Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-09-27


mother muttcred dolefully; whereat
Dick and exchanged chances, SHOOK
my head in silent protest, and Dick
answered in cheerful confident tone
mot quite. l think. But we will
not ride out to meet troubles. Mr.
Gerard may, after all. approve OF me
and have faith in my futm e; or, if h,
docs not
The sentence seemed finished
though he said no more than that; anC
we soon fell to talking OF other things
in as easy, coy and comfortable q
manner Us though we thrce-mother,
he and had occupied our present
positions to each other for years rath.
or than hours.
We agreed on many things be 'ore
we parted that night-among others.
that Dick should write TO uncle Archie,
who was then at Paris, telling him the
whole story of our engagement frank
ly and at once.
al know he will be vexed Irene, :"
said mother, with whisper, after
DICK had gone. lit is "a most impru-
dent marriage look at it how you will!
As friend, Mr.. Marlineau is very
charming young man-oh, thank you,
my dear; / know how much that kiss
is worth; but let me finish my sentence
please!-as "a friend, Dick Martineau
Is delightful; but, rs "a husband for
Miss Gerard OF the Hall. he really
ought TO have something of his own. ="
80 he ought, If fortune went by
| hv fau hA
thanks to himself, by-and-by," | an
swered. with happy hippancy; at
any rate, if Miss Gerard of the Hall
may not have the husband of her
choice. she will have none at all, but
live and die a most respected and
respectable old maid"
Irene Mother darlingw
We looked at each 9th er for few
moments, and mothers eyes were
filed with dismay; then | drew nv
stool up beside her chair as | used TO
do when | was Il little child, as she
liked me to do still when we were
alone together, and, leaning my arms
on her lap, looked up into her dear
kind old face.
Mother dear, this is not joke-it
is matter OF life and death to mep'
l said earnestly. Il hope uncle Archie
will be kind; | hope he will under
stand but if he does motif he makes
me choose between the Hall-and
Dick, | shall let the Hall 90.
Mother as very good to me then.
My words, know, struck like an axe
at the very root of the one cherished
hope of her life; but she did not scold
nor try to change my purpose in any
way; she just gave one quick
searching glance, then bent her head
and kissed me, saying gently
Indeed, my dear, | hope your
uncle will be kind. All we can do now
is just TO wait and hope"
We did wait-not too hopefully, [
think-for about a week; and then
uncle Archie's letter came-a letter
that electrified Us all, and gave poor
mother shock from which she found
1t hard TO recover.
Letter, | have said; but there were
letters for us ALL How well | remem-
Der the afternoon they came, Dick
and | had been making languid half
hearted attempts 10 play u
game at tennis; but the weather
was very hot, and we were
too restless and excited TO settle
steadily to anything in those days. II
was relief TO us both think. when
mother appeared in the verandah ex- |
citedly waving a couple of envelopes. |
''from uncle Archie, Dick" | cried |
as l threw my racquet down and ran
TO mother at once.
Dick followed slowly, and stood at /
the foot of the steps, looking up at
us with deep flush on his bronze
skin and an eager light in his blue
eyes.
II would not open the letter till YOU
came, said mo her, with tremulous
laugh. There is one for you, Irene,
and one directed here for Dick. |
think 1t is a happy argury that he
should write to US all-don't you?n
''Open your letter and see. You
shall tell us the news, dear" cried.
'ndeavoring to subdue my own intense
excitement as | began to feel little
nervous about her. Mother was never
'yer-strong, and | had got into
habit of watching her carefully now.
As she glanced over the closely
written ilimsy sheet of foreign note
PAPER, watched her pretty face close
y, and saw it change in a curious
ashton. Surprise, bewilderment, and
hen startled incredulous anger, were
n turn reflected there; then suddenly !
he started to her feet, trembling, her |.
ace deathly pale. =
Irene, what does il mean? Your =
ncle must be madn she cried We =
i
J began to tremble too. and turaoL n
ppealingly TO Dick, who had boon
uietly reading his own letter, and
Tho increased my wonder by looking
Y no means dissatisfied with its con-
'nts. He came forward at ONE.
nd answered mothers question him
,lc.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Nothing can be happier and more