Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-04

part, nc Wcut OH WIFI a. SWllt CHuIgc
of tone, II am delighted ut the turn
things have taken-delighted and re-
lieved since they clear great difficult
ty out of my way. You do not know.
Mrs. Gerard, what terrible and APP
paling person the Squire's heiress was
to me long after | had given Irene
Gerard my whole heart. More than
once-nay, more than a dozen times
| vowed To myself that must conquer
my love and give up all hope of win
ming her."
Dear Dick-dear, brave, generous
Dick-how noble and handsome he
looked, with that bright flush on his
bronzed cheek, that eager sparkle in
his eyes! could hardly see him for
my tears-tears of purest JOY and
pride and gratitude. | seemed then,
for the first time, TO understand how
great my triumph had been-how
overpowering was the force OF that
love that had conquered his pride and
drawn the sweetest tenderest words II
woman ever listened to from his re-
lrctant lips. And there were people
who would pity me--even my own
dear mother was disposed to think me
ill-used and worthy of commiseration
because uncle Archie had taken a wife
in his old age, because | should be a
be by-and-by! L could have laughed
aloud at the absurd idea. AS though
such trife could matter to the proud
and lucky girl who, some time in the
happy future, would be Dick Martin
eau's wife!
Dick noticed AMI answered my
smile, and went on brightly
Fate and Irene were n little too
strong for me, Mrs. Gerrard-and
somehow my secret was told. l do
not know how; perhaps hereyes asked
it If her lips did not"
"Dick, how dare you?" l interiected
blushing wildly at this libel on my
maidenly self. II remember that
afternoon if you do not. / know you
startled and took me completely by
surprise. | thought you were going
TO say something about the game or
the weather, as we stood resting under
the tree, and quite suddenly it was
that.
With which lucid explanation l re-
tired behind mothers chair.
"Oh, was it, my dear? No donbt
you are right--as told you, my mem
DRY is little misty on that point. All
| can clearly call to mind is your
answer, which, while it made me
wildly happy, filled we with a feeling
of remorse-I was asking you 10 give
up so much for my sake; for, in my
sober and reflective moments, it seem
ed TO me that Mr.. Gerard must inev-
itably suspect my motives and object
to me, and that | must either rob
Irene of all she had grown to look
upon as her right or give her up. |
was not strong enough to suppress my
love for her, nor vain enough to
think | could make full compensation
for all her losses, if | persisted in
claiming her hand. But thank Heaven
it will be all smooth sailing now,'
Thank Heaven, then. Dick, for
uncle Archie's wife, since she has
helped us out of our terrible difficulty.
But am not battered, sir, to find that
you took me with such extreme re-
luctance after ALL"
Dick laughed, not making the least
attempt to defend himself. Mother
looked at us with puzzled
smile, and said, in a Tablespoonful
full tone
well, well, young people are
queer creatures. | suppose you two
care for nothing while you have each
other.
"And you, mother" cried Dick and
|; and, though poor mother shook her
head and did her best to maintain her
role of gentle martyrdom, she could
not help being pleased with the spon-
taneity of out reply.
You are good children" she said,
looking from Dicks face TO mine;
''but cannot understand you, all the
same. i thought Irene, at least, had
some love for the old Hall, and would
regret being shut out from the house
in which her father was born"
Indeed / should, mother" broke
in. Indignantly. but why should we
contemplate being shut out from the
dear old place? Do you think uncle
Archie's wife will be such Gorgon as
to object 10 the visits of her husband S
nearest relatives-or that he has mar
ried some wholly unpresentable crea-
turep"
Heaven knows what he has mar
ried" mother answered bitterly, and
| seemed to measure all the depth OF
her disappointment as / heard the
harsh words fall from her gentle lips;
for as a rule, she was most charitable
in all her judgments, and always set
her face against scandalous gossip.
"Heaven knows whom he has mar
ried. But We can hardly imagine that
he has made very wise or prudent
choice. When men of his age fall in
love, there is no supreme act of folly
that they will not commit"
"Well, let us hope that uncle Archie
has not been tempted to do anything
that is not for his good" | said with a
successful attempt at cheerful uncon-
Germ; land, at any rate, until she
makes her appearance and says or
does somethinp 10 con vict herself Let