The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-02

generous g1fts from the Old arm. sat
down to mend lace and dream Akain.
Reed Webb listened silentt 70 his
fathers account of their relattyss.
Going ont riding every dsy with .
grand New York geptleman r. said he,
dressed like princess Father, that
does not sound like our little Hlda."
Cant help how it sounda,n said Mar
tin, It's 30. That's all / know
"Then," said Reed sadiy, . it's no use
my building that wing on the south side
OF the old house !? It wont Be needed
now" S51T =
"Not if You expect Hildal Murray to
"Hush," said Mrs. w ebb, whowas wash
ing the supper dishes with true house
wifeiy deftness and speed, making each
teaspoon shine like silver, each plate
glisten like ivory, in the friction Of her
homespun linen towel, ".there's some
one at the door. Go quick, husband %
Why" cried Martin, standing staring
on the threshold, sits HildA-itis Hilda
Murrayv' iaf@
But l can't stay minuts.,' said Hill
da, breathlessly. rvegot to return by
the 1880 train.'
"Hilda," said Reed gravely, "you
must come in. 1t is not right nor seem.
ly that you should be out alone at this
time of night"
:" l wanted Cousin Webb to know"
faltered Hilda. 81 couldn't bear that he
should think 80 i'll of me as to fancy that
was indulging in expensive pleasures,
wh,ie-whlle my mother is so poor. Her
slght Is failing, you know; she is almost
bind. She fancies that she is earning
something by mending lace, but she only
sspolls it. We should starve-if it wasn't
for the money / earn by giving riding
lessons in Mr.. Dulany's equestrian school.
Mother doesn't know. She would break
her heart if any one told her that I went
daily to the ring, and trained little girls
and young ladies in horsemanship. She
never can forget, you know, that my poor
father was a college graduate, and once
went to the legislature. So we let her
belleve-Mr. Dalany and THAT / am
taking lessons, instead of giving them.
She saw US once in the park with the class
OF young ladies, and she was so proud,
poor little mother. And Mr.. Dulany
says am the best teacher he ever had
and-oh with piteous clasping of the
hands-"is it very wrong? Is it? l
almost fancied so, when I saw Cousin
Webb looking at me this morning-act-
ing lie!'
" | dunno about that said Mr.. Webb,
fumbling around for his pocket handker-
chief; but know you're the incest and
best little girl ever saw!"
Hllda, said Mrs. Webb, pleadingly,
"canpot you come back here to VOLTS
Corners? | know your ma was beset
to get to New York. She thought, poor
dear, that fortunes were to be made there
hand over hand. But surely, now"
Hilda shook her head sorrowfully.
1--WE are too poor" she said we can
not afford the expenses of moving again.
And there is no house to be had bere
now"
Mrs. Webb put her hand on her hus-
bands shoulder.
Martin" said she hurriedly, "if Hilda
really wants to get back by the seven
thirty train, you must hitch up the horse
to take her to the station. And I'll go
out to the barn with you and hold the
lantern"
Once out in the barn, Martin Webb
looked at his wife.
ELIZA" said he, do you think our
Reed has any chance ?"
"1f he hasn't got chance now he new
er will have one," said Mrs. Webb. 81
tell you what, Martin that girl is pearl
of great price, and always said so.''
No sooner was Reed Webb left alone
with Hilda than be spoke out what was
in his heart.
"Hilda," he said, resolutely, "you
must come back! You can't live there
in the great wilderness Of bricks and
mortar, and I can't live here without you.
The farm is paving for itself now. / can
give my wife comfortable home; and
my wife's mother also. Dear little Hilda,
say that you will be mine!"
Hilda burst out into sudden gust of
tears and sobe.
"Oh, Reed" she cried, "if you knew
how often have dreamed of coming
back here-if you knew how homesick |
have been"
"Say heartsick, Hilda," he prompted,
eff you wait to make me happy !"
And smiling through her tears she re-
peated the word.
eyes, heartsick, Reed I"
"You will come back home, then
Hilda P"
"I will"
And by the time the. old horse was at
the door for the seven-thirty train, the
question was settled.
Reed himself took Hilda back to the
city fiat, and there pleaded his cause with
Mrs. Murray.
"It must be as Hilda decides Z" de-
clared the old lady, with dignity suf-
ficient for a crown-princess. " Though
there is no doubt but that she could make
a brilliant match in New York"
Smother p urged Hilda, piteously.
"Still," went on Mrs. Murray, ~ would
not oppose her affections and if you
think, Reed, that you can make her hap
py at VOLTS Corners"
"I will do my best" asserted Reed,
fervently.
"In that case," said Mrs. Murray" she
is yours!"
And she never knew, the poor old lady,
the whole story of Mr.. Dulany's riding
school. and Hilda's innocent network Of
harmless deceit.
at was fraud !" Hilda always de-
clared.
eyes" her husband admitted, "but it
was pious one ?"-HeIen F0rest Graves.
MALARIA.
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