The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-05-27
the trivialities of life 20 hand in

the trivialities of life go hand in
hand.
In all her anticipations of evil she
had never thought of this. A step.
mother over mischievous Walter, and
impulsive Willie, and tender-hearted
Lilias, and the dear, troublesome, low
ing little twins whom she was quite
sure that nobody but herself could un-
derstand ana manage. How could
Will be so heartless? Had she failed
in her dutye Had she neglected to
surround Mr.. Percival's path with the
sweet home happiness which he appre-
ciated so fullyP Was she, at forty years
old, to be set aside, and her place filled
by some giggling, pink-cheeked school
girl, who would first teach the child
rem to forget 'Aunt Grace" and then
make them miserable?"
If these young Percivals had been
Miss Ways own children she could not
more bitterly have resented this thing
in their behalf. 1t was of them that she
most thought-for them that her tears
fell with the bitterest profusion. But
through it all there was the keen pang
of unacknowledged jealousy for her
self. She had given up her youth and
prime to Will and his children,-and
now he had forgotten it all.
She was rather pale and silent when
Mr.. Percival came home to dinner, and
she thought that he, also was inclined
to be little distract. But when the
little folks were all in bed, and Lilias
and her brothers had gone to play
games at children's party next door.
Will came to the center table, where
Grace was darning stockings for the
twins, who galloped through two or
three pairs month. on an average.
Grace" said he, Il promised Mr..
Prime to give you this letter. He
wanted me to promise that would ad-
vocate his cause with you also, but l
couldn't do that. I said would leave
the matter to your own consideration.
And do so.'
Grace read the letter slowly. It was
OF marriage from the specialized clergy
man of the church which they OCCASION
ally attended,-a sensible, straight-for-
ward statement that he loved and re.
spected her above all other women, and
would gladly make her his wife. AS
she perused the lines, Mr.. Percival's
eyes studied her face intently.
''Well?" he said, as she laid down
the paper, with slightly heightened
color; lis it to be yes or MOP
1T is to be no, most decidedly!
''WithOut prejudice or bias?''
"Without prejudice or bias
'You cannot teach yourself to love
Mr.. Primer
''No. certainly not,' she declared.
Percival's face lighted up with sud-
den brilliance.
"Then, Gracie." he said, taking
both her hands in his, "can't you teach
yourself to love me? For never
knew Oracle darling, how necessary
you were to my happiness until Prime S
words aroused me TO the possibility of
loosing you. You are my home angel
more than mother to my children,
and the precious companion of my
solitary home. l scarcely dared to
hope until confded my trouble to
kind Mrs. Fox-and Mrs. Fox advised
me to try for the treasure, at least.
You had better say Yes Oracle, for l
shall shut my ears against any NO. -
AAu uuucI IucSo OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Way wisely said "Yes.''
II am forty years old, to be su
said she, her eyes downcast, "but-
'And 1 am forty-three," said Mr..
Percival. ''But even if l were eighty
three, don't see why any number OF
years should be bar between me and
happiness.
And so the evening of her fortieth
birthday was the happiest that Grace
had ever known.
The clock was striking eleven when
little Pryphena cried sleepily from her
bedroom:
"Aunt Oracle! Aunt Oracle! please
to give me a drink of water?'
Something glttered in the night.
light on Miss Ways finger, as she
brought the child glass of water.
''What's that" said Pryphena.
"A ring said Grace, ''that your
papa has just given me.''
He must love you very much to
give you such ring as that, said the
child.
Il hope he does" murmured Grace.
And Pryphena turned over on the
pillow, and drifted into the visions OF
childhood. But it is a question
whether her dreams that night were
any sweeter than those of Aunt Grace