Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-10
FRANK PaRSCOTTDS COURFSHIP.

The scarlet June sunset had grown dull
in the west, and the plaintive crickets were
at their vesper songs, when Julia Morton
came strolling up the wide path which led
to her grandmothers old-fashioned home
stead. Somebody was waiting on the
porch to meet her, and then in that dim
light Julia could recognize the silver
haired old lady with whom she had lived
since childhood, and her heart gave little
bound, too, as she saw what a stern look
was on that usually placid face.
I" Don't scold, grandma" Julia said in
her most conciliating tones, as she assembled
the steps of the porch. 81 know its rather
late and | ought not to have disregarded
your wishes about coming home earlier,
but"
Z" Now that you are home" Mrs Morton
interrupted, with a coldness in her voice
that was almost like hauteur, perhaps,
Julia, you will not object to few minutes
conversation with me in the sitting-room." !"
Certainly not, grandma; but please
don't continue to petrify me with that
stony look of yours. Have / been COM
mitting anything dreadful in the way of a
crime by staying out little latter than
usual"
Mrs. Morton deferred her reply to this
question until they stood together in the
sitting-room. Then, as the soft lamp
light fell on her wrinkled countenance
lending deeper severity to its angered ex-
preston
81 could readily excuse you for so slight
an offense," she said, "as the one which
you seem to suppose [ am annoyed at
No, Julia; your disobedience is of far
culpable nature. Ralph Olmstead has
been the companion of your walk this
afternoOn-ah you may well start and
look guilty. l did not believe you capable
Of such deceit, Julia-such wanton, reck-
less disobedience, too, of my expressed
commands. Do not attempt to deny this
charge; you were seen walking on the
L" road this afternoon, with Mr.. Ohm
stead. My information comes from a re-
liable source"
"That of Mrs. Ellis" retorted Julia,
''incorrigible gossip and tell-tale? We met
her this afternoon, | remember, and Mr..
Olmstead attracted my attention TO the
hideous bonnet she wears. As for your
information being thoroughly correct, l
see no reason why | should deny its truth.
And l shall confess, moreover, that Ralph
Olmstead's society is vastly agreeable
nay, more" she went on hotly, ''that pre-
fer it to the society of any other gentle
man in Ingoldham. There's no use in dis
guising matters any longer, grandma; this
arrangement made between you and the
Prescotts is simply ridiculous. / do not
consider myself engaged to Mr.. Frank
Prescott, because his mother and you
choose to alliance us il that stupid French
way, before l was old enough to spell the
word marriage let alone understand it.
| have never seen Frank Prescott, and /
suppose you will be terribly shocked to
learn that when he visits us next week, /
shall take the earliest convenient oppor-
tunity of freeing myself from SO absurd
contract"
"And your reasons for this behavior"
replied Mrs. Morton, white with anger,
will be your love, your infatuation for
a penniless adventurer, by the name of
Ralph Olmsted-a man." she continued,
who, since his arrival at Ingoldham,
three months ago, has used every art in
HNoSN1oOA
tune"
'These are words grandma, which you
have no right to utter against an honora-
BILE man, whose sole fault is poverty"
"Honorablep echoed the old lady, in a
decided passion. 81 tell you Julia Morton,
that Ralph Olmsted is an imposter. Sim
are easily imposed upon. For my part, l
half = !,
gentility, and you will believe them
mark my words-to your sorrow"
Somehow her grandmother's rage had
the effect of calming Julia. Il shall not
prolong a conversation which can lead to
ing slowly towards the door of the apart
ment. al love Ralph Olmsted too dearly
for your bitter words not to wound me, al
though | may know them to be unjust.
In months time | shall be my own mis-
tress, and free to dispose of my heart and
my money as | see proper. Until that
period you have my firm solemn promise
not to see Mr.. Olmsted again. Good
night, grandma-you have made my head
ache, and | am going to bed.'
But Julia wrote a letter that evening
before she retired to rest, in which she in
formed Ralph of the promise made to her
grandmother and besought of him not to
seek her society during the next month.
"After that she wrote, :" shall be en-
tirely yours. Whatever stories you may
hear during Mr.. Prescott's visit to the
homestead comes next week, / believe
credit nothing, Ralph, which hints at
my having forgotten you"
The letter was delivered to Ralph Ohm
Al .l. IL, Of a,,I
for one week at least, Julia's promise was
kept.
1t was a weary week She denied herself
to most of her friends who called and
seldom left her own chamber. AS for any
thing like social intercourse between her
self and old Mrs. Morton, an occasional
remark on either side Though generally on
Julias) was the nearest approach to it. |
think it very probable that the grand
mothers heart was deeply touched by the
low spirits and altered manner of one
whom she loved with sincere fondness.
But, although Mrs Morton's nature was at
bottom a well-spring of amiability and
benevolence, thus TO be thwarted in her
favorite scheme of marrying Julia to the
son of Mary Prescott ther lifelong friend,
whom years of foreign residence had sep
arated from her), was source OF the
most poignant regret. The old lady did
not thoroughly despair, however, of
eventually accomplishing this design.
Julia's self-imposed absence from Ralph
Olmsted might have the effect of making
him doubly DEAR" but she believed in
Frank Prescott's powers to eface the i'm
preston which the former lover had made
upon her heart. His arrival from Ger
many, where he had been educated at the
Goettingen University, and where the last
fourteen years of his life had been spent,
She daily expected. And Judging from
the euIogistic letters which Mrs. Morton |
had received from her friend, Mrs. Pres