Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-12-26

Della should greet each other in the Ii
brary and that Henry and Amelia shoul(
have the same felicity in the conserva
tory. Mrs. Haversham put each apart
ment in tirst-claSs order, arranged -th'
furniture daintiIy, put a shaded lamp OF
the table, and turned down the gas. Sh'
instructed the maid to say to Ben, whC
was first expected, that his presence wa!
requested in the library. Henry, upOI
arrival. was to be shown into the con
SerVatOry.
| The old lady and the old gentleman
and the twin sisters, who were to be sac
rilieed, and who didn't object so long a:
there was prospect of change in theil
gloomy life, were sitting i'll the drawing
room after dinner. Suddenl! whistle
was heard on the railroad, which rar
through the valley below the house
Mrs. Haversham asked Della to step into
the library and look over the books
while Amelia was left to be entertained
by Mr.. Haversham.
This is Henry's case" she said
Here is an edition of British Poets,
and here is Macaulay and all the other
great essayists. This is an edition OF
Hawthorne. Over here" (pointing to
another easel "is Ben's library of books
about field sports, horses, dogs and every
conceivable kind of gun. On this shelf
isl
"Goodness!" she exclaimed, as she
heard wheels rattle on the driveway
please excuse ME, my dear" and the
good woman vanished from the room.
y moment after handsome young
man, with hat and stick in his hand
and an Overcoat on his arm, stood in the
doorway with somewhat startled ap-
pearance.
Della advanced with OutStretched
hand, modestly, yet unaffectedly, and
with an appealing glance for some slight
display of affection from one whom she
expected would soon be her husband
The picture of the modest girl family
seen by the shaded lamp was not only
beautiful but touching. 1t suddenly
occurred to Haversham that his conduct
toward her had been anything but lover
like. He took the outstretched hand,
and raising it to his lips, kissed it. The
girl, who was hungry for the slightest
display of affection, looked positively
grateful.
1--WE been awfully cut up" he said.
"Indeed!"
81 intended to arrive earlier than
was expected and dine at home"
ats too bad," said the girl in disap-
pointed tone. "And why didn't your"
Il spent all my money on the way to
the train, and had to go back for more" !"
This was well enough as far as it went;
but it didn't go very far. What in the
world could he have spent all his money
for on the way to the train?
81 suppose you wanted some cigars"
she said.
There was something so pointed in
this observation that Haversham smiled.
mot at all. There are plenty here"
"Wine?"
The young man broke into a laugh.
"Please tell me-" she said, looking at
him appealingly.
why should you take so much inter
est in the matter?"
ats something l shouldn't know, l
suppose"
Not at all"
"1'hen why do you make so much of
it,"
81? | make much of it? 1t seems to
me that you are the one who is doing
that"
You are very unkind"
"What delayed me was really of little
but of snch nature that |
wouldn't like to speak of it,
Then you DON'T She cast her eyes
aside and hesitated.
but l do. Upon my word | do"
'What?"
"Why, w-what you m-m-eant, of
She looked disappointed. She wanted
4 more definite avowal.
81 can't bear mysteries" she said,pres
emily.
''Very well,' said the young man, re-
alizing that the information she desired
would have to come sooner or later, and
ne blushingly confessed that a little
jagged girl whom he had met had per-
'uaded him to 60 to her mothers lodg-
ngs, where he had found such destitu-
ion that he had emptied his purse on
he table and hastily left.
"Wasn't that good of him." murmur-
ID the young girl to herself, her soft
Eyes looking into his approvingly.
Haversham was charmed. He began
o wonder how he could have gone about
t so coolly. He blessed his mother,
Who had arranged it all; he plumed him
elf on his good nature at having as
ented so readily. Gently placing his
lrm about his companions waist, he
enderly but respectfully drew her to-
ward him. Then, without undue haste
# clumsiness, he imprinted kiss upon
Ter red lips.
Meanwhile another train had come in.
Irs. Haversham had gone through the
as before; she had invited
Amelia to go and see her flowers; the
arriage wheels were heard; the matron
ad retired; young man stood at the
oor and beheld beautiful girl in the
nost engaging of feminine positions
hat of smelling rose, with back
round of variegated flowers.
Haversham gazed rapturously while
he girl passed from flower to flower.
he coughed. She turned and
waited his approach demurely.
"What pretty picture" he exclaimed.
l wouldn't mind gazing at it the rest
f the evening, or the rest of my life.
Or that matter. If l had caught
limpse of it this afternoon l wouldn't
ave spent much time at the club. l
ould just as well have come this after
Don, as it turned out. Besides, l
youldn't have fallen in with that miser-
ble"-
"That miserable what?"
"Never mind, sweetheart, I'm not
luch behind time" And he marched ,
traight up to her and without any ado,
r by your leave, claimed a lovers privi-
,ge-a kiss-a kiss which, the girl
lought, considering his past indiffer-