily deceived.
Nothing she could say on the subject
would have any effect, In the most de-
cisive and sweeping terms, therefore, he
let Owen Rainsford know that never again
by word or deed, was he to attempt to
address his dauobfar
But the young man was not to be SO
easily disposed OF. Until he had heard
his fate from Prue's own lips he would
not consider it decided, he said. Per.
haps if Prue had told her father that
with all her heart she loved Rainsford,
things might have been different. But
she was too timid to acknowledge it in
the face of his stern indignation. So
with trembling lips she said good bye"
Her lover took the little hand in his for
the last time and said: "I will never for
get you, and if ever you send for me 1
will come to you though it should be to
the ends of the EARTH" Then he went
away.
Deacon Bassatt congratulated himself
that he had saved his daughter so
promptly, and inwardly resolved that new
or again should she leave his sight.
The winter was hard one that year,
and it seemed to tell on Prue's delicate
constitution. When the spring would
come she would be better, she said. But
the spring came, and still she seemed to
droop.
Deacon Bassatt's desire, meantime, had
been granted. With great sigh of re-
lief he closed the account book, tilted
back his chair and looked around the
room with gratified pride. At last he had
achieved the great wish of his existence:
Prudence Bassatt was rich woman.
At the end of the year he would leave
the store forever and devote all his time
to her for the remainder of his life. He
was not misery man; it was not for the
mere money alone that he had toiled all
these weary years early and late; it was
all for her. And now he had accomplish
ed what he had undertaken. Prue would
never have a wish unqualified for the
want of money.
So with a sense of ease he leaned back
and INDUCED himself in dreams of the
future. They were quickly brought to
an end by the entrance of Mrs. Went
worth.
"Why Cousin Harriet" he exclaimed,
when did you come? Have you been over
to the house?"
Cousin Harriet shook hands with him
and answered in the affirmative. Then
having seated herself in one of the wood
en- chairs, she began abruptly:
cousin Zadok, what have you been
doing with Prue? She looks as if she
would not live year, and believe it will
be your fault"
The deacon sprang to his feet, his face
ashen with terror, and caught her convul-
sively by the arm.
"Hsrriet Wentworth he gasped,
"what do you mean?"
She was startled by the effect of her
words, and answered soothingly, at is
very likely am mistaken. She may be
only little lonely. But 1 believe in my
heart she is pining for Owen Rainsford."