Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-04-26

and in September his grandchildren
were To DO married. There was only
Aunt Jane 10 caro- for the details OF
Elsie's trousseau. for the young girl
was an orphan, ard her fathers mar
riage had been displeasing to her
grandfather. But for the kindness OF
Aunt Jane and Frank. she would have
had scant welcome at l. during the
old mans lifetime. ~ ,s
But Aunt Jane was equal TO the
emergency, and tho profusion OF Elsie's
bridal wardrobe was good earnest OF
the luxuries to come after her mar
rage.
II wonder. now," Elsie thought.
after the rapid flight into the garden
already described. "what is Franks
opinion OF all this. Four blessed
months have been in this house, and
he has not once spoken word OF love
to me. He Is all courtesy. gentleness,
and--I will say 1t once--stupidity. but
as much like q lover as walking cane.
i suppose he don't like having bis wife
willed TO him. like teapot or cake
basket Why couldn't my grand
father have left me a tiny. tiny little
fortune all my ownP can't wear
more than one dress at a time, after
all. and nobody can eat more than one
dinner. 10 they order enough for fifty.
Oh. dear! There is Frank now, in the
summerhouse, looking like-h'm. let
me see! Downcast face, brooding eyes.
hands cienched fastt Not like happi-
ness--grief is too mild word-he
looks like despair! WhyP ! believe
I'll hnve 1t out with him now!"
In pursuance OF which design Elsie
presented herself before her betrothed,
rousing him from his gloomy abstrac-
tion to his usual gentle courtesy.
"What were you thinking OF as !
came down the walkp" she asked alb
ruptly.
For moment he looked confused. but
answered. very gently;
"a mans thoughts are not always
ready for dress parade, Elsie"
''Were you thinking Of mep"
"No."
81 am glad OF that. Ishould expect
TO find n dose Of arsenic In my next
cap OF tea. II you had been.n
"Did really look SO murderousf"
he said, smiling us old people smile at
tho vagaries Of their children
you looked" then she paused,
and came nearer to him upon the rus
tic seat Frank. she said softly. and
with eyes OF womanly tenderness.
giving new beauty TO her winsome
face. "will you answer me one ques-
tion truthfullyp Only one"
For a moment he hesitated. then
with long deep breath. he braced
himself us II to meet blow. and said:
81 willr'
Ibid you love somebody else when
grandfather dledP"
"Somebody elsep"
"Besides me! Arc you keeping the
terms OF the will because you will
not thrust me out OF n share OF grand
fathers wiIlp Are you breaking your
own heart" sU $50 lfl44al
"stop. Elsie! There are many
questions"
ANSWER my first one, then. Do
you love somebody else better than
your little couslnP"
"Yesr' was the murmured answer.
..Oh, so do I so do /! II Is all a
wretched mistake! oh, FrankF In a
passion OF tears. .f88 A
Never had he been so lover-liko
! rs now. when he had renounced her.
He took her In his arms. soothed her.
kissed her, called her pet names.
Don't Elsie. don't sob so. My dear
child, there shall be no compulsion.
thought you were heart whole"
$50 | ought TO be. treated him
shnmefully. / told him ! wanted
money, money. lots OF money. was
hatefull''
Then there was sobbing confession.
and cousinly condolences; and Aunt
Jane. seeing the pair coming arm in
arm, thought:
why. dear me. tho dear children
have come to an understanding. and
Frank will forget Agnes. after all. l
am 80 gladv af8 M
The summer had been long one to
Herbert He worked. studied in the
evenings. wearied himself in many
ways, having much Of the same rest
,Ossness that had tormented Elsie. He