Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-02-19

AOHS leiISiOA UUiuptiy gave WY, duu
she burst into an uncomfortable hys-
terical weeping it. ~ 20.
Beverley was Mortified. But the
young girl came herself to his assist
ance. She mastered herself after
moment with violent effort, and
dried her tears.
II beg your pardon, she said, sim
ply; II could not helpit. You are very
kind to me. Thank YOU"
The large pathetic eyes looked up to
him with childlike confidence.
II shall be ready tomorrow when
ever you say
When Beverley turned away there
was !" lump in n his throat It
"Well, this is about the most utter
~ preposterous thing I ever heard OF
in my life! And you, of all men, to be
mixed up in anything of the kind"
This was Mrs. Valentines first ex-
clamation when left alone after her
brothers arrival with Lucille Vent
nor.
He had telegraphed to his sister to
take the first edge off her surprise, and
then, when Lucille had been conducted
to her room, had stated the case
briefly and forcibly to her.
Mrs. Valentine was by no means an
unfeeling woman under most circum-
stances, but in this case it distinctly
seemed to her that her bachelor BROTH
er had been by no means called on to
interfere. Some one else might have
taken charge Of the girl, she said with
irritation.
"Who?" inquired Beverley. "She is
absolutely alone in the world, poor
child! And she was there penniless
among strangers.
Good Heavens, Hugh! what if she
were? Do you think it was making
her lot easier to compromise the
girl?"
"Compromise her? What do you
mean?" Beverley flushed darby.
Mrs. Valentine knew that look in
her brothers face, and generally avoid
ed it.
''Of course it is compromising to her
to have brought her here alone with
you--a young girl like that-who has
no claim upon you," she said, shrug-
ging her shoulder, but speaking with
less excitement.
"She is about twenty years younger
than I, said Beverley, in q tone he
did not often use, "and tits unworthy
of you, Clara, to bring IN any such
word or thought in connection with
her or me. Come" he added, drop
ping again into his nonchalant bonho-
ME manner, "you have a better heart
than you want to show, Clara. Drop
q little ofyour worldliness, and be kind
to this child. She needs kindness
sorely. I'm going back to Germany
tomorrow, and I shall leave her with
you."
Mrs. Valentine knew better than to
make any further demur, but the irri-
tation remained.
ITO come all the way here just to
bring that girl, and then start off again
next day! And then he is indignant
because call it compromising. That
q man Of the world like Hugh should
indulge in anything so crafty quix-
otic.''
Nevertheless, she was not, in her
way, unkind to lucille. She was &C.
cording to her lights, very generous to
her, presenting her with mourning
outfit to take the place OF the poor
child's scant and rusty black.
"She is very pretty" she said to
herself, the first time that the girl ap-
peared in one of those plain, neatly
fitting gowns--"very. | wonder if
Hugh noticed it?" ~.
Upon the whole she was just as we'll
pleased that Hugh had gone back to
Germany. = ~
Lucille had begged from the first
day, to be allowed to take charge
OF the little boys, and as the latter
took to her very kindly, there was no
| objection to her doing so. And grad
uaHy she pleaded to have sundly
other duties assigned her, until Mrs.
Valentine had perforce to acknowl-
edge that she was most willing most
anxious not to eat the bread OF chart
ty, and that which was certainly not
the least good thing about her, con-
siderably useful to herself.
The little Partisan household had,
therefore, settled down upon q calm
and comfortable basis when Beverley,
with the suddeness which usually
characterized his movements, reap
peared. .# ~, = ,.& ,,.9.::ss
ne never came to Farls at TINS sea-
son, OF Ne year ana MIS-. valentlne
reminded him of the fact with some
sharpness: s. a.
"Oh, thought would try It," he
SAID, careiess'y. And ne remained ain q on on
Wltnoac any very denn1te purpose
4 after day. and week after week. ..43E%