The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-11-22

S--s-z
THIS is WHAT WANTED TO SHOW YOU
THE GIRL I'M ENGAGED TO-
There was another long pause, durin g
which / felt as guilty as ever eavesdrop-
per before me; yet | was glued to the
spot. / could hardly escape AT last
Bernard spoke again. 81 should like to
have gone around with you on your tour,
Melissa" he said; ri don't know Italy. /
don't suppose by myself could even APP
preciate it. But if you were by my side
you'd have taught me what it all meant,
and then think / might perhaps under
stand it.
Melissa drew deep breath. II wish
could take it all over again." she an
swered, half signing. ''And didn't see
Naples either. That was a great disap-
pointment. I should like to have seen
Naples, l must confess, so as to know I
could at least in the end die happy"
"Why do you go back?'' Bernard asked
suddenly with bounce, looking down
at that wee hand that trembled upon the
taffrail.
Because can't help myself" Melissa
answered in quivering voice. II
should like-I should like to live always
in England"
ssHave you any special preference for
any particular town. Bernard asked,
moving closer to her though, to be
sure, he was very, very near already.
"N-no; n--none in particular" Me-
LISA stammered out family, half siding
away from him.
mot Cambridge, for example?' Ber-
nard asked, with a deep gulp and an
audible effort
felt it would be objectionable for
me to hear any more. / had heard al
ready many things not intended for me.
sneaked off unperceived, and left those
two alone to complete that conversation.
Half an hour later-it was calm,
moonlight night-Bernard rushed down
eagerly into the saloon to find us.
Father and mother" he said, with a
burst, II want you up on deck for just
ten minutes. There's something up
there should like So much to show
YOU"
mot whales?" asked hypocritically,
suppressing smile.
mo, not whales" he replied; "some-
thing much more interesting"
We followed him blindly; Lucy much
in doubt what the thing might be, and 1
much in wonder, after Mrs. Wade's let
ter, how Lucy might take it.
AT the top of the companion ladder
Melissa stood waiting for us, demure
but subdued. with a still timider look
than ever upon that sweet, shrinking,
small face of hers. Her heart beat hard,
could see by the movement of her bodice,
and her breath came and went: but she
stood there like a dove, in her dove col
ored trayelingsdress.
"Mother," Bernard began, "Melissa's
obliged to come back to America, don't
you know, without having ever seen
Naples 1t seems horrid shame she
should miss seeing it. She hadn't money
enough left, you recollect, to take her
there"
Lucy gazed at him unsuspicious. at
does seem pity" she answered sympa-
thetically. "She'd enjoy it SO much.
I'm sorry she hasn't been able to carry
out all her programme"
"And, mother" Bernard went on, his
eyes fixed hard ON hers, chow awfully
she'd be thrown away on Kansas Cityl
/ can't bear to think OF her going back
to keep store there"
'sFor my part, think it positively
wicked" Lucy answered with smile,
''and ! can't think what-well, people
in EngIand-are about to allow her to
do it."
/ had opened my eyes wide. Did Lucy
know what she was saying? Or had
Melissa then fascinated her-the arch
little witch!--as she had fascinated the
rest of rs?
But Bernard, emboldened by this ex-
cellent opening, took Melissa by the
hand, as if in due form to present her.
Mother" he said tenderly, leading the
wee thing forward, ssand father too;
'.this is what wanted to show you-the
girl I'm engaged to-"
paused and trembled. / waited for
the thunderbolt. But no thunderbolt
fell. On the contrary Lucy stepped for
ward and, under cover of the mast,
caught Melissa in her arms and kissed
her twice over. my dear child" she
cried, pressing her hard, my dear little
daughter, don't know which of you two
ought most to congratulate.
"But do" Bernard murmured low.
And, his father though / am, muir
INJURED to myself, "And so do also"
Then you're not ashamed of me,
mother dear" Melissa whispered, bury
ing her dainty little head on Lucy's
shoulder, because kept store in Kan
sas City?s
Lucy rose above herself, in the excite
ment Of the moment. 'My darling wee
daughter" she answered, kissing her
tenacrl. again, cts Kansas City alone
sht to be ashamed Of itself for
putting you to keep store--such sweet
little gem as you arer
man who has practiced medicine for Il
| years ought to know salt from sugar; read what
he says;
ToLrpo. O.. Jan. 10, 1887.
/ Mesers #. j. Sheney & Acknowledgements
u