The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-05-30
AUNT JAMES HERO.

Andrew J. skrissias, in Commercial On
AUNT JAMES HERO.
A Tale With a Bad Beginning But
Good Ending.
VERY well, Clare, if you wish me to leave
all my money to some asylum, YOU are pOinp
just the right way to bring it about When
first saw Franks noble face, made IN nv
mind that he was the husband should
choose for you.''
AS Aunt Jane said these words she laid
down her knitting and looked over to he,
niece.
Clare was curled up in an arm chair, with
only the back of her sunny head visible, and
u soft sound Of sobs told what she was doing.
Suddenly they ceased, Us she sprang to her
feet.
AUNT Jane, don't want your fortune. II
Frank Aimes is to 60 with it! hate him
the great, awkward"
mo, no, Clare, don't call hin. names,
He's one of the nOblest men God ever made.
and II some day you do not discover it for
yourself, you are not what 1 think You.
now; but bear in mind that shall never
give my consent for you to become that
unipper-snapper Clarence Hollands wife: -
Then she got up, and going to Clare, put
her arms around her and drew her close ia
her kindly heart, in a manner quite at vari-
;ance with her harsh words. Clare was Onlv
little woman, but nature had made up in
4uallty what she had withheld in quantity.
Tor q prettler, 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 q year.
and it was while at boarding school she had
met the man to whom she had given her
girlish heart.
Clarence Holland was ladies' man N the
fullest sense of the word, although why a
perfumed exquisite, who only can boast of
"lovcly" mustache, and whose soul never
rises above the latest styles, shou!5: 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 hero indeed.
Up in her room Glare took tiny note
from her pocket and opened it. my adored
Clare, it began; and then the foolish child
kissed it, while her blue eyes kindled, as she
exclaimed to herself:
mo one shall ever part us!''
When she went down to the library, there
was Frank. Clare 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. Zone Of the noblest men God ever
made 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 q good one, as she marked
ifg 1,r,io Nf ,rx<t ILL
illness, 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 Aent Jane suddenly remembered
something to be done, and went in, and there
were only two sauntering in the moonlight
Then Clare began to tremble, for she in
stinctively knew what was coming, as she
saw the absent, dreamy look in her compan-
ions eyes quickly change to bright CLEAN.
He turned and looked down upon her
"Clare," he said, speaking very softly,
''don't you know what am gsing to say to
you?"
Clare did not answer. Then impetuously
sweeping her little figure right of her feet,
he clasped her close to his heart as he ex-
claimed:
II knew you must have seen that I loved
you, my darling
With crimson flush on her fair face
Clare forced herself from him.
Frank Aimes you are making mistake,
! do not love your
The young mans cheek blanched as he
heard.
mot love me! o! Clare, can it be that
have been deceived all this time! -that what
! saw in your eyes was only friendship 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:
II am very sorry for this, Frank; but in
deed there is no hope, for-Ilove another"
There was 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.
II never suspected this" he faltered. II
wouldn't have spoken 80 if had, though I
couldn't have helped loving you.''
The honest grief in his face brought tears
to Clare's eyes,
II am so sorry" she said; and then they
walked quietly into the house together.
Clare went up to her room and sat down
by the open window. The shadows grew
darker and darker, and still she was mo-
sionless. Strange thoughts were surging
through the girls mind. She wondered at
herself that Franks unexpected embrace
had not made her more angry, and again
Rhe felt the clasp of his manly arms, and
saw the tender look in his eyes, and invol-
UNFAIRLY the question arose in her mind:
''Am l making the mistake, instead of
Evpnr lx1s hal NJ For>
long while, and unconsciously her ideas of
life were beginning to change, and her
growing wOmanliness to recognize the
worth of such character as Frank Aimes.
But she had given Clarence her promise,
and, yes, she loved him as much as ever-so
she thought.
Frank had gone, and the weeks went by.
Every now and then came letters from
Clarence to Clare.
Aunt Jane looked on. Frank had told her
of his rejection; but not word on the sub
Jet did she say to her niece. One day: some
months after, as they were both sewing m
Che sitting room, Aunt Jane said: Is.
"Clare, I've been thinking that this old
house must be very stupid for young thing
nike you. While Frank was here, of course
1t was different; but now, how. would you
like to I'LL the house with company for
few weeks, and have Q gay time:" Z.
30, suntie, that would be- fun; but
whom would you asker !:
well, I've been thinking that shouldn't
let an old prejudice stand in the way Of my
dear niece's happiness. Suppose we say
Arsk Mr.. Holland.'
.'You dear, good old aunty - exclaimed
Clare, springing to her aunt's side and al
most sanothesins her with kis4es.
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