The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-26

away from me; he smiled benignly, re-
fiecting on virtues which had not.
"If had had the supervision OF your
early education, he sighed, after min
| ute, you and your sisters, Mabel, would
have learnt In the nursery, in early
babyhood, those habits which you now
find 1t well-nigh impossible to learn.
Your mind is fussily strong, my dear
excuse the expression. You have nc
mental tranquility. Even at this mo-
ment you are excited and impatient.
have, as say, two important pieces Of
news to break to you; but l will wait for
five minutes or SO, until you have com.
posed yourself little and cease to fidge,
in that nervous manner"
Perhaps the minutes that passed be.
fore my step-father again addressed me
were in actual number only five; know
that they seemed like thirty.
you are seventeen, Mabel, II l re-
member correctly" he said. at last
breaking the silence; seventeen, two
months and five days. Correct me II
am not exact"
Yes, papa. was seventeen On the
first Of May"
"Young.-young,' he unused. regard
ing me with gentle disfavor. but your
mother was younger when she married
first. Mabel. my love, have you ever
| thought much upon the subject of-of-
we'll, may say of marriage, Mabel?'
The question was confusing. I'll
don't know, papa" stammered.
You don't know?" he repeated, toll
erantly, with faint, very faint amuse-
ment. That Is q very youthful answer.
You are old enough, at all events, to
have realized that 1t would be desira-
BILE that some Of you should marry.
Your poor dear mother brought me a
large and expensive family: and, al
though have striven to stand in the
place Of q father to you all, and although
/ flatter myself that my devotion and
patience have been even more than par
entail, yet-yetm my purse is but slender.
Mabel. and it will certainly be expedi-
ent that some OF you, at least, shall
marry"
Yves" answered, doubtfully and
vaguely.
Il shall be glad il you will tell me,
my dear. il you have any-partiality-
respect, esteem-for any person in par
| ticular?'
gasped. Ibid not laugh. though my
thoughts flashed forward to the merry
time should presently enjoy when the
| study door should have closed behind
me, and, out Of my step-father's earshot,
the girls grouped in easy but inelegant
attitudes around me, should repeat
this speech dramatically to an appreci-
alive, mirthful audience. BY and
by mybrilliancy would be applauded.
| For the present, was dumb,
and my dumbness, no doubt, seemed
foolish to my step-parent whom words
never failed.
Il believe asked you question
Mabel" he observed, with an air Of al
most pious patience.
yves. papa
II am waiting, my dear, for your
answer"
! lie might wait forever. l was meek
in my step-father's presence; answered
him in a small voice; l never dared t.
contradict him-but in silent way
could be obstinate. Did he expect me
to tell him the secret which was mine
my own, unshared. which even the girls
did not guess and never should guess
Had he guessed it?-the thought made
my heart stand still; forgot my fear oil
him and glanced sharply and suspi'
ciously into his round, white face.
"Our young neighbor at the Cedars
has been often here Of late"
"You mean Ned?" INTERCEPTED, in a
careless tone. had thought possessed
some dramatic talent, but that careless
tone cost me q gigantic effort, and, after
all, the effort was discernible. knew
| / blushed. grew hot, then cold.
II mean Edward Barnet-yes. As ]
observed, he has been often here OF
late"
He always comes when he's at home.
! exclaimed, hastily. HE always did
He comes because he has nothing else u
do. He-he likes to come"
Certainly. have no wish to dispute
that statement. My dear Mabel. 20,
are blushing-a graceful habit for som,
compilations; your bushes, my dear, re
mind one little too much of the peony
May conclude, my love, that there i
some attachment, some Partially, OF
your side for Mr.. BARNETT"
1--WE all like him." / replied, dog
gedly, emphatically, with sort Of cage
indifference. 'Of course we like him
we are neighbors-and-and we hav
ALWAYS known each other"
Friendship is the very best basis 70
a yet warmer feeling" replied my step
father in a satisfied tone. mabel, MI
Barnet called on me last night to asl
me to allow him to speak to you con
cering-concerning this subject"
This subject?" repeated, in be
wildered way.
.t'He tells me he is in love with you
He wishes to ask you to be his wife"
think l hae forgotten that l wa
shy and frightened; I had risen iron
my chair. and gone to the window
escaping from that calm, mild, stead
glance, that contemplated my ros
cheeks and smiling lips, and the happ
light that knew was shining in m
~eyes.
ITO ask me2" l repeated. 'Me?-
pfe? Mc-to be his wife,
/ "Mabel..if you will be good enough t
return to your seat, we can perhap
discuss this question quietly
Papa, it is not true! There is som
| mistake