The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-03

she said, "and know John will treat
him as gentleman. Paul is good
man, and if you love him lie shall have
my love, too"
THANK you, mamma. ] knew you
would like him, for my sake. and You
will like him better when you know
how good and noble he is
Then another long silence followed,
after which Mary said:
Has Paul spoken to you O. love,
Louiseo"
NO. he never has. That is, not cx-
actly."
And are you sure you love him."
Il know / love him. mamma, he is so
good and kind. and is all the friend
have aside from you and pa"
The mother smiled family at the
girls earncstness and strolsing the soft,
brown hair gently. said:
Louise. you are young yet. mere
child. and I'm afraid you do not know
your heart as we'll rs you think. You
have 4 great liking for Paul rs one is
| friends are few. You admire his kind
| ness Of heart, for. poor child, you have
known little enough of such IL your
life. You like aad esteem Paul above
| all others, but perhaps you may not
love him. Love is broad and a deep
thing. and You are too young to under
stand what it really is. Go on thinking
OF him as you do. if you wish. and al
ways treat him with the kindnest con-
sidcration, but do not 90 beyond that.
If he speaks to you of love do not en-
courage hir1, and make him 10 PROM
iscs. Tell him that you are young and
that wish you to wait 4 year or two
longer before you enter into any COM
pact affecting your whole future life.
But perhaps this is all unnecessary pre-
caution. lie has said nothing. and per-
| haps he may not say anything for n
| long time. 1t may be-are you sure he
loves you, Louisc?''
Il know he does. mamma. II can't
| tell you how know it, bat do know
he loves me: and Some day he means to
ask me to be his wife. | am sixteen
now, and in n year or two | shall be a
woman, and thea he will speak and
you will not object. VIII your
NO, not unless ! have better rea.
| sons than | know ut present. But a
| year or two is q long time, Louise, and
we need not consider now what we
will do then. 1t may not be necessary
for ne to say aye or nay to Paul. ior
you may see him differently then. You
may sec some one else that may sup
| plant him in your heart
''Oh, mother, that is impossible. No
/ one can be to me what Paul is. | could
not DC SO ungrateful rs to give him 4
second place in ny heart, when he has
been SO good to me-
The mother smiled again. She was
assured from these last words Of her
| daughter. that Louise had mistaken her
heart, and that what she felt to be love
was only gratitude and friendship.
She understood how easily one of
Louise's age, and one placed Us she was
could deceive herself, and she could not
believe that the child knew her own
heart. For long time she was silent,
and for time doubts, fears and misgiv-
ings possessed her. She realized how
easily one of the girls age and temper
ament could be deceived. She was IN
experienced, and knowing nothing OF
human nature, judged all mankind 10y
| her own standard, and rechoncd all
| hearts like hers, pure, innocent and
honest Whether she really loved Paul
| or not, he was her idol, and she looked
up to him rs paragon of perfection,
| and was that confident and trustful that
| she would not, and could not, doubt him
in anything.
Such thoughts as these ran through
the mothers mind, and she trcmbled
for the safety of her child. Then she
recalled ell she knew of Paul. lie
was Il man of perfect character. and
in all the years she had known him he
had not been guilty of an ungentle.
manly act. This review of the young
| mans past somewhat rcassured her,
| and she felt thankful that it was Paul
/ who held such an influence over her
daughter. She was far safer with him
than with most men.
TO BE CONTINUED.