The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-01
AUNT JAMES HERO.
A Tale With a Bad Beginning But
a Good Ending.

every well, Clare, if you wish me to leave
all my money to some asylum, you are going
just the right way to bring itabout. When
first saw Franks noble face, made up my
mind that he was the husband I should
choose for you.''
AS Aunt Jane said these words she laid
down her knitting and looked over to her
niece.
Clare was curled up in an armchair, with
only the back Of her sunny head visible, and
soft sound of sobs told what she was doing.
Suddenly they ceased, as she sprang to her
feet.
"Aunt Jane, don't want your fortune, if
Frank Aimes is to go with it! I hate him
the great, aWkWard---''
mo, no, Glare, don't call him names.
He's one of the noblest men God ever made
and if some day you do not discover it for
yourself, you are not what think you
Never mind saying any more on the subject
now; but bear in mind that shall never
give my consent for you to become that
snlpper-snapper Clarence Hollands wife,
Then she got up, and going to Clare, put
her arms around her and drew her close to
her kindly heart, in a manner quite at vari-
ance with her harsh words Glare was only
little woman, but nature had made up in
quality what she had withheld in quantity.
for prettier, daintier, sweeter little thing
with her sea-blue eyes and rings of yellow
hair, it would have been hard to find She
had only been with her Aunt Jane year,
and 1t was while at boarding school she had
met the man to whom she had given her
girlish heart
Clarence Holland was a ladies' man in the
fullest sense of the word, although why a
perfumed exquisite, who only can boast of
lovely mustache, and whose soul never
rises above the latest styles, should be called
by that title, for one could never see.
However, that was his description, and to
little Clare, with her slight knowledge of
the world, he was a hero indeed.
Upln her room Clare took tiny note
from her pocket and opened it. ssMy adored
Clare,' it began; and then the foolish child
kissed it, while her blue eyes kindled, as she
exclaimed to herself 4:
"No one shall ever part us!'' @
when she went down to the library, there
was Frank. Glare gave him her hand. and
then retreated to her favorite easy chair.
and watched him furtively, with the words
her aunt had spoken, ringing through her
mind. "One Of the noblest men God ever
made.n He was tall, (too tall, Clare was
thinking, though few would have agreed
with her, but she was forced to acknowledge
that his face was a good one as she marked
its union Of strength, intelligence and man
hness, and the kind, tender smile upon his
firm lips.
By and by they strolled out into the moon
lit garden, and walked three abreast down
the broad paths. with their sweet scented
borders OF old-fashioned flowers on either
side, until Aunt Jane suddenly remembe red
something to be done, and VENT in, and there
We're only two sauntering in the moonlight
Then Clare began to tremble, for she IN Il.
stlnctively knew what was coming. as she
saw the absent, dreamy look in her compan-
ions eyes quickly change to bright CLEAN.
He turned and locked down upon her.
Clare, I, he said, speaking very softly.
don't you know what am going to say to
you?
y Clare did not answer Then impetuously
sweeping her little figure right off her feet
he clasped her close to his heart as he ex-
claimed:
q knew you must have seen that loved
you, my darling
With crimson flush on her fair face
Glare forced herself from him.
Frank Aimes you are making mistake
/ do not love your B
The young mans cheek blanched as he
heard.
g Not love me! O! Glare, can It be that
have been deceived all this time ?-that what
q saw in your eyes was only Friendships o!
my darling, is there no hope for me? ~
Clare's head dropped as she heard the
ring. Of sharp pain in his earnest tones.
Then she looked up, and taking his great
hand in both her own soft ones, she said:
q am very sorry for this, Frank; but IN
deed there is no hope, for Il love another,
There was a. deep silence for while, as
Frank Aimes' hopes of happiness ebbed
away He seemed to have taken leave Of
youth, and all its sweet illusions, before he
spoke again.
y never suspected this he faltered. 81
wouldn't have spoken SO if had, though I
couldn't have helped loving you.,, Il
The honest grief in his face brought tears
to Clare's eyes. Il
I'll am so sorry, : she said ; ard then they
walked quietl y into the house together.
Clare Wentup to- her room and sat. down
by the open window The shadows grew