Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-10-24

home constant relays OF novels and
poetry books; and Tessa used to turn
with avidity from the history aad
memoirs and course Of improving
reading marked out for her by Mrs.
Calender to the lighter and more use
full food.
"You will completely ruin that girl,
Austen!" Mrs. Calender said severely
one afternoon as she met her
brother in the hall with a basket of
exquisite hot house flowers in one hand
and set of volumes tucked under his
arm. "She is utterly vain and frivol-
Gus. She thinks OF nothing but finery
and novel-reading-cares for nothing
but how she can best enjoy herself and
deck herself out to win admira-
tion.n
Austen smiled indulgently.
why notp She is young and pretty!
Let her enjoy her youth and beauty
while she can" he said with a grave
smile.
Young! We were young once our
selves" Mrs. Calender retorted, with
contemptuous sniff at the masculine
weakness which could overlook and
pardon every fault for the sake of n
sinners pretty face; "but we had very
different training. We were taught to
think of something beyond mere amuse-
ment and enjoyment when we were
young.
"Were we ever youngP" he asked,
with Extraordinarily smile. Il never
was! / had a mans care and RESPONSE
bility on my shoulders almost before |
ceased TO be child. What did | ever
know OF youths pleasures and follies
of its enjoyment of the present, of
its happy indifference to the futurep"
There was an odd passionate accent
in the mans voice, such Il longing re-
greet for the youth that had slipped
away uncnjoyed, that his sister looked
at him in utter surprise.
"What on earth do you mean, Aus
temp Surely you OF all men ought least
to regret your early training!" she said
Indignantly. Look what il has done
for you! Where is there man of
your age so wealthy, so honored--
whose influence is ps great in the
county as yoursP"
perhaps so; | dare say you arc
RICH" shrugged his shoulders
slightly; "but, for all that, il ever l
marry and have children, their youth
and ira ming shall be very different
from my own. There, don't look so
startled Prudence and he laughed
at his sisters disturbed face-"I am
not likely to make fool OF myself at
ray age!'
"Your age You are barely forty;
why should you not marry?" Mrs.
Calender answered. "lf you choose
suitable person, that IS; not a giddy
flirting girl like-Tessa, for instance. -
She looked sharply into her brothers
face rs she uttered the last words. He
started and glanced at her in amaze
mept.
"Tessa-that child! How absutdw
he said, with low laugh.
"Of course it would be absurd-in-
tensely absurd" Mrs. Calender re-
piled decisively. "But really, seeing
how you indulge every within and fancy
she pleascs to take into her head, one
might easily be excused for fancying
you were in love with her."
"In lover'-and Austen laughed
again. "Oh, it is pleasant to have
something young and pretty about the
housed" he added carelessly.
He gathered up one or two of the
flowers which had fallen upon the
floor during the conversation, and
went off to the drawing room, leaving
Mrs. Calender with perplexed look
on her face, alone in the hall.
He will repent it-as sure as my
name is Calender, he will repent it,"
she said severely to herself as the door
| closed behind her brothC.
To BE CONTINUED.