The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-10-16
the field Of action. The agent came up
and removed the bill.
ssrbe house ia taken" said he.

NAA1 $4,000 @aN 19OAA1 6tAAC ttNA
not know or would not tell. Dorcas
heaved a deep sigh. ''Den," says she,
we've got to cl'ar ont"
The landlord sent Selma a polite note
in a day or two. He had concluded, he
wrote, to accept her offer of the furni-
ture and belongings as an equivalent for
a certain portion of the unpaid rent.
Nov" said Dorcas, "what is we to
do?"
Poor Mrs. Spencer was all in a flutter.
The Newport scheme delighted her, and
she was very busy looking over her
wardrobe with reference to the coming
visit. Selma had written to the aunt Of
an old schoolmate of hers, who kept a
boarding house in the fair seaside city,
asking her lowest p,ice for a comfort
able room. Dorcas was to go with Mrs.
Spencer as attendant and maid. and
Selma had resolved to hire a room in
New York and board herself as well as
she could.
sBut this has been a dear old home"
she murinured II wonder who will
sleep in my room; l wonder whose hands
will strike the yellow keys of mammals
old piano and dust my flowing blue
china and arrange the old fiddle backed
chairs"
The purple sunlight shone softly in;
the scent of a stalk of hyacinths in a
glass on the mantel brought back remi-
n~iscences of the old southern flower gar
dens, and all of a sudden a voice which
she had last heard in those very gardens
struck on her ear.
"Selina-have / startled your"
.sMr. Berkeley"
He extended a cordial hand.
perhaps you fancied that I could not
trace you out?' said he. "But I am bet
ter at hide and seek than you thought
She courtesied haughtily. His hand
some c~ountenance fell. Evidently he
was deeply disappointed.
Are you not glad to see me, Selina?"
he exclaimed. "Ah. Selma! Ihad count
ed so much on this interview! / had
planned to renew my suit-to ask you
once more to be my wife"
She drew her slight figure up.
.sYou are presuming too much ON my
very evident poverty, Mr.. Berkeley"
said she. II refused you when / was
Miss Spencer, of Spencer Vale. What
sort of a woman should l be if l were
now to accept you-simply as a protec-
ton against adyersityY'
"But, Selma
"Pray excuse me from any further dis
cussion of the question" said Selma.
.sMay I not hope to see your mother
he persisted.
81 should prefer not"
"Do you know, Selma" he said, after
a brief silence. "that this is a very bit
ter modification to meY'
.sIs it? Then what must it be to me?"
she retorted, almost fercely, looking up
at him.
He stood a second or two gazing sadly
at her. Stung by the scrutiny, she
swept from the room like an angered
princess.
Half a minute later she came hurryine
back. full of sweet, strange ~misgivings.
But he was gone.
II have let another opportunity slip
byw she murmured. "Oh, heavensl
where is my life drifting tor
At hat moment Aunt Dorcas ushered
in the landlord, a fussy, bald headed old
gentleman with a fur collar to his coat.
''Good evening, Miss Spencer" said
he. 81 expected to meet the new party
here"
'.The-I beg your pardon" said Sell
ina.
1.-THE gentleman who has purchased
this house and furniture" explained MI.
Beasley. ''and settled it on yourself and
your mother. A friend of yours, | sup
pose-Mr. Berkeley"
Standing sadly in the shadow of the
rustling poplar boughs outside George
Berkeley felt the magnetic influence OF
another presence. A soft voice stirred
the twilight air, like the far off music OF
forgotten days.
MI. Berkeley" it said-"George!-
please will you forgive me?'
A dead silence ensued.
won't You, George?' with a little sob
in the voice. I'll didn't mean to speak
SO harshly to you. l didn't know then
what know of your noble gener'
osity."
Silence-only silence still.
'If | accept it for dear mammals sake,
you surely will not misinterpret me.
Oh, George! how car you be SO cruel:
Why don't you answer me? What are
you waiting for me to sayy'
And still no word broke that haunting
~silencei
George" in a low voice, ''Tve
changed my mind. / will be your wife?'
He took her in his arms.
"Dear sweetheart he murmured
Dear little melting snow wreath.
knew that love would conquer you al
lastv"
When Mrs. Spencer heard Of the en-
gagemeDt she said quietly:
81 always thought they cared for each
other, bur since your master died, Dor
cas-, my poor head has scarcely been
itself; but make haste and finish the
packing. We + going to Newport, are
we mott"
And so the wedding trip was to New
port.
a GRs. II n--.. -. --~.-.