The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-06-29
a SATISFACTORY ROMANCE.

DIR. Arnold said, glancing around the
room Mrs. Wistar was showing him. 81
will send over my books and some addi-
tional furniture this morning. How about
a BEDROOM"
81 have one vacant. Third story back T"
Up the stairs they mounted, and the
room being found satisfactory, the doctor
departed TO send over his possessions.
1t was quite a long job to settle his
office, put ont his sign: "Dr. Stephen
Arnold" unpack his books and get things
in order. And all the time his hands were
busy in this work his mental faculties
were leading him a dance of mingled pain
and delight. Pain, because being only
twenty five years old, his practice was yet
to come, so that love and marriage were
far away visions. Delight, because he had
met, only the evening before, a maiden
who had taken him captive at once
1t was true that Helen Arnold, his u
in, who lad let him see very plainly for
more Than a year that her fair self and
fifty thousand dollars m light he his for the
asking. had said to him:
II have something to tell you about Miss
Gardiner the next time | see you"
But what Of that Helen Arnold had
always something to tell of every girl
with whom he danced twice. One paint
ed, another flirted, a third was engaged.
Not one was perfect but herself.
But Mabel Gardiner, Mrs. Westlake's
niece, this queen of girls, certainly neither
painted nor tirted.
He knew that Mrs. Westlake was very
wealthy; had heard of her adopted %nieces,
and his heart grew cold as that barrier of
wealth reared itself round his idol, forbid
ding him to WOO her.
1t was late in the forenoon " hen he ran
lightly up the stairs to nnpack his trunk,
and make his bed room homelike.
Now, it must be explained that the fur
mace register that heated Mrs. W!star's
third floor came between the front and
back rooms, in tho partition wall; and DIR.
Arnold, kneeling close to the register, nm
packing his trunk, was startled to hear the
door of the next room open. and Mabel
GARDENERS voice.
"Pshawr' he thought, 81 must be far
cone when | think the first girls voice /
hear is hers.
lie did not listen, hnt this is what he
heard;
"Here | am, darling, %atlast. And how
are youo Were you very, very lonely all
night?'
A fainter voice, with an nnderenrrent of
pain in it, remarked:
ssLonely enough. But never mind that.
Tell me about the party. What did yon
wear?"
"Garnet and pond lilies"
lyon must have looked lovely
A merry laugh answered that. Then
followed an animated description of a
party, and ~then-conld DIR. Arnold help
hearing:
"But, oh, Fannie, | must tell you.
There was a Miss Helen Arnold there,
who met me one day at Fishers on the
staircase. l had a large bundle, the vel
vet dress we embroidered last. She took
one long look at me, and last night she
recognized me. She had a handsome
cousin there, DR.. Arnold, and she was
evidently guarding him against all de-
signing girls. Fancy her CONSERVATION
when he danced with one of Fishers sew
ing girls, talked with her and brought her
an ice at supper time. Nv dear, it was as
good as a pl9y to watch her face. But
did not know the cream Of the joke until
we went home. Then Aunt Kate told me
she actually had the insolence to ask her
if her niece was a sewing girl for Fisher"
Or. Arnold ground his teeth, but lis
tened still, The sweet voice, full of NOR
riment, continued:
Cant you fancy Aunt Kate, Fanny?
| can see her draw mp that little figure Of
hers till she looked six feet tail"
"But what did she say?'
'sShe said her niece was sewing for Fisher
| because she had too much pride to be de
pendent upon a rich amt, who would
gladly give her n home of luxury and
idleness."
"Dear Aunt kate!'
''She's a darling! By the way, here are
some white grapes and a lot of other dain-
ties for You. | am sleepy vet, Fannie"
'Lie down here by me and ia Ike a nap"
A little more girlish chatter and then
silence.
The doctors hopes rose. His charmer
was no great heiress, then, set apart from
any o man who scornel fortune hunt
ing!
She was a poor girl who sewed for a
city firm, and would not eat the bread Of
dependence from even loving hands.
At dinner he was introduced to her.
Mrs. Wistar Informed him that the Miss
Gardiner who was in tine room next to his
had fallen on the ice and broken her leg,
and Miss Mabel was the most devoted
nurse.
"They're two sweet girls Mrs. Wistar
said. "though they mnst he Door. They
sew for a living, and such lovely embroid-
cry | never saw as they do. And they have
a rich aunt who comes in a carriage to see
them. that they do say-other folks. |