Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-12-12
HER LAST ROMANCE.

Mrs. Merriweather turned her face
upon her.
What did you say. Animal"
Il said you were too romantic" re-
peated Amina, with sullen delibera-
lion.
Amina was the daughter of de-
funct Italian fiddler-a wild-eyed,
erratic dreamer, who had drifted to
these shores and for few years kept
the red-eyed hunger-wolf from the
door by playing in the orchestra of the
opera. There was nothing Amina did
not owe to Mrs. Merriweather. 1t was
the rich widow who had gathered her
In and given her home.
Mrs. Merriweather stood before her
and in the abrupt arresting of her
movements all the tinkling bangles
on her wrists gave tongue. Mrs.
Merrweather was very fond of bangles
and pendants and tinkling cymbals.
She looked very stately in her dignilied
pose, and scarcely more than thirty
i've.
1T seems to me- she enunciated.
with disarming gentencss, that I
hardly merit abuse at your hands,
Amina."
Amina saw through her protectress
rs though she had been glass. But
what had that to do with itP She felt
convicted of ingratitude.
She suddenly flung herself out of her
chair and down on the floor at Mrs.
Merriweather's knee.
''Oh. don't mind what say! I'm a
wretch! You've been n angel to me
and I'm unworthy as any viper!"
Mrs. Merriweather smiled benignly.
such scenes were not new. Upon the
whole, it was not unpleasant to have
this half-indignant. half-protected
austerity close to one. 1t made one
teel young-almost girlish! And the
alterations of passionate. adoring
!ealty were pleasant also. They gave
color to daily life.
Mrs. Merriweather's smile curved in
10 youthful archness.
you love me SO much and yet you
don't seem to think that others could
love mer'
Amina was on her feet again, serious
and almost sullen as before.
Mr.. Pallatine is young. I don't
think he is more than thirty" she said.
This indeed, was venturing much!
Mrs. Merriweather drew herself up
again. and this time there was no
doubt about the steely point in her
eyes.
MIR. Palantinc is poor and q gen.
tleman. That means that he has tastes
which he cannot satisfy. TO 90 about
giving rcadings-gifted and fastidious
rs he is--cannot be wholly agreeable"
II should think it might be more
agreeable than being patronized by fine
ladies'" supplemented Amina.
Decidedly. "said Mrs. Merriweather.
sweeping from the room, you forget
yourself to-day"
Amina sat down by the window with
her hands in her lap. A wretchp OF
course she was wretch! Why had
she not been left to starve by the body
of her dead father in that bare room
long agop
That evening Egbert Pallatinc, read
Ing .Ulf in Ireland" Mrs. at Van Hook
ers reception. was conscious of Mrs.
Mcrriweather's fascinated eyes hang
Ing on his face.
One hour later, when the recitations
were over and some music to which
people had listened with patient
resignation had been performed, he
found himself in the midst of the push
for the supper.room close to the
widows perfumed pink brocade aud
elaborate blonde head and opulent
white shoulders and throat rising. gen
.crously like a full-blown hot-housee
flower out Of her low corsage and
plentifully believed with diamonds.
He offered his arm. and Mrs. Merri'
weather rustled along beside him,
showing all her wholesome white teeth
and chatterng graciously.
al am desperately hungry" she do.
'clared. 'and when you have attended
to me in that way you will have to at
tend to me in another way also. The
affair tonight has given me al idea"
Pallatine wheeled rather YEARLY.
When he had returned with some salad
and fricasseed oysters and croqucttes
and sandwiches on plate aud stood
before the widow holding her cham
payne glass. she proceeded:
IL shall have some tablcaux at my
house. And they shall be described, as
II were. by recitntions w" viii do