The Red Cloud chief., 1891-12-04

she said, land I know John will treat
him as a gentleman. Paul Is q good
man. and II you love him he shall have
THANK you, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
would like him, for my AXE, and you
will like him better VIXEN You know
how good and noble he Is"
Then another long silence followed.
after which Mary said:
HAS Paul spoken y you OF love.
Louise?"
mo, he never has. That is, not cx-
actly."
"And are you sure you love him?"
81 know I love him mamma, he is so
good and kind, and 5 all the friend I
have aside from you md pa"
The mother smiled family at the
girls carncstness aad stroking the soft,
brown hair gently. said:
Louise, you nrs young yet, a mere
child, and I'm afraid you do not know
your heart rs well as you think. You
have- a gr..s kkt.c-&~-ps~sesnsei In
\ apt 70 have for n good friend when
friends are few. You admire his kind
ness of heart, for. poor child, you have
known little CROUCH OF such in your
life. You like md esteem Paul above
all others, hut perhaps you may not
love him. Love is a broad and a deep
thing. and you are toe young to under
stand what il really is. Go on thinking
Of him rs you do. il Won wish. and al
Ways treat him with the kindncst con-
sidcration, hui do not go beyond that.
II he speaks to you OF love do not en-
courage him. and make him no prom
Uses. Tell him that You are young and
that I wish you to wait n year or two
longer before you enter into any com
pact affecting your whole future life.
But perhaps this is all unnecessary pre-
caution. He has said nothing, and per-
haps he may not say anything for n
long time. 1t may bc-arc You sure he
loves you. Loui>c?"
Il know he does, mamma II can't
tell you how l know il, but l do know
he loves me: and some day he means to
ask me 10 be his wife. am sixteen
now. and in a year or two l shall DC n
woman. and then he will speak and
you will not object. Will you?"
mo, not unlces ! have better rca-
sons than I know ut present. But n
year or two is n long time, Louise. and
we need not consider now what we
will do then. 1t may not be necessary
for me to say W. or nay 10 Paul. for
you may see him differently then. You
may sec some n else that may sup
plant him in your heart"
'TOh. mother. that is impossible! No
not he So ~ungrateful IS to give him 4
second place in my heart, when he has
bccn so good 10 me-"
The mother smiled again. She was
assured from these last words of her
daughter. hat Louise had mistaken her
heart. and that what she felt to be love
was only gratitude and friendship.
She understood how easily one Of
Louisc's age. and one placed as she was
could deceive herself. and she could not
believe that the child knew her own
heart. For n long time she was silent,
and for a time doubts. fears and misgiv-
inRs possessed her. She realized how
easily n of the girls age and temper
amcnt could he deceived. She was in
experienced. and knowing nothing Of
human nature. judged all mankind by
her own standard. and reckoned all
hearts like hers, pure, innocent and
honest Whether she really loved Paul
or not, he was her idol. and she looked
! up 10 him rs a paragon Of perfection.
and was that confident and trusiful that
she would not, and could not, doubt him
in anything.
Such thoughts rs these ran through
the mothers mind. and she trcmbled
for the safety of her child. Then she
recalled all she knew OF Paul. lie
was a man of perfect character. and
in all the years she had known him he
had not been guilty of an ung~ntle-
manly Sct This review Of the young
mans past somewhat treasured her,
and she felt thankful that il WAS Paul
who hen such an influence over her
daughter. She was far safer with him
than with most men
no RE CoxrIyUED.l