Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-02-16
Narrow Escape.

am 29?' said Iona Ross, with pretty
frown.
Il am my dear--and I'm blunt
woman. Why don't you get married."
asked the old lady, surveying her
handsome niece critically through her
glasses.
Precisely what l am here for"
chirped the other. Il am going to
marry Edward Percy. shall see him
tonight. and he must beware'--shak-
ing her head coquettishly.
'But my dear girl, he is infatuated
with Clara Dunton."
"lhen Clara Dunton must look out,
laughed Iona, when looking at her
watch, she discovered it was time TO
60 and dress.
When Miss Ross entered the draw
ingroom she created thrill of admira-
ton. She bowed coolly TO Mr.. Percy
and smiled on the others.
Miss Dunton for reader, lecturer,
and woman who advocated woman's
rights, was playing Il remarkable weak
and unreiant role. She was just say
ing when Iona came in that she got
SO tired of the battle of life some
times and after Miss Ross little
breezy disturbance Mr.. Percy, who
WAS under the spell of the enchan-
tress and thought Nj 50 Dunton about
as near perfection aS women general
l. are. leaned forward and said in
aside: why not throw your burdens
Oh stronger shoulders, thenP"
ALAS! have but little faith in
any ones strength. with soft little
lulter,ng 9Th that touched the
gentleman's heart, as she meant it
should.
'Let me teach you faith" he said.
Aunt Mary and Mrs. BrIdgewater
were in deep conversation.
He had almost forgotten Iona, until
he casually glanced in her direction.
and met the scornful gaze of her proud,
dark eyes. and a look of utter con-
tempt on her face, whether for himself
CT his companion he could not tell. He
made some trivial remark to her.
She answered him calmly and coldly.
and then no said. do. Miss Dunton
favor us with some music" CHANGING
toward the piano.
She Eesitated moment, colored
fainth. and then SAID, Not tonight,
thank YOU"
"Mr. Percy was gentleman. but in
some things very peculiar and straight
forward, us in his questions that follow
ed Immediately:
You do play, don you, Miss Dun
ton?'
Mrs. Bridgcwater was looking at her.
and SO she dared not tell an untruth,
and said:
NO. am sorry to say that never
hal much desire to learn"
Indeed! | think music rare ac-
complishment.
There was visible disappointment in
the gcntleman's tone. but Aunt Mary,
coming TO the rescue, said, in her
gu ct way: Perhaps Iona will play
for for us.
"Ol, excuse me! 1 had forgotten
that Miss Rose played. Favor us,
please"
Mr.. Percy conducted her to the
piano, where Iona felt that she should
reap her first benefit in his eyes.
He was passionately fond of mnsic.
and Mss Ross played aud sang with
soul and SIP rit.
You sing beautifully, Miss Ross"
he said. when she arose to leave the in
strument
Thank YOU" she replied. quietly.
Edward Percy walked home in n
very thoughtful mood after he had
said good night
"Strange, L never noticed what a
preposscssing girl Iona Ross was be.
FORE" he thought 'She would GER
,ainly grace any mans home. But she
wouldn't be fool enough to fall in love
with me; and. if she did, she wouldn't
graf fy INV self-lovc enough to let me
know it. However, / began to like the
little girl.
A few evenings later our friends
met ut aunt Mary's. Again Iona was
importuned to sing and play. this time
Edward Percy's rich bass joining in
with her clear, sweet soprano.
After the music ceased he seemed SO
absorbed in Iona's carelessly inde-
pendent sayings that Miss Dunton
begged leave 20 read. She read Sc
lections we'll indeed; but she had prac-
tised for hours for this very occasion.
Then she entered into discussion of
their merits with Mr.. Percy.
In lull of the conversation. and
when the interest had somewhat flag
Ced, Aunt Mary said: THAT reminds
mo of some poetry would like you to
hear. / will find the pieces"
She returned at last with them, Miss
Dunton inwardly expecting that she
would be the one to read them. But
Aunt Mary handed them to Iona say
ing:
Here, Iona, give me your opinion on
these"
Iona commenced to read ct once in a
voice that fullered little. but gradual
" grew strong firm and full, com
pletely throwing Miss Dunton and her
accomplishment IN the shade. and yet
Dir. Percy knew that Miss Ross was not
a public reader. She laid the paper
down, trembling vislbly. She had won