Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-10-10

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on the ,window-ledge. and beside il a
saucer ofg den-hearted pansies. With
cry of delight she sprang toward
them. touching her lips TO the velvet
petals. and gong back in thought to
the days past, when she brought
pansies to the dear mother who was
dead now. and who always called her
brown eyed daughter Little Hor-
tense"
BY and by it occurred to Hortense
to ask where the flowers came from;
so she went down and spoke to Jenny.
who tended the door. and gave egress
and ingress to the people who lodged
in Mrs. Curtis house.
''Lor'. ma'aml where did they come
from, did you sayP Why, Mr.Granges
Sterne's coachman fetched 'em. with
his masters compliments AID a
mighty nice-looking boy that coach
man is, too! Lor'! such n mustache
rs he's got! Full as handsome as
Squire Barr's. And he's perlite, too
very. He-he said"-here Jenny sub
sided for few moments with at OF
giggling--" he said he would kiss me
if he knew nobody wouldn't be look
ing!" and Jenny went off again more
desperately than before.
Hortense went slowly up the stairs,
and put the flowers away in n little
anteroom. Their fragrance was OPP
pressive TO her. remembering that
Miss Doncaster's betrothed had sent
them.
Days passed into weeks. and Mr..
Ia off hV
accident, then accidents occurred fire.
quently-and ut last almost every
night he would overtake her as she
walked up Delany street. Hortense
could not help wondering how he could
endure her, anyway, for she took es
pecial pains always TO make herself
particularly diSagreeable.
HortenSe was very conscientious,
and she reasoned she had no right tC
be cordial with another woman's lover
and she tried hard to detest Granger
Sterue for what she considered his un'
faithfulness in showing attention Il
any other than the lady of his love
but somehow. try ever so hard, she
could not get up even decent sorl o.
hatred for him. But she avoided
him constantly, and answered hi:
| kindest speeches in such way tina
he was half provoked with her at times
and if he had been less in love ht
would have dropped her altogether
for he was proud man. and not used
to being snubbed by the other sex.
One evening fate favored him. HI
overlook Miss May just in time to save
her from being seriously injured by {
pair of runaway horses, that rushed
upon her just rs she was turning
corner; and there was nothing for Mis-
May but to submit to being saved by
him.
He drew her arm within his. ant
walked home with her. At the doc
she tried to say some words of tn anks
but he stopped her.
No." said he. II want to hea,
nothing of that kind. am quits witt
you now. Once you saved my life
and now have saved yours. And
am going in with you for lttl,
while, too"
The man was audacious. and hi
audacity made Hortense powerlesss 81
all she could do was TO suffer him L
follow her into the little sitting-room
1t was Il very neat room and Stern,
saw a vine of ivy he had sent her a few
days before. trained carefully over tn,
window.
The sight encouraged him to take
seat on the lounge by Hortense'!
side.
Where is the use of this playing a
cross-purposes any longer?" said III
taking hor hands. II am sick of it
Hortense. you know what j am goin:
TO tell you. | love YOU. | have lovet
you long time. There, that is the
whole story in very few words"
Release my hands" she said indig
nautly. land go to Miss Doncastel
with the same story! will you?"
He laughed.
mo. do not think will. | hav,
told this story to no other woman
Hortense. My darling, Miss Dom
caster is nothing to me; and has never
been. What sin have ] committed tina
people should be continually condemn
ing me to that piece of strategy Hor
:ense. / want living. breathing, warn
hearted woman for wife, and | an
going to have her. Make up you
mind to that"
And Hortense. finding the man il
earnest, was obliged to consent to hi!
arrangement that she should leave tn,
mill Immediately. and that she shoulC
become his wife in two months.
This program was faithfully carried
out, to Miss Doncaster's infinite dis
gust. and to this day that lady ha
never ceased wondering what Oranges
Sterne could see in that factory-girl t
win his love.