, 1886-07-13

thought he might be in the city, Your
position is 80 much better il you are in the
city, remarked Miss Warden.
Dear me, 1t isn't" answered Bell,
"Whnt an odd old-fashioned ideal Iuuu-i
go. for Pm to break the news to four ni
five people this evening. All, 1t seerhe
very sad Tint what gives Robert joy IN
slc:is,ble will be like death to otbers !
col.ll name. | know a gentleman fri nd
who'll be terribly cut up | bet You IS
pence he'll write n wall OF agony to me T."
morrow. .holl wear all my best clothe-
till I'm married, and IL you like I'll sell You
m waterproof it never suited me, for II
always hid my ~fgure-oh, by the way,
Rni%rt is 50 silly about my figure-you
shali lm,e it for half penny
-Np. thank you. | have one, a beauty.
Let M. sec You again soon. And | con-
grntulnte you heartily"
-You shall nave my c~ooking-stove
cheap" were Bella's last words, say 1ss.
down"
The outer door shut and Miss Warden
was left to herself. As the old maid sat
Close - the fire, it was with a sigh she
Thought Of Bobbie. Il can smell the tube
ros. ia his b~uttonhole," she murmurcd.
Aand zee the Chinese lantern swinging
oyer or heads. II was close on my birth
WIN. " NV ft0Ntl INT HtH II MdSt anu StHt
me n spray OF flowers in II white paper box.
Alas the inspector upstairs struck up
the wedding march-"she has been SO vul-
gar n TO telrhim her news. do believe il
Mr.. Jones hadn't turned up she'd have
MARI ii that policeman rather thar no.
body"
a. she sat musing with n copy of Dick
ems Carol open on her lap her knocker
was again assIiled, bat thist time In such u
gentle fashion that it was n minnie or two
before she thou ght 1t could possibly be
meant for her. Then she put her book
dowa, rose ind opened the door to find a
tall, thin gray man on the Threshold,
holding in his hand some white chrysan-
themulns.
"is Miss Manners heres" he asked.
No,"answered Miss Warden, "she Is W.
doors To the right as you go round the cor
ncr
~ wanted To see Bella to ask her
II few questions, and as l am going
into the country early tomorrow till the
18th of next month, | thought | had better
waste no time, but come on and see her.
| want to tell her'-as he spoke he put up
his eyeglasses to look at the framed photo.
graphs" n silll buy her an engagement
ring rs soon rs | can; in the mean time sue
must be content with a few flowers. |
can't tell You how glad / shall be to be
settled, for my servants give me n doose
Of a lot of trouble, and it's so dull for me
all alone in my house."
1--WE NJ donbt said Miss Warden po-
litely, wondering why this fresli-faced,
nice looking man chose Bella OF all people
In the world. I've no doubt. won't
offer you tea, for of course my cousin will
give you some. You ant see the pictures
rlnurly Inf mn hold fha Ionnn fnr ~, r
Il draw n bit myself, and l always look
about at the works OF art people choose
to surround themselves with. | judge of
their character by that, you know; but.
goodness gracious, where ave ] seen that
beforei'-pointing with his white chrysan-
themums to the pencil sketch Of n pretty
young girl, in a frilled muslin gown and
aud crossed cape, with her hair done in
numbers OF curls on each side of the face,
ana braids behind.
Mis- Warden laughed a little, and
busted the glass with her pocket hand
aerchief. "It never was very like she
said.
The contrast seemed sad enough between.
che bright young face in the picture, WITH
its wealth of hair. and the thin, old one.
with the straight parting and iecorors
cap. ~
who did IT. he asked, afte a pause.
Il n~eVerknew; il was sent to me one
Valentines Day, but | always sHs-
pectedZ
Bobby Routh," said Mr. Jones pntting
his flowers on the table, aud looking at
her steadily.
Yes, said the old maid in a trembling
tone. Did YOU know him at ALI Did
yon ever meet hims He was in the bank
.I... -.. -
taw n little OF hiu at Chaplain; but my
mother didn' like him very much, and he
stopped calling. He wa always cheerful
and nice, and so funny, food looking,
too, oh, very, with brilliant brown eyes,
and n pink color like n girls. | never
knew what became of him. He left the
bank, and they do say he went to the
bad"
Don't believe it, answered Mr.. Jones,
taking the lamp from her shaking hand,
and walking towards the fire. II know
something Of him, and he was always n
nice sort of a chap enough. Could he 50
easily guided. l heard he had a little
money left him, for which he had to
change his name, andi in fact"
Really interrupted the old maid. "Ah,
he'll never be anything but Routh to me.
! I'm glad he didn't 60 wrong; and he must
he IS by now, / suppose, for | shall he 50
In February-55, it does not seem possible
anu he was nearly four years older. /
never knew much of him, you know, Mr..
Jones. but the little l did know | liked.
But this is nothing to you, yon know: 1
can't think why | began it. Let me show
you the way TO Bella's rooms. Y0n turn
out Of this door to the right, and go up the
staircase till you come 10 the second
fiuor-'
THANK you.' replied Mr.. Jones. speak
ing in n ~curiously softened voice. May !
leave these flowers with you instead OF
taking them TO your cousin' She don't
expect them, and they'll brighten rp your
tnble. Good-by. l nm so glad to have
met you. oh, yes, I'll give your love To
Bella. Please don't stand in n %draught.T
Dear me-" said Miss Warden, as she ar
ranged her chrysanthemums in n Minton
vase, that had been a birthday present on
the day she was II. "How gentleman-likc
Of Mr.. Jones. How well he talks. Some
people are lucky, indeed. In spite Of his
being a dentist, | envy Bella. | really do
envy Bella"
Half an hour afterwards when the cher
woman's daughter was helping to tidy the
room (diffusing the while a strong aroma
of pcppermint), and just when the waits
had begun TO play under the window that
most suggestive OF Christmas tunes, The
Mistletoe Bough," Bella Manners again
anne to the door, and demanded in n loud
tone to be let in. with which request Miss
Warden compiled with some little terpida-
tion, thinking that her flowers were about
to be reft from her. Bella was bursting
with excitement still. ale has just been
td know what sort OF Engagement ring /
ShOuld like. but. as nv fingers nra "A LITTLE
equity, | said ! should prefer a massive
gold bracelet ~instead-ain't | wisef He
has only n fault, he isn't romantic. and
L ln lnNa Ia Lit of romance When Mnntnd