Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-26
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to waste our valuable time in talkingof
Aaron"
stI wanted to hear about him for
James salne,'' she said meekly. "No,
not for James sake" she added sudden.
IL. in a fir1ner voice. ST always liked
him, Michael; and when I remember
what he has done for you, I am very
grateful"
elbow YOU exaggerate trifes!' he
cried. irritabIy. 'Let me put the case
clearly before you. and then, perhaps,
Won viii see it in the right light. Aaron
Fenlalce is one of the foremen in Bat
tersby's works. He knows that clerk
is wanted who can write huently in
several languages, and he tells me of
the vacancy. apply, and soon con-
vince the firm that I am fit for the
post. Surely, may be pardoned If I
don't go staggering under a heavy load
of gratitude to the end of my days. Do
YOU suppose that Aaron's good word
would have got me into the Office, If I
had not been the man that 1 amp"
"Oh, I know that you can do any
and ewes. "But poor Aaron is devoted
to you, and he is such good fellow"
'eWen, Olive, we can't discuss his -ex-
cellence now" replied Michael, stand
ing upright sits nearly time foz: me
! to start, and you are going to give,'me a
cup of tea first"
stWel1, Mrs Hooper will give you the
| cup of tea, "she said, keeping back a. sigh.
! sYou will like her tea better than ours.
She is very good to me, and I want you
to see my friend, Lucy Cromer-''
'Lucy Cromer? oh, ali, yes, that's
| the niece who has come to live with
her." he answered as they moved away
from the gate.
On the other side. of the, quiet road
J there were two cottages sheltered
under one broad roof of thatch.
Their walls were covered with moss
and weather~stains, and the little dia-
1nond-paned easements were set in
vreaths of creepers. And, although
there was as yet no wealth Of foliage
to dress up the 1owly dwellings with
summer beauty, they had the pictur-
esque charm that belongs especially to
places rustic and decayed.
There was large piece of ground,
half fower-garden and half kitchen
garden, in front of the two cottages;
and the only division between the gar
dens was row of fints showing out
white against the dark mold. At one
of the doors stood a young woman,
with a fresh, modest face, who held out
her hand timidly as Michael ap-
preached. He greeted her with an air
of friendly patronage.
GLOW do you do, Jane2 Glad to see
you looking so we1l,' he said, and then
stalked in through the other doorway.
The room which he entered, followed
bv Olive, was very low, with heavy
] 41A aai1Sr~ Rrn q
burning brightly in the prim old-fash-
toned little iron cage, and between the
fire and the window stood small sofa
covered with faded chintz. Propped up
with cushions, another young woman
was sitting in the corner of the sofa;
and she, too, extended her hand to
Michael, but her manner was not timid
as James had been.
ST am glad to see you, Mr.. Chase; ]
have heard great deal about you." she
said in a faint, sweet voice.
! Something in the look and air of the
speaker surprised Michael so much that
he lost his usual seH-assurance. He
stood awkwardly before Lucy Crome1
for a moment, and then sat down
meelxly in chair near her couch. How
|, was it possible that this woman could
, be the niece of plain Mrs. Hooper, who
, had lived in Eastmeon all her days? In
i her letters Olive had told him that hen
friend was pretty, and he had expected
to see commonplace little person, pos
+ sessed of ordinary good looks. But nc
+ commonplace girl was here.
: Lucy Cromer was long. slender
: woman, with the kind Of figure that
i sways and bends with reed-like grace
t. Her face was long, too; she had large
: gray eyes that were now preternatu
q rally bright, delicate aquiline nose
and fair hair which surrounded her heat
& with a golden halo. A dark-blue wrap
o per, of some soft material, set Off thu
t exceeding fairness of her complexion
: and, simple as the robe was, it wa
}. made in style that is seldom seen il
n villages or country towns. Your frs
It glance at Lucy suf3ced to tell you he,
r days were numbered; your second con
v WINGED you that she was waiting
j. eagerly, perhaps impatiently, for tn
end.
&c There are souls in whom God accom-
n plishes His work quite alone. Neigh
"a bors came sometimes; but Lucy care,
/ little for visits, and the simple country
II folk were afraid Of her. The clergy
II man called, and was bafded by her gen
tie Indifference and her curious unfit
~ ness for her humble position. Wha
~ was her history? Even her aunt SCENE
e. to know very little about Lucy's life
"a The girl had gone to be maid to an oil
~ lady, who had taken fancy to her an
- raised her to the post of companion
20 And then came a quarrel and changes
~ Lucy had left her situation and ha
~ found work in florists shop in Regen
~ street. There she had displayed grea
skill in arranging bouquets and fash
!, joining wreaths aud sprays; and ha
-, kept this place until her health failed
y This was all that Mrs. Hooper had I
tell about her niece. She was a lionel
u xuoroap and To7cv xxyoa 4loo oy,lu ,a1oA;n