The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-09-18

to do. | am afraid you Will desplse iiio
for what I am about to confess"
"Oh, don't imagine that I shall, !"
cried Mrs. Frcdericks, lightly. "Come!
to the point! I think shall be able to
hear your confession without too great
shock"
~ love your granddaughter" cjacu-
lated the Captain abruptly, and his eys7
still continued to study the pattern OF the
rug at his feet.
"WellW
"Well, know that you have other de-
signs for her, I know that Henri loves
her-no, not as well as I do; that would
be impossible. Still, he is bound up in
her, poor boy! and--and so you sec that
I must 90 away"
~ sec," pronounced Mrs. Fredricks
distinctly, "ncthing of the sort"
AS the Captain finally looked at her in
wordlcss surprise, sho continued:
"Come here to me, young man." He
approached the great armchair. The old
lady's little, shriveled, impcrious hand
went up to his coat sleeve.
"Bend down. Nearer! Nearer!"
And thu Captain was aware OF having
suddenly received kiss, which was like
benediction on the roots of his hair.
"You will remain here and you will
be my grandson-in-law," cried the old
lady. "Yes, yesl Why do you look at
me so9 l speak the truth. You will
certainly marry Lena. Why, silly war
,ior that you are don't you know that she
has not thought of any one but you since
she first saw youa Young Bowen, in.
deed! Saving the politeness I would
show your nephew, he has been nothing
more to her than handsome barber's
block, aui that was just what I had in
tended. I knew what you were. Was
not your father, too, one of my dearest
friends! Oh, well, we'll! I knew that
no one would make Lena as happy as
you. I wished when my end came to
leave her in your hands. What was it to
me that you were thirty-six and the child
nineteen2 Iknew we'll enough that those
differences arc nothing when they are on
tbs r, ght side. But wanted Lena to
bs equally convinced to judge of you in
comparison with the-excuse me for so
speaking of your nephew-whipper-snap-
pers of the day. For that reason
invited you both here together that she
might see. But had intimated to her
that wished her to marry you, the
chances are-sucb, my dear Captain Rob,
is the feminine heart-that she would
have found some charm in the younger
man-the BOY who can only talk OF his
ball matches and his college races. Lena
is not perverse. But she's woman! As
it is, all has turned out for the best and
according to my most ardent desire. If
you arc not persuaded, wait and see."
She rang 4 bell at her elbow: "Tell Miss
Fredericks wish to see her." she said to
the servant answering the summons.
In moment Lena, pale still, and with
traces of tears recently shed still on her
cheeks, came slowly into the room. She
hcsitated on the threshold.
Captain Charter had sprung to his
feet.
Mrs. Frede,icks opened her lips to
speak. Then she paused, looking from
one to the other.
Suddenly.
"Captaiu, you can explain all this far
better than l can. Children, go out into
the grounds together"
1t is to be inferred that the Captains
explanation was satisfactory, for Miss
Lena Fredericks has been Mrs. Charter i
year.
sin this world" says Mrs. Frcdericks,
who still reads Herbert Spencer without
glasses, "uothing is so necessary as lit
tie diplomacy. Nothing gives such good
results. ."-Ne,o York Mercury.